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Guests 'don't mind a jot' as stay at Canterbury hotel is cancelled to make way for Afghan refugees

A woman says she "doesn't mind a jot" that her stay at a popular hotel has been cancelled to make way for Afghan refugees.

More than 100 people who have fled Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban takeover are to be given emergency accommodation at Abbots Barton Hotel, in Canterbury.

Abbots Barton Hotel in New Dover Road, Canterbury
Abbots Barton Hotel in New Dover Road, Canterbury

One guest named Jane who had been due to stay at the popular New Dover Road venue next week says her stay has been cancelled as a result.

But the woman, who did not wish to give her surname, says she does not mind, adding: "Finding another hotel is a darn sight easier than escaping another country."

Jane, from near Guildford in Surrey, had been due to stay at Abbots Barton from Monday to Friday along with three other people.

"We were rung and told the hotel had been requisitioned," she said.

"We were given a phone call very courteously explaining the situation.

"None of us mind a jot..."

"Of course it's a pain, and we had to find somewhere else, which is more expensive – but c'est la vie!"

Jane says her party are now due to stay at a Holiday Inn instead.

"Unfortunately it's about five miles outside of Canterbury," she said. "It would have been handy to have been straight in, but this is small fry.

"We really weren't bothered by it. None of us mind a jot.

"The hotel were lovely, we found somewhere else.

"We've had a full refund and we have no problem with it because, to be honest, finding another hotel is a darn sight easier than escaping another country."

The Abbots Barton Hotel operates under the Best Western brand but is independently owned and run.

It is working with the Home Office to provide rooms and facilities exclusively for 106 refugees.

Since news broke about the project, there has been a groundswell of support across the community for the refugees set to arrive in the city.

Best Western has been approached for a comment.

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