A city centre’s obsession with bubble tea is showing no signs of slowing – as a sixth store within a mile prepares to open.

T4 is putting the finishing touches on the former Paperchase building in Canterbury High Street – with signage and the inside being updated to accommodate the new business.

It will be the sixth store offering the popular beverage in the area, and potentially the seventh if a similar application at a bus station is approved.

The firm, which started in Taiwan in 2004, has sites in London and Los Angeles as well as another Kent site in Maidstone.

Some of the flavours on offer include pearl milk tea, lychee black tea and coffee jelly milk tea.

An official opening date is yet to be confirmed.

The rise of bubble tea shops in Kent – and particularly in Canterbury – has been meteoric.

Within the last 18 months, three sites have opened their doors in the city whilst 2021 saw 11 new vendors opening across Ramsgate, Gillingham, Herne Bay, Whitstable and Gravesend.

The drink - thought to have first been made in Taiwan 40 years ago - is traditionally tea-based and contains chewy tapioca "pearls".

Sev Michaels, who runs Teastones Boba Hippy in Canterbury with son Nick, believes its popularity has surged because children regard it as "their cocktail".

"They look at the menu and they say ‘oh, I’ll have a rose with peach pearls tapioca’ and they find it really exciting," she explained.

"It’s something for them to really enjoy.

"When the kids come they’re so excited as it’s like their cocktail. It’s their drink they make up."

However, not everyone is a fan of the craze.

The owners of the building which once housed Saffron Cafe, in Castle Street, vowed in December not to let a bubble tea shop move in when it closed in December last year.

“We want you to know we're on the case and do not intend to let the building stay empty for long or become some soulless franchise,” said Julie Dod.

As well as Teastones, In Canterbury, the current bubble tea stores are Mooboo, Cha Lab, Ding Tea, and Bubbleology.