A raft of chain stores shut across Kent this year amid pressure on consumer finances, rising inflation for most of the year and increased costs for businesses.<\/p>\n
The impending closure of an entire shopping centre added to that number, while numerous businesses launched restructuring efforts or entered administration.<\/p>\n
Many chain stores have closed across Kent this year – but a number of openings are planned for 2026<\/p>\n
But there are new openings to look forward to in 2026, although the loss of Dartford\u2019s Primark store on Saturday – the clothing giant\u2019s first branch closure in more than a decade<\/a> – will make for a disappointing start to the new year.<\/p>\n Here are the chain stores we have lost in the county in 2025:<\/p>\n Poundland<\/p>\n Poundland has suffered from pressure on shoppers, with stores closing in Broadstairs, Deal, Rainham, Swanley, Tunbridge Wells, and Gravesend.<\/p>\n The company was sold for \u00a31 in June and launched a major restructuring plan.<\/p>\n This involved the initial closure of 57 stores in a move which put more than 1,000 jobs at risk.<\/p>\n The discounter, which was bought by investment firm Gordon Brothers, has since announced further tranches of closures as part of efforts to trim its estate from about 800 sites to between 650 and 700 shops.<\/p>\n A store at Hempstead Valley shopping centre in Gillingham is set to close today (Wednesday)<\/a>, while Faversham\u2019s branch will shut on Tuesday (January 6)<\/a>.<\/p>\n Claire\u2019s<\/p>\n The UK arm of fashion accessories business Claire\u2019s tumbled into administration this year after its US owner entered bankruptcy.<\/p>\n Private equity company Modella Capital then struck a deal to save 156 stores, but 145 stores \u2013 employing about 1,000 workers \u2013 were not part of the deal and closed as a result.<\/p>\n Six of those were in Kent, with the county losing two branches in Maidstone, alongside a further four in Ashford, Canterbury, Folkestone and Tonbridge.<\/p>\n Homebase<\/p>\n Home improvement firm Homebase shut 65 shops between January and March after falling into administration late in 2024.<\/p>\n Retail group CDS, run by The Range owner Chris Dawson, snapped up the brand but was unable to save all its stores.<\/p>\n This included Herne Bay\u2019s Eddington Business Park store, which closed in February<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bosses have said recent years were \u201cincredibly challenging\u201d for DIY stores, blaming \u201ca decline in consumer confidence and spending\u201d after the pandemic.<\/p>\n Other chains<\/p>\n While the loss of Primark this weekend will be a blow to Dartford – bosses say their Orchards Shopping Centre store requires too much improvement work – other areas have already lost chain stores this year.<\/p>\n Clarks left Westwood Cross in Broadstairs after more than 20 years after chiefs deemed the store too big for the shoe company\u2019s needs<\/a>.<\/p>\n The unit was later filled by fashion chains Pandora and Rituals.<\/p>\n Sports retailer Decathlon also left Broadstairs this year, shutting its only Kent branch on the top floor of the town\u2019s Tesco Extra in February<\/a>.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, book chain The Works closed its Margate high street branch in June as part of \u201congoing plans\u201d to \u201coptimise\u201d its stores<\/a>.<\/p>\n Away from Thanet, Hobbycraft closed at Riverside Retail Park in Wincheap, Canterbury<\/a>, while the city centre lost Deichmann and Superdry, where HMV is now based<\/a>.<\/p>\n In Tenterden, Holland & Barrett is preparing to shut today (Wednesday), but bosses say they are planning to open a new store in the former Quiz clothing chain unit in Fremlin Walk, Maidstone, which has been empty since February<\/a>.<\/p>\n Park Mall shopping centre, Ashford<\/p>\n Park Mall shopping centre, owned by Ashford Borough Council, will be torn down next year and replaced by an interim car park, with a residential scheme planned in the future.<\/p>\n Traders were told of the council\u2019s plan for the site, off the high street, in February and were originally given a deadline to leave by August.<\/p>\n This was later extended to January 9.<\/p>\n Although many of the businesses have relocated to other parts of the town centre, Savers and Poundstretcher have left the town for good<\/a>.<\/p>\n Savers now wants to open a store in Canterbury high street, and has submitted plans to take over the former Poundworld Plus site to Canterbury City Council.<\/p>\n New arrivals in 2026<\/p>\n A new Aldi store is expected to open in Kennington, Ashford, next year, taking a prime spot off A28 Canterbury Road.<\/p>\n An opening date is yet to be confirmed – and construction of the store itself is yet to begin – but contractors have been working on the main road for months ahead of installing traffic lights<\/a>.<\/p>\n The site was previously earmarked for a Miller and Carter steakhouse.<\/p>\nPoundland is to close in Faversham just two years after opening<\/p>\n
Claire’s in Ashford was one of six stores to close in Kent<\/p>\n
The Herne Bay branch of Homebase closed this year<\/p>\n
Primark\u2019s Bluewater store will remain open, but its Orchards Shopping Centre unit in Dartford is closing
The former Decathlon branch in Broadstairs<\/p>\n
The Works was previously based in Margate High Street. Picture: Google
Superdry in Canterbury closed in August; the unit has since been filled by HMV, which moved across from Whitefriars<\/p>\n
The closure of Park Mall shopping centre in Ashford was announced in February
Savers has left Park Mall shopping centre in Ashford ahead of its demolition<\/p>\n