The hotel is now home to Mr White’s English Chophouse and Wheeler’s Fish and Chips, both launched with the backing of cooking’s enfant terrible, the inimitable Marco Pierre White.
Left to right - Dover MP Charlie Elphicke, CEO Best Western Great Britain Rob Paterson, MD Black & White Hospitality Brandie Diegnan, Town Mayor of Dover Cllr Sue Jones, Vice-chairman of Dover District Council Cllr David Hannent and Mr K Rajaseelan
He welcomed the hotel’s transformation and said the new restaurants would be a major boost to the town and the district.
The Chophouse is only the third to be opened in the country, following the launch of the brand in London and Manchester earlier this year.
"We are absolutely delighted that Marco has shown such faith in the hotel by allowing us to showcase his brand," commented Managing Director Mr K Rajaseelan.
He told guests at the opening that the launch of the two new restaurants at the four-star hotel was great news for the hotel, but also great news for the town and the district.
He added: "I know I speak for every one of us at The Best Western Plus Dover Marina Hotel & Spa as well as for the Best Western in the UK and Black & White Hospitality when I say that we want this hotel to contribute to the economic wellbeing of the area.
"Dover has a great deal of potential as the leading hotel in the town and we are determined to play our part, too, in raising awareness of Dover and what it has to offer for businesses, visitors and investors."
"We are proud of what we have created here and we believe that our partnership with Marco and his Black & White Hospitality company will not just be good for the hotel but will also help to make Dover a destination for people who enjoy great food."
Mrs Lorna Wiggins, Port of Dover Community Director Neil Wiggins, Charlie Elphicke, Barbara Buczek from the Port of Dover, Mr and Mrs K Rjaseelan and hotel General Manager Suresh Abbas
The 84-cover restaurant will serve a range of fresh, high quality meat cuts alongside traditional home-grown classics such as goats’ cheese and beetroot salad, chateaubriand, roast rump of lamb and fish pie.
General Manager Suresh Abbas paid tribute to "the team at Black & White Hospitality who have provided the training and the support to get the hotel team to the stage we are at today". He also thanked his staff for their dedication and hard work.
Brandie Deignan, managing director of Black & White Hospitality, pointed out that the hotel was the first in the world to have two Marco-inspired restaurants in the same place.
Guests also heard from Rob Paterson, chief executive officer of Best Western Great Britain, who joined in the congratulations to the hotel team on what they had achieved.
The large crowd of well wishers included David Foley, chief executive of Dover District Chamber of Commerce, who said he "very much welcomed the continuing investment in the hotel, which is making Dover even more attractive to visitors, residents and businesses".
The hotel is a one-minute walk from the beach and close to the town centre, nestled under the famous White Cliffs in the shadow of Dover Castle and with uninterrupted views over the English Channel.
