After months of building work a new 80-bedroom hotel has opened.

Medway’s latest Premier Inn, at Victory Pier, Gillingham, was due to open in February but construction delays and poor weather over Christmas saw it pushed back.

It was then delayed again, but this week the Medway Messenger was assured it would be opening its doors for business on on bank holiday Monday.

A spokeswoman for the chain said they were excited ahead of the opening, but more is planned for late June when there will be an official opening.

Once the new mayor is selected at the full council meeting on Thursday he or she will be the one to cut the ribbon.

The hotel has 80 rooms, catering for up to two adults and two children, and a restaurant. It has created 35 jobs and is forecast to contribute more than £5 million to the town’s economy.

The hotel has a car park and is 200 metres from a bus stop.

It is partly being marketed at people keen on water and winter sports with Elite Sailing and Chatham Ski and Snowboarding Centre nearby.

One of the hotel’s managers John Jordan added: “We want to offer our customers value for money wherever they plan on staying, even a prime location like the town centre.

“The hotel offers customers an abundance of shops, gardens, and restaurants nearby. It is the perfect place to rest your head when you’re visiting this part of Kent, or need a stopover on your way to Europe, being only 20 minutes away from Ebbsfleet.”

Medway already has Premier Inns at the Honourable Pilot, Will Adams Way, Gillingham; Manor Farm Beefeater, Rainham and Medway Valley Park, Cuxton.

Also due to open soon is a Frankie and Benny’s restaurant in one of the new units at Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre. The Italian-American chain is promised towards the end of June.

It will be joined later by Nandos, a branch of Dean’s Diner and a Subway.