Four hotels across the country have come under the Best Western Great Britain brand, which has increased the US-based group's UK portfolio by an additional 137 bedrooms.

Henbury Lodge Hotel near Bristol; Himley Hotel in Dudley, West Midlands; the White Hart Hotel in Moretonhampstead, Devon and Ilford Hotel in Ilford, Essex, have all joined the company within the last month. Keith Pope, Beast Western Great Britain's director of membership services, said: "Membership of Best Western gives independent hoteliers a very competitive return on their investment, with the opportunity to significantly increase sales through wider access to the marketplace.

"Most independent hoteliers want to keep their independence but also take advantage of the opportunities that being part of a huge global brand provides, and Best Western enables this to happen.