The Hop Farm at Paddock Wood, which was expected to close because of financial difficulties, is to open over the Easter holidays after a last-minute sale of its troubled operator.

Hop Farm Trading, which went into liquidation, has been sold to a company within the main business Hop Farm Real Estate which had already pledged to honour pre-booked events.

It has now said the park, one of Kent's biggest tourist attractions, will open from Good Friday to Sunday, April 14.

Entry to the park, animal farm and outdoor play area for this period will be free of charge.

The news comes on the same day organisers of the Hop Farm festival confirmed the music festival will go ahead at the venue in July.

"Pay While You Play" is a new concept at the Hop Farm, giving customers the opportunity to choose and pay for any of the attractions on an individual basis. The Shires restaurant and bar will be open providing a full range of food and refreshments.

The 2013 season will see a number of new events and attractions and the Hop Farm is in the final stages of planning these which will include new children's rides, indoor attractions, historical vintage fun fairs, craft markets, farmers' markets and music festival.

Liquidators of Hop Farm Trading said there had not been any firm offers made for the business and assets of the company although several parties had expressed an interest in doing so. They therefore extended the deadline to March 21.

"We are pleased to report that an offer was made by a company within the Hop Farm Group of companies which substantially exceeds the anticipated realisable value of the assets," a spokesman for White Maund LLP said. "A full report of the sale will be provided to creditors in due course, however the sale will result in a substantially enhanced return to the creditors in the liquidation."