A global hotel chain with 2,300 branches in the US is set to take on the Slatters Hotel when it reopens.

Hampton by Hilton is lined up to be the brand of the site in St Margaret’s Street, Canterbury, when building work is complete.

It has yet to officially confirm the news, but council documents reveal the firm’s name is almost certain to be above the doors of the striking £10 million hotel.

With an archaeological dig on the site now finished and repairs to neighbouring listed buildings complete, construction is due to begin next month.

An opening date for the first quarter of 2020 has been envisaged, but an operator for a top-floor “destination” restaurant is yet to be secured.

Planning permission for the rebuild was granted in the summer of 2015, but the identity of the chain taking it on has not yet been announced officially.

When approached for comment, Hampton by Hilton remained tight-lipped, despite a council monitoring report and the website of chartered surveyors, Construction Management Consulting, confirming the company’s involvement.

A spokesman for the chain said: “Canterbury is an area where we see opportunity for the development of our portfolio, but we have no further updates at this time.”

Designed by architect Guy Hollaway, the scheme will see a staggered six-storey structure built with shops at ground level and a facade of stone sheeting and glass covering the floors above.

A restaurant boasting views of the Cathedral across the city’s rooftops will be on the top-floor.

While Hampton by Hilton is set to be the hotel brand, the operators have been confirmed as Interstate - one of the world’s leading hotel management firms.

Zaw Htut, co-director of Slatters Developments Ltd, says things are progressing well.

“We’ve been developing details on the design and we’re ready for the groundworks to begin at the end of January to early February,” he said.

“An opening in the first quarter of 2020 is the target. It is all going well.”