WH Smith has announced the return of another Toys R Us store in Kent.

The high street retailer has unveiled the next 17 locations the toy shop will launch within its stores over the summer - including Maidstone.

The stationary store, which has already opened nine Toys R Us shop-in-shops as part of its retail partnership with the brand, is to open another 30 of the concessions by the end of August.

In June 2023 it was announced that Toys R Us was set to return to Kent in Canterbury’s St George’s Street WH Smith.

It came as the big-name retailer brought back its first nine shops after it closed all of its branches in 2018.

Yesterday it was confirmed that the next wave of 17 Toys R Us’ stores will be launched nationwide within the next two months as the group looks to bring back a brand “known and loved since the mid-80s”.

The firm’s move to open the first concessions last year marked a return for the children’s chain following its collapse more than six years ago.

It announced plans for a relaunch in October 2022, before striking an exclusive deal with WH Smith for concessions in the UK.

Sean Toal, high street managing director at WH Smith, said: “I have seen first-hand how positively our customers have responded to the new ranges.

“Many tell me it feels like a back to the future moment – a brand they had known and loved since the mid-80s which is back to deliver the magic to a whole new generation of families.”

He added: “From Hereford to Hastings, today we’ve unveiled the first 17 locations for the new Toys R Us stores in WHSmith.

“Not only is this an exceptionally exciting time for our colleagues and customers, but we’re also proud to be bucking the trend by continuing to invest in the UK high street.”

As well as opening a store in Maidstone 16 other Toys R Us shop-in-shops are due to open at the following WH Smith chains:

– Hereford, Herefordshire
– Fosse Park, Leicester
– Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
– Guildford, Surrey
– Sutton, Surrey
– Shrewsbury, Shropshire
– Salisbury, Wiltshire
– Victoria shopping centre, Nottingham
– Woking, Surrey
– Hastings, East Sussex
– Thurrock, Essex
– Newton Abbott, Devon
– Halifax, West Yorkshire
– Lancaster, Lancashire
– George Street, Richmond, London
– Taunton, Somerset