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Home Canterbury News Article
While plans are afoot to transform Canterbury's Debenhams when the troubled department store closes in January, a number of large city centre sites remain empty.
We take a look at what the future holds for those which have shut, or are set to close their doors for good.
Beaverbrooks, St George's Street
The established jewellers, which had been in a prime spot on the edge of Whitefriars for 15 years, closed down this summer. The firm said it was "unable to make the store commercially viable" and closed its doors for the final time in June.
Instead of keeping the long, narrow shop as one, there are plans to split the unit into two smaller retail spaces. The first half remains under offer and discussions are ongoing with a retailer on the second unit, but terms are not yet agreed.
Nasons, High Street
A stalwart of Canterbury for almost a century, the department store closed in September last year as it struggled to cope with "brutal" trading conditions.
Bold plans for the boarded-up eyesore are believed to include a Brighton Lanes-style shopping thoroughfare, but the site owners are remaining tight-lipped. More details on a possible development are expected to be revealed before Christmas.
Currys PC World, Iron Bar Lane
The electrical retailer moved to an out-of-city retail park three years ago. Since then, the large unit has remained a frustration for shoppers and the city council.
Landlords DSG Retail Ltd has been leasing the store to Computers 4 Africa since 2016. But the charity rarely uses the city premises - giving the impression the unit is an empty eyesore.
DSG's lease expires next month, when the building will handed back to the landlord.
The city council is resisting attempts to allow the site to be used as a restaurant.
Debenhams, High Street
One of the largest shops in Canterbury spreads across a number of streets and floors, but is set to close in January.
In a bid to breathe life into the heart of the city, an ambitious project dubbed the Guildhall Quarter has been devised. It comprises 12 retail units on the ground floor and 70 flats above, with the development reaching five storeys at its highest.
The ambitious plans are set to be formally submitted in the coming weeks and it is hoped permission will be granted in the New Year.
Poundworld, High Street
Another large vacant unit. The discount retail chain closed more than a year ago and has remained empty since. There have been no planning applications for the site - the doorway of which has become shelter for some of the city's rough sleepers - and its future remains unknown.
Blacks, Burgate
Closing down sale signs have been in its windows since January, but the clothing retailer still remains in Burgate.
Staff admit they don't know when they'll be gone, and for the time being the shop will stay open.
Cotswold Outdoor,
The renovation of the soon-to-be vacant Debenhams site will see the Cotswold unit rejigged. Closing down signs have appeared in the window of the outdoor retailer and its expected to shut permanently in the second week of October.
Kennedy's shoe shop
A global coffee chain wants to open for business in the former long-standing shoe shop.
Kennedy's, which had been in Sun Street for 150 years, left Canterbury two years ago.
Greek firm Mikel has submitted a planning application to turn the Cathedral quarter unit into a coffee house.
Butchery Lane shops
Caribbean restaurant Turtle Bay won a bid to open a branch in Butchery Lane by converting three shop units opposite The Shakespeare pub.
It is due to open on the site of Optical Express and the vacant units formerly occupied by the Oasis bar and Toni and Guy salon, but diners are still awaiting news on the much-anticipated opening date as the firm remains tight-lipped.
Thomas Cook, High Street
Following yesterday's collapse of Thomas Cook, there will be another vacant unit in the city.
There's no sign of action at the Canterbury store and it has now permanently closed.
Number 12 Tearoom, Sun Street
In a bid to breathe life into the heart of the city, an ambitious project dubbed the Guildhall Quarter has been devised. It comprises 12 retail units on the ground floor and 70 flats above, with the development reaching five storeys at its highest.
The ambitious plans are set to be formally submitted in the coming weeks and it is hoped permission will be granted in the New Year.
A host of new shops have opened in the city in recent weeks and months.
The team at Canterbury's Business Improvement District, which helps manage the city, say they are "encouraged" by the continued commercial interest across the city's streets.
Recent new openings:
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