All change as five prominent town centre sites go on market
High street buildings up for sale and new face on way for Lockmeadow
Five town centre sites, including a bar, supermarket, betting shop and two restaurants, have been put on the market.
Bliss Café, which was previously Dusk 2 Dawn nightclub, and the Paddy Power shop in Maidstone, are on sale together for £1.35 million.
The Grade-II listed building, in King Street, is currently split into two tenancies, with the betting shop occupying the ground floor unit on Gabriel’s Hill, and the café, bar and restaurant taking up the other space, which includes an outdoor area and staff accommodation.
It has been described as an “investment opportunity” for any new buyers, with estate agents Sibley Pares revealing the businesses currently produce a gross income of around £107,000 per year.
The sites also have a “potential for residential conversion of upper floors in the future”, according to the estate agent. Paddy Power is renting the site for £50,000 a year on a 15-year lease until 2027, while Bliss Café pays the same rate and has a 15-year lease until 2036.
It is understood the businesses will continue as normal.
The former Morrisons store on the corner of Week Street and St Faith’s Street has also been placed on the market.
It is available to rent for £95,000 per year. The site has changed owners multiple times in the past decade.
Maidstone town centre has welcomed a number of new businesses in the past couple of years, from American foodchains like Taco Bell and Wendy’s, in Week Street, to Big Boys Pizza in Mill Street and Pablo’s Pup Shop in Union Street. Earlier this month, new £50 million plans to regenerate the former Royal Mail sorting office next to Maidstone East railway station into 220 homes were unveiled.
Meanwhile, last April, Maidstone council was given a £1.1 million government boost to rejuvenate the town centre. The news was warmly received by councillors, but the local authority’s leader Cllr
David Burton (Con) previously described it as “crumbs”.
Two vacant restaurant units have also been put on the market to lease at Lockmeadow entertainment centre in Barker Road.
The Burger King has been closed for five years while Frankie & Benny’s shut in December.
Now, the Italian restaurant could be turned into a restau
rant, bar, café or soft play area. A brochure from Harrisons Chartered Surveyors also explained it could be turned into a “competitive socialising” venue, which could range from darts, snooker and pool to shuffle boarding.
Maidstone council said an “exciting new tenant” was being lined up for the Burger King location and viewings were taking place for Frankie & Benny’s.