Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Deliver-who? The market town without a fast food giant in sight
Walk along most high streets today and you’ll soon find a global chain dishing up Happy Meals or fried chicken - but not in Faversham. The town is a rarity, without the likes of Mcdonald’s, KFC, Burger King - or even a Chinese takeaway that delivers. But is this convenience food desert welcomed by locals? Reporter Brad Harper finds out...
I’m peering through the window of Yeung’s Chinese Takeaway - along with a young couple - as the owner opens the door for another busy evening. As I walk into the Preston Street eatery in Faversham, I hear the mutterings of someone behind the counter taking a telephone order.
“It’s collection only”, the employee tells them - a line it sounds like he too often utters. In fact, no Chinese takeaways in Faversham offer a delivery service.
The only option available to residents is a 17th century pub willing to deliver Chinese cuisine from neighbouring Teynham, but with that now up for auction, hungry customers will soon have to venture out themselves.
When asked why his business does not deliver to the good people of Faversham, owner Roland Yeung explains: “In the beginning, we had the restaurant running as well so we were too busy - and the business is OK, so there was no need for it.
“I know that if I did deliveries, business would pick up, but if we do that there are more costs like drivers.”
There are other notable voids in Faversham’s takeaway scene - forcing residents to travel for their fast food fix.
Neighbouring Canterbury is littered with all the big names with two Taco Bells on the way - while Whitstable has a KFC and a Mcdonald’s.
Herne Bay - which, up until recently, had been largely free of fast food chains - will soon be home to a Subway and a Mcdonald’s.
While Faversham is generally bucking the trend, it does now have a Domino’s.
The pizza giant launched a branch in Preston Street in 2015 - to a mixed reaction from locals.
News of its plan for the town was met with a wave of opposition from neighbours and conservation groups, with takeaway bosses raising concerns it would impact their trade.
There were the usual fears over the potential for increased litter, traffic, anti-social behaviour and noise from delivery vehicles.
But its arrival was welcomed by many who felt Faversham was crying out for more choice when it came to convenience
food - and in particular, takeaways that delivered.
A quick search on Ubereats shows the only takeaways delivering in the area are two Indian restaurants: The Prince of India in Preston Street and The Raj in West Street.
Deliveroo is even more disappointing, displaying the message: “We’re not there yet! But we’re working on it.”
Just Eat’s website is slightly more reassuring, with fish and chips, pizza and Mexican up for grabs. But the selection would
leave any takeaway fanatic recycling the same orders month after month.
Some might welcome the lack of access to artery-clogging junk food, given Swale’s dubious title of the most overweight district in Kent.
According to the most recent government data by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, the borough has the highest level of overweight and obese adults in the county.
It is fair to say any big chains with hopes of moving into the
heart of Faversham will likely face fierce opposition from residents.
As I walk along picturesque Preston Street into Market Place, I immediately get a sense of why people adore the area and why they are so eager to protect its charm.
Apart from a few national chains - Wetherspoon, Specsavers and Superdrug to name a few - it’s the small, quirky businesses which give the town its character.
Independent bars and cafes surround the stunning Grade Ii-listed Guildhall, with customers basking in the sun around small tables.
Living in Medway, the vast selection of fast food I can order straight to my door is something I unashamedly take for granted.
But walking through Faversham
town centre, it seems most shoppers and business owners do not feel anything is missing.
Harvey Alexander, 48, who owns The Hobby Shop in Preston Street, says there are “plenty of takeaways of different types”.
“There are none of the big names, but there are takeaways, lots of cafes, burger bars and kebab houses and I don’t think there is a need for more,” he says.
“With Faversham, a lot of the businesses are independents so bringing in big-name takeaways isn’t the way forward.
“It’s better for the independent takeaways that provide that service to carry on doing so.
“Whitstable is similar - there are a lot of independent shops there and not big names.”
Mr Alexander believes there
‘The feel of the town is really enhanced by the beautiful shops and independent cafes here and I don’t think Mcdonald’s is beautiful enough to be here...’
could be increased demand for takeaways with more houses being built on the outskirts of Faversham.
But he adds: “When the takeaways come, Deliveroo comes, and the people on bicycles.
“They will bring employment, but also bring litter and groups of youths, which isn’t necessarily the best thing in what is a small, quiet town.”
Lucy Rutter, 49, says Faversham town centre is “lovely because it has lots of independent businesses” and she “really wants to support them”.
“I don’t think it would bring anti-social behaviour but they aren’t very beautiful,” she says.
“There are actually a lot of takeaways so I don’t think it’s needed, and the feel of the town is really enhanced by the beautiful shops and independent cafes here, and I don’t think Mcdonald’s is beautiful enough to be here.”
Her husband, Guy Rutter, 59, adds: “Otherwise it would be just like any other high street.”
Linda Brock, 63, says the town has “more than enough” takeaways, but she does not mind the “few that are here”, such as fish and chips, Indian and Chinese.
“It is a beautiful town of independent businesses without the usual shops like Costa and Starbucks, and we certainly don’t want Mcdonald’s or anything like that - why spoil it?” she says.
“We come from London originally and the high streets have been spoiled by these takeaways, and you don’t find tea and cake shops or restaurants.
“It is all Costas and fast food takeaways like chicken shops.”
Her husband, Steve Foulger, 70, has concerns about what the big chains would bring with them.
“Having moved from an area which is generally associated with a throwaway society, you would possibly get more litter,” he says.
“You would also have a congregation of groups outside because they are popular with some people.”
And Faversham town councillor Julian Saunders (Lab) does not believe there is a shortage of takeaways in Faversham town centre.
“In general terms, the look and feel of the town centre with its rich history, numerous listed buildings and small retail premises doesn’t really lend itself to the national chains which will tend to require larger premises, want very prominent branding and nearby customer parking,” he says.
Meanwhile, Faversham Traders’ Association chair and owner of E Street Music, Tim Brown, says there “probably is” a demand for more takeaways in the town.
“There are a lot of people who would use Mcdonald’s but there are things that come with it, like people hanging around and litter,” he says. “I’m sure there would be a place for it.
“We have three fish and chip shops in town and a couple of kebab shops so I think there is a reasonable amount.
“There are a lot of independent shops, which as a small town we need to protect.”
While most people in Faversham seem to oppose the idea of a Mcdonald’s or KFC popping up in town, Lisa West - the owner of L Jays Attic in Preston Street sees it differently.
“There is a lack of takeaways that deliver,” the 55-year-old says. “We haven’t got anything like Uber Eats apart from the Indian which delivers, and they are really good.
“They are missing out on a trick because a lot of people would order - especially a Chinese.
“I don’t think we need more shops filled with takeaways but I think the ones we’ve got need to look into it.
“I think now there are the houses on the outskirts, I would definitely 100% like more big takeaway chains.
“I would like KFC, Burger King and maybe Nando’s - that’ll do.”
It appears most are content with a lack of big-name fast food outlets in the town - with multinational companies undoubtedly facing fierce opposition if they dare to try and open one.
Mr Yeung, on the other hand, doesn’t seem too concerned about the prospect.
“It might have some effect,” he says. “For now, I don’t think it would be a huge loss for my business. I don’t mind too much.”