WHEN Eleftherios Eleftheriades (known to his friends simply as Terry) and his wife Jean became the owners of Webbs Hotel in Folkestone Road, Dover, four years ago (1985) they knew they would have to add to its attractions if they were going to make it pay.

As Terry explained: "We had to think of a way of attracting more business because for much of the time the hotel is not full.

"Our first idea was the banqueting hall which we had built within a year. But even as that was being built we were thinking about building a pub. It was just a matter of making sure we could afford it."

Now, three years on and well over £100,000 later, the Captain Webb is open.

Next to the hotel, where two derelict flats stood only months ago, the pub looks as though it has been there for years - a natural addition to the attractive white hotel.

Terry is confident that the Captain Webb will be a success.

He said: "There are something like 800 beds in the various hotels along Folkestone Road - we only need to attract a fraction of those people to succeed and they're starting to come already.

"As for lunchtimes, we hope to attract the business community in the town."

People will have trouble keeping away. The pub is traditionally decorated with a central copper fireplace.

Even in its present new state the place exudes charm from the luxurious pile carpet to the two massive windows looking out onto Folkestone Road, one with an impressive engraving of the castle, the other depicting Captain Matthew Webb's historic first swim of the English Channel.

With Terry's continuing success comes a boost for other people too.

The pub will push the number of permanent staff at the hotel up six to 15.