This building was originally built as a NAAFI (Naval, Army and Air Force) club in 1948.
The NAAFI was opened on 16th July 1948 at a cost of £150,000 by The Commander in Chief, The Nore, Admiral Sir Harold Burrough. It comprised of 200 single and 48 double rooms, a nursery and playroom, games room, restaurant, tavern bar, 3 flats and one of the finest ballrooms in the country.
The first acts to play in the ballroom on the opening night were comedian Jack Train and Billy Ternent and his orchestra, entertaining the servicemen.
One of the first visitors here was King George VI
The NAAFI club closed it doors on 28th July 1962, after many of the servicemen had been taken out of Medway and the business was no longer profitable.
After remaining derelict for 5 years, 2 Canadian gentlemen bought the building and converted it into a budget hotel, catering especially for Canadian tourists. A shuttle bus service was laid on between Gatwick airport and the hotel, named The Aurora Hotel, after their home town in Canada where the northern lights can be seen.
The hotel changed hands to the current family owners on 5th August 1980 after it had become an eyesore for the local community.
During this time the hotel has been converted into a 97 bedroomed, 3 star hotel with restaurant, bar, lift and various conference and banqueting rooms. These rooms now offer en-suite bathrooms, colour satellite television, internet access, direct dial telephones and tea/coffee making facilities
With the recent refurbishment of our main function rooms we are proud to offer a choice of 3 beautiful, elegant rooms in which to hold conferences and formal dinners. We aim to continue with this refurbishment and offer our customers a warm and friendly welcome.
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