The owner of a country hotel, spa and golf resort is offering its rooms to the NHS during the coronavirus crisis.

London Beach Hotel in Tenterden is opening up its 25 rooms to the NHS "where segregation is required" and has contacted the nearby William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and Benenden Hospital, as well as making the offer available to the wider NHS England.

Sue Brown, a manager at the hotel in Ashford Road, which is co-owed by Pierre Edmonds, said that the building could accommodate as many as 50 and that triple rooms were available.

She said: "We haven't heard anything back yet and obviously you can't get through by phone. We are closed now but we are waiting at the end of a phone call or email for any responses."

Mr Edmonds said that as a small hotel it hoped to come to an arrangement with the NHS to offer a "fantastic, restful environment in a beautiful setting", which could be an ideal place for NHS keyworkers to rest and recover.

It follows speculation that the government is in talks with major hotel chains including Hilton and Holiday Inn to provide rooms for the vulnerable groups at highest risk from the virus, or to NHS staff.

Former Manchester United player Gary Neville announced earlier this month that Hotel Football, near Old Trafford and The Stock Exchange in the city centre, which he co-owns with ex-team mate Ryan Giggs would be free to stay in for NHS workers

London Beach closed its kitchens and has donated all its food to the Tenterden Social Hub, which is continuing its meals on wheels service to older and needy residents in the town.

The hotel is a keen supporter of charities in the district who hold fundraising meals at the restaurant, with the cost of food at the dinner parties donated directly back to the good causes themselves via the Savannah Charitable Trust.

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