A popular hotel and wedding venue is reopening under a new name after being shut for a year.

Larkfield Priory Hotel in London Road, near Aylesford, will now be called Hamlet Hotels Maidstone.

The site closed suddenly last April, leaving one couple “devastated and disgusted” after their wedding reception was cancelled.

Later that year, the Home Office had proposed to use the hotel for immigration purposes, but decided against the move after MP Tracey Crouch stepped in.

In January, rumours circled again on whether the building was being used to house asylum seekers after residents spotted groups of young men coming and going.

This was quashed by the Home Office.

All 53 rooms at the venue have been redecorated, including en-suite singles, twins, doubles, family and bridal suites.

Prices start from £77 per night for two adults, with a full English breakfast included.

The establishment has been taken over by Hamlet Hotels – a team who has more than 50 years of experience in the industry.

It launched online this week and guests can book to stay for this Saturday.

Hamlet Restaurant will be open to both guests and the general public, serving a buffet breakfast each morning, an international menu for lunch and dinner, and is available for afternoon tea.

General manager, Farhaan Basheer, says everyone is looking forward to the reopening.

He said: “It’s been a tough time getting everything up and running, but we are almost there now.

"As a promotion, during the first two months the tariffs are very low, because we have been closed for such a long period we want to encourage people back.

"We are very enthusiastic and ready to welcome our first guests and carry on into the summer.”

He also says the hotel will be going fully cashless.

"The check-in process has been upgraded – guests can do this online without having to come to reception," Farhaan added.

"The tariff now includes bed and breakfast, and a full English buffet is served to all who are staying with us.

"Anyone who wants to check out early, we can provide breakfast on the go.

"For dinner, we have a multi-cuisine restaurant, with a choice of English classics, Indian curry, burgers and pizzas.”

The venue has started up bookings for meetings, conferences and weddings.

They provide silver, gold and platinum packages for the big day.

The UK-based hotel group also plans on opening branches in London, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Oxford, Windsor and Bristol.

If you want to find out more click here.

As part of its reopening, Hamlet Hotels Maidstone is offering free early check-in and late check-out.