THE Larkfield Priory Hotel has been acquired by Swallow Hotels and Inns.

The 52-bedroom hotel, which is situated four miles from Maidstone town centre, has officially began trading as a Swallow Hotel.

New manager Wayne Jenson said: "We intend capitalising on our great position here, minutes from the centre of Maidstone and midway between London and the Channel Ports.

"It’s been a very successful hotel for many years and we intend building on that by introducing the Swallow way of working which guarantees maximum satisfaction for all our customers."

Larkfield Priory joins four other Swallow hotels in Kent - the Chaucer, the Falstaff and the exclusive Howfield Manor, all in Canterbury, and the Swallow Kent International in Ramsgate.

Mr Jenson added: "I am very excited by the new challenge.

"We’ve got business and local community nights planned and there will be all sorts of special events and unbeatable offers over the next few months.

"The Swallow has most definitely landed in Larkfield and I’m confident that soon the hotel will be flying."