Ashford's Macknade branch is set to expand into an adjoining unit before Christmas - as a leisure complex previously branded a 'ghost town' begins to fill up.

The family-run business opened at the £75m Elwick Place development in February, becoming the first food-and-drink tenant to move into the site.

It is now preparing to take on the former Ashford International Model Railway Education Centre (AIMREC) spot, which closed in August.

Managing director Stefano Cuomo, who is in the sixth generation of the family business, says staff will knock down the wall separating the units to make more room.

His current set-up - which is below the six-screen Picturehouse cinema in Elwick Road - offers 5,123 sq ft of space, but expanding into the ex-AIMREC site will add a further 3,500 sq ft.

Mr Cuomo says he will be increasing his offering of wine, spirits and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as selling more groceries and an extended delicatessen counter.

When his current unit opened in February, about 30% of the space was dedicated to the sale of goods, with the remaining 70% taken up by a dining area.

Mr Cuomo says he is still "ironing out some bits and pieces" but hopes to expand into the AIMREC site before Christmas.

"It will take us a couple of months to kit it all out," he said.

"It has not been plain sailing with Covid, but the team has been absolutely fantastic.

"We have just got to get through Covid and as a community we can manage it together and get the best out of it."

Mr Cuomo - whose family has been running a food hall in Faversham for decades - says he has been pleased to welcome back customers following the coronavirus lockdown.

"We had a fantastic first month in February and then we were just about to start opening in the evenings and were put into lockdown," he said.

"In June, we reopened with more retail space and people have enjoyed the grocery side of it.

"It is great that people are coming back in and finding us again."

Mr Cuomo says expanding at Elwick Place will create more jobs, but couldn't confirm how many.

"We have still got a long way to go, but the opportunity in Ashford is huge," he said.

"It is such a diverse town and to be here now is wonderful.

"The other units near us are starting to come along now so it is really positive.

"I think, in the next two to three years, it will be really buzzing at Elwick Place."

All but one unit at the Elwick Place development is now under offer, according to council bosses.

The development - which is owned by Ashford Borough Council - has faced criticism since opening in December 2018 following the lack of interest in units underneath the cinema and Travelodge hotel.

Initially expected to be filled by big-name chains, it took more than a year for the first food-and-drink tenant to move in.

But during an ABC cabinet meeting last Thursday, the authority's head of corporate property and projects, Paul McKenner, said: "It is pleasing to report that of the nine units in Elwick, all but one is under offer and going through legals."

Built on the site of the old Ashford market, ABC says the development is intended to grow the town's night-time economy and become a destination in its own right.

In a report prepared ahead of the cabinet meeting by Philip Bond, ABC's senior commercial estates officer, he says there has been a "significant change in the retail sector" since the development was planned and designed.

"The areas are filling up, but we do have to give some attractive discounts"

"The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has only exacerbated the situation in the retail and leisure sector," Mr Bond said.

"The impact of how we leave Europe is also unknown at this time.

"However, against this background, the council and its development partner, Stanhope PLC, has been in negotiations with a number of parties interested in taking up leases within the development.

"While there is still uncertainty in the retail and leisure market, if the leases are signed, it is possible that the majority of the development may be let by Christmas or the New Year."

During the meeting, council leader Gerry Clarkson (Con) confirmed progress is being made.

"The areas are filling up, but we do have to give some attractive discounts to them to get them in to start with, as they did with Canary Wharf," he said.

"The big development there was empty for a year, but they gave people free rent for a year and now you couldn't get in there if you tried - it's like a complete new city there now."

An Afro-Caribbean restaurant featuring a tapas lounge and bar is still set to open at Elwick Place.

Dansaki - which means ‘thanks to God’ - was set to open underneath the Travelodge in December last year, catering for about 110 diners.

But despite hosting a launch event last winter, the 2,325 sq ft unit remains empty.

In a statement, Dansaki said: "Covid affected a bigger part of our current business which is event catering.

"This was funding the restaurant project and at the moment our focus is to get that back on its feet which has pushed our opening date much later than we planned."

Despite having to leave its Elwick Place marketing suite in August to make way for the Macknade expansion, AIMREC chiefs say they are working to secure an alternative site.

They say it will provide a "stepping stone to our declared objective of occupying the ground floor of the former Debenhams unit".

In a statement, they said: "The trustees have been working on plans for the new location of the marketing suite, which remains in central Ashford.

"For this enhanced offering, we are looking at charging a small entrance fee"

"It will be larger than Elwick Place, with a better ambience, and gives an opportunity to set our stall out to attract the investment and financial support we need to grow.

"The new location will offer the opportunity for a wider display of exhibits to supplement the model railway layouts, longer opening times including weekdays, a retail offering, and potentially space for workshops, seminars and to display restoration work in progress on parts of the historic layouts.

"For this enhanced offering, we are looking at charging a small entrance fee to contribute to what will be increased costs in setting up and operation."

It is not yet known where the new marketing suite will go, but it is not the former M&S site in County Square.

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