Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
42 SHOPS SHUT SINCE PANDEMIC STRUCK
‘I’m pleasantly surprised by the level of interest we’ve had so far’
More than 40 city centre businesses have closed down in the last 12 months as the retail and hospitality sectors were ravaged by the pandemic.
But with 25 new outlets having opened and streets once again bustling with shoppers, business leaders are optimistic the tide is now turning. Crowds have flooded back into Canterbury since hairdressers, pubs, eateries and non-essential stores reopened last week after months of closure.
But those returning to the city cannot fail to notice the scars of the pandemic it now bears. Canterbury already featured a number of large vacant shop fronts prior to the coronavirus outbreak, such as those where Nasons, Debenhams, Curry’s and Poundworld once stood. But the long periods of lockdown sadly proved fatal for many other businesses. The city now has more disused premises than it has had since records began in 2012, with 13.4% now unoccupied almost 3% more than last year. Six units now stand empty in
Whitefriars.
Among them is the large glassfronted unit vacated by Topman and Topshop during the pandemic.
Monsoon and Accessorize have also left the shopping centre in the last 12 months, and their old premises sit vacant along with the former EE, Jessops, Ernest Jones, and Beaverbrooks stores.
But Whitefriars spokesman
Julie Holness says there is positive news in the pipeline. She revealed the unit opposite Fenwick that once housed jeweller Beaverbrooks is now under offer, as is the former Jessops premises in the Marlowe Arcade - although she was not able to confirm names of their prospective tenants.
“We also have plenty of interest on all our empty units,” she added.
Among the other biggest casualties of the last year were Dorothy Perkins and Burton, owned by retail empire Arcadia Group, which entered administration in November.
But the empty store on the corner of Rose Lane has just been marketed for rent. Nick Furlong, director of commercial property consultancy BC Retail, says he believes the large premises may be split into multiple businesses. “Considering we’ve seen one of the most difficult years the retail market’s had to endure for some time, I’m pleasantly surprised by the level of interest we’ve had so far,” he said. But he added that modern retail requirements “don’t necessarily suit” the lay-out of the building, which comprises 11,000sq ft, across four floors. “I think whoever owns it would perhaps have to look at splitting it to get the entirety of the property let,” he said. Meanwhile, other retailers in the Whitefriars area have used the lockdown as time to refurbish their stores.
Boots and Fenwick have introduced new brands, while stores such as Copperfield menswear have undergone revamps, and eateries have adapted to offer alfresco seating.
Ms Holness added: “German Doner Kebab have taken the former Game unit at the clocktower and are currently fitting out.
“We also welcomed Canterbury Makers back to the centre, who have taken the former Kuoni unit in the Marlowe Arcade.
“I can also confirm Goldsmiths are soon to undertake a major refit and will be relocating to the former Ernest Jones unit whilst this is being done.”