“Dangerous” hooligans smashed into an elderly hotelier’s home and attacked him, causing numerous fractures to the face and fleeing with bottles of alcohol.

Michael Stainer, 70, owner of the Grand in the Leas is offering a £1,000 award for any information leading to the thugs’ prosecution.

When Mr Stainer visited his private store cupboard in the Grand’s private wing on Friday night the “powerfully built” duo set upon him.

Robert Richardson, the Grand’s manager, labelled the men “dangerous animals”.

He said: “It was a normal day like any other in the private area of Mr Stainer’s home when he went in the store room and disturbed two men.

“They could have just walked past him but they were animals and gave him a severe beating, his injuries were bruises, broken eye socket and broken cheek bone.

“When he went into the store room he was just stunned, there was some grabbing, then the CCTV shows the fight moved off-screen.

“They didn’t have to beat him. The level of violence was hugely disproportionate.”

The duo carried out the sustained assault at about 10pm and fled the premises with two bottles of spirits, prompting a police manhunt.

Mr Stainer is said to be recovering well after being treated in hospital for his injuries.

Mr Richardson went on: “I would say he is recovering better than most people would recover given the circumstances.

“We want these people to be caught, they are animals, they are dangerous.”

Strand staff believed the men, described as being powerfully built, forced the back door in an attempt to burgle the property when they were disrupted.

It is the first attack of its kind at the Edwardian hotel, owned by Mr Stainer, a chartered accountant, for more than 40 years.

He has forwarded the CCTV stills to a significant number of hotels, pubs and eateries in Folkestone and Kent to sound the warning.

A police spokesman said: “Two intruders were disturbed by a member of staff in the office of a hotel.

“One of the intruders punched the member of staff in the face as they made off.

“The victim, a man in his 70s, suffered a fractured eye socket and cheekbone.

“Police are appealing for anyone with information about the burglary and assault to contact them on 01843 222289 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting reference number ZY/4700/18.”