A High Street building occupied by Medway's only Barclays bank is going to auction this month. The three-storey building at 263-269 High Street, Chatham, will go under the hammer with a guide price of £1.4 million. It comes just months after plans to split the bank branch into two shops were submitted and subsequently approved. The building's basement, ground floor and first floor are let to Barclays for an annual rent of £60,000 until December 2024.
The second floor comprises vacant offices while an additional ground floor unit was recently leased to a nail salon for £18,000 per annum until March 2038. The current landlord, Winpost Ltd, secured planning permission for various proposals in recent years, which could see the building turned into 15 flats and four retail units overall. Previously, the building was listed for sale by estate agent Watston Day with offers above £1.75 million being invited. It's unclear whether or not the bank will be affected by the upcoming auction sale. Barclays previously declined to comment on the development plans or the future of its branch, saying it was "a matter for the landlord." It's the last surviving Barclays in Medway following the closure of the branches in Rochester in 2013, Gillingham in 2015, and Strood and Rainham in 2021. The sale by Savills Auctions is taking place on Wednesday, 31 May 2023. Find out more by clicking here. A greeting cards chain has shut its store in Chatham's Pentagon Centre. Clintons closed the branch after it decided not to renew its lease, which runs out at the end of this month. It follows the recent closures of Claire's and Yours Clothing at the shopping centre. The vacant unit is being marketed by estate agents Jamieson Mills for an annual rent of £70,000.
Eight staff members are believed to have been affected by the closure, according to KentOnline. The nearest alternative store is located at Hempstead Valley in Gillingham. Clintons did not respond to a request for comment. An American-style burger chain has announced when it will open its first Kent branch at Chatham Maritime. 12th Street Burgers is taking over an empty unit near Dockside Outlet Centre, between Taco Bell and Fireaway. The chain says the restaurant could open in August, creating up to 25 jobs. Plans were recently submitted to Medway Council seeking permission for new signage on the unit's shopfront. 12th Street Burgers claims to be the "only place to get a true taste of America", offering 100% Angus beef smash burgers. It also sells chicken burgers and wings, loaded fries, onion rings, milkshakes and desserts. A spokesman for 12th Street Burgers said: "At present we are awaiting new services (Gas/Electric) to be installed before we can commence our fitout, but we are looking at starting the works in May with a view to open for August.
"We are excited to start works but it all depends on how soon National Grid can install these services for us." The burger chain doesn't have any branches in Kent currently, with the closest being in Southend or Romford, Essex. It's also opening a new branch in Coventry next month, while plans are progressing for franchises in Scotland and Northern Ireland. An American-style burger chain is opening its first branch in Kent at Chatham Maritime. 12th Street Burgers is set to take over an empty unit in-between Taco Bell and Fireaway, near Dockside Outlet Centre. Plans were recently submitted to Medway Council requesting permission for a new shopfront and signage with its branding. 12th Street Burgers offers '100 per cent' Angus beef burgers, as well as chicken burgers and wings, milkshakes, fries and desserts.
The restaurant chain already has stores in Southend, Milton Keynes, Collier Row, West Ealing and Enfield. An opening date for the new Chatham branch has not yet been announced. 12th Street Burgers did not respond to a request for comment. |
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