A KENT hotel re-opens next month after a £2 million facelift that has created 20 new jobs. The Holiday Inn A20 North Ashford, formerly the Holiday Inn Garden Court, opens on February 3.

It will offer new conference rooms for eight to 125 delegates, and 92 bedrooms with work stations and modem points.

The hotel is close to Junction 9 of the M20 and four miles from Ashford town centre. An in-house Business Centre provides Internet, e-mail terminals, fax, photocopy and typing services.

The hotel is licensed to hold civil wedding ceremonies and cater for parties up to 125. The hotel's restaurant, the Oyster Bar, will specialise in fish dishes.

Mark Walton, general manager, said: “We have already had a huge and enthusiastic response from businesses, travellers and local people.

“We have recruited an extra 20 staff so far and we intend to play a very active part in the community. Our multi-million spend on the hotel will help ensure Kent remains a Number One visitor destination."

The Holiday Inn A 20 North Ashford is owned by Centre Islands Hotels (CIH) which already operates hotels in Merseyside, including the Crowne Plaza, Princess Dock, the 139 - bed Holiday Inn City Centre, Lime Street and the Express by Holiday Inn at Liverpool's Albert Dock.

The company also operates the Holiday Inn at Ellesmere Port, Cheshire Oaks, which reopened in November after a £4.5m investment.