An opening date has been revealed for a hotel that was originally due to open in time for Christmas.

Travelodge says its new 63-bed branch in Sittingbourne will welcome its first guests in February – two months later than planned.

A spokesman said: "Sittingbourne is hoping to open on February 17, 2020."

The £6 million hotel, which has created 20 jobs, is part of the Spirit of Sittingbourne £59m regeneration project.

It will be the first unit in the leisure quarter to start trading and will be the budget chain's 16th to open in Kent.

Bourne Place will also include an eight-screen Light cinema, along with restaurants such as Nando's, Pizza Express, dessert chain Creams and Loungers.

The latter is due to be on the ground floor of the Travelodge building.

Swale council announced recently that the new multi-storey car park would be open for 24 hours a day once the hotel starts trading, as it is a condition of the leasehold.

The authority has agreed to slash charges from £15 to £7 to park around the clock.

There are three units in the cinema building which are yet to be let.

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