A huge outdoor retailer is set to move into a former Wilko in the summer.

Mountain Warehouse will take over the sprawling unit in Canterbury at the top of the high street, relocating from its current base in the city, in The Parade.

It is hoped the new store in St George’s Street will be open by June, making the outdoor clothing brand the third tenant in less than 12 months.

This development comes weeks after the unit was gutted and renovation work started, with new windows and a paint job to spruce up the building, which had become an eyesore in the city centre.

Wilko shut all of its stores after going into administration in August 2023, with the branch shutting for good the following month.

The prominent building has since been acquired by the Arora Family, which has a strong property portfolio in Canterbury, including The new Ivy restaurant.

The Wilko building was previously home to furniture seller Aamad Trading, but the business suddenly closed in October.

A bailiff notice was posted on the front door, stating: “These premises have today been seized on the authority of the landlord.”

In the weeks before Christmas, a pop-up toy and bric-a-brac store occupied the spot – but only proved to be a temporary addition.

Founded in 1997, Mountain Warehouse is one of three specialist outdoor clothing shops in the city centre along with Trespass in St Peter’s Street and Rohan, in Palace Street.

Rival firm Blacks Outdoors in Burgate shut its only Kent store last month.