ALL CHANGE

MAJOR PROPERTIES SET TO BE SNAPPED UP FOR MILLIONS

THE FORMER PAINTED PEARL TANKERTON ROAD, TANKERTON

The store located up the road from Whitstable closed its doors at the end of June after deciding not to extend its lease for the building. Michelle Fullbrook had been running the business from the Tankerton premises for four years, but opted instead to solely trade online. She said: “Our lease came up for renewal at the end of last June and we would have had to sign up for five more years.

“That was too long with the uncertainty of Brexit and everything going online, so we left and are online now.

“It’s a tough trading environment on the high street because leases are onerous and tie you in and anything found in a shop can be found online.”

Caxtons has confirmed the leasehold – which has been advertised for as much as £13,500 per year – for the property is currently under offer.

LEATHER FASHIONS PALACE STREET, CANTERBURY

The popular city centre leatherwear store announced last month it was closing - on a date to be confirmed - after 35 years of trading. The business has been a city centre stalwart and even Lord of the Rings star Orlando Bloom dropped in about 10 years ago. Owner Graham Court, 75, who previously ran 10 branches across the South East, wants to shut up shop in order to retire.

Estate agent Caxtons is marketing the leasehold for the Grade Ii-listed building, which has planning permission to remain a store or be turned into a bank, for £24,000.

FORMER CANCER RESEARCH UK HIGH STREET, CANTERBURY

Sandwiched in between Nasons and Caffe Nero, the vacant shop’s leasehold is being marketed for £50,000. The property – which was a branch of Thorntons before it was taken on by Cancer Research UK – has been advertised by Harrisons Chartered Surveyors since November 2015.

NEWINGATE HOUSE LOWER BRIDGE STREET, CANTERBURY

Branded one of Canterbury’s ugliest buildings, the five-storey block was at the centre of ambitious plans to be converted into a rooftop restaurant towards the end of last year. There were also plans for an entertainment venue including a crazy golf course on the lower floors.

But the Girne American University, which owns Newingate House, withdrew the proposals as it suspected council officers were set to recommend the project be refused permission. Meanwhile, Pearson Gore has been advertising the leasehold for each of the building’s floors for annual fees ranging between £29,000 and £31,500.

CASH RESOLVE, PANTELI’S OF CANTERBURY AND BELLY BAR CANTERBURY LANE, CANTERBURY

If you are interested in purchasing the freehold for the parade of shops, you will have to fork out £1.25m. Located close to Burgate, the 3,500 sq ft site contains cafe Panteli’s of Canterbury, Cash Resolve and piercing studio Belly Bar.

Theo Panteli, who runs the eatery, says the sale will not impact his 46-year-old business or the other traders along the parade. He said: “It won’t affect us because I have a lease.”

FORMER JOBCENTRE HIGH STREET, WHITSTABLE

The announcement that the Jobcentre in the centre of Whitstable was to close three years ago sparked fury from outraged campaigners.

It shut its doors for good in October 2017 as placard-waving activists gathered outside to say their final farewell.

Its closure was followed by that of Herne Bay’s Jobcentre the following year. This means that people from both towns searching for work have to travel to Canterbury in order to sign on.

The Whitstable building’s £850,000 freehold and £40,000 leasehold are being advertised by Caxtons.

The firm says it could be used to house a shop or a bank, along with offices on its first floor.

Caxtons agent Ms Smallman has confirmed that it has recently gone under offer for a new lease.

CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL SHOP BURGATE, CANTERBURY

An advert inviting businesses to rent the space for £70,000 per annum was first published by estate agents last year.

The owners of the store – the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral – will move it into the Cathedral’s former welcome centre in the next couple of months. Beverley Smallman from Caxtons said: “They are moving their shop closer to the Cathedral Gate. We are currently negotiating a new lease on this property.”

Its relocation forms part of the Canterbury Journey, a multi-million pound restoration project at the Cathedral. Cathedral executive director Andrew Edwards says the shop could be rented as one large space or split into two smaller units.

BARRETTS JAGUAR SHOWROOM ST PETER’S STREET, CANTERBURY

The city centre site that was previously home to one of Canterbury’s bestknown businesses could house a new restaurant.

Motor dealers Barretts ended its 117year run at the site in December after deciding to move to a new £4.5m showrooms in Broad Oak Road.

The site is to be redeveloped with 120 student flats and five retail units underneath. Caxtons is marketing part of the shop space to potential restaurateur for a £150,000-a-year leasehold. An advert reads: “It will provide new ground-floor commercial space left in condition to enable a tenant to undertake their required fit out. The property benefits from a large and prominent frontage that would offer scope for outdoor seating.”

FORMER WAHL BUILDING SEA STREET, HERNE BAY

Buildings that used to contain a grooming products manufacturer are on the market for £4.5m.

The 70,000 sq ft site was put up for sale by global firm Wahl ahead of a move to larger offices in Manston. Clarke & Crittenden and Core Commercial are advertising the buildings, which include seven units and several warehouses.

David Marriott from Core says the block fronting onto Sea Street has been under offer for “many, many months”, but is still unsold.

He added: “I think it’ll be used for light industry and storage and distribution.

“Because it’s an older building and it’s not fronting the A299, I think it’s more likely to be regional companies, rather than national or international names, who’ll take it on.”

The buildings were first put up for sale at the start of last year.

FORMER PURE MAGIK ST PETER’S STREET, CANTERBURY

Most recently a phone accessories store, the site is best known for having been incense-selling shop Pure Magik. When it closed in August 2018, a sign spotted in its window blamed Brexit, increased business rates and reduced footfall for a 67% cut in takings. Since its £24,000 leasehold was first advertised by Azure Property Consultants 10 months ago, it has received interest from clients looking to transform it into an eatery.

David Chatfield from the Whitstable-based firm said: “There were a few clients who wanted it, but needed a change of use, which I don’t think was viable with the council.

“It needs to be a nice independent retailer; it’s not suited for takeaway useoracafeofanysort. “Nobody likes to see empty properties; Canterbury’s already got a considerable number. From the city’s point of view, it’d be good to see them filled up pretty quickly.”