Traders are anticipating a devastating slump in business after it was revealed their town's biggest tourist attraction is to stay closed for 12 months.

Businesses in Dartford town centre are expecting to see sales plummet after a council report said The Orchard Theatre would be shut for a year following the discovery of RAAC in the building.

The closure, announced on September 5 after RAAC, or Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete, was found in the roof, initially led to the postponement of shows until the end of that month.

That was then extended until October 31 but the latest revelation that it will last until well into 2024 and could cost £7 million to fix has come as a huge blow for the local economy.

Gurjit Randhawa, who has run Esquires Coffee Shop in High Street, Dartford, for seven years says the announcement of the ongoing closure is devastating for his business.

“The cast and crew in particular spend a lot of money here,” he said.

“As soon as I heard it was staying closed I immediately knew we will see a huge fall in our sales, especially over Christmas.”

Gurjit admits the festive season can be particularly tricky financially for the high street as Christmas shoppers head to the bigger shopping centres nearby.

The theatre’s pantomine was a great way to boost sales during the difficult time.

“The Christmas month is bad for the high street,” he said. “But the panto would really help with families eating here before going to a matinee and the cast and crew coming for coffee and lunches in between rehearsals and shows.”

Gurjit said he would even stay open late during December so the panto workers could grab some food between shows.

The Coffee Pot, in Hythe Street, is the closest cafe to the theatre.

Head waitress Petual Hayden is expecting sales to be hit by as much as £100 at the weekends.

“We are so busy on a Saturday with families eating here before the shows, because it is cheaper,” she said.

She said they too would get a lot of business from the staff and stars of the shows.

“I’ve served Gangsta Granny,” she said. “They would all come in here to eat or grab a coffee whilst they were working.

“All the people who work there come in for their dinner.

“We think we are going to lose £100 every Saturday now the theatre is closed.”

Market trader Abby Phillips runs The Baking Nanny stall and says she will definitely see sales of her baked goods dip.

“The ladies especially would come on their way to a matinee and buy a cake to have while they were watching a show. It will definitely affect my business hugely.”

Multiple shows and performances have been postponed or cancelled by Trafalgar Theatres, which manages the council-owned venue, and that number is set to rise.

However, there is a glimmer of hope, as Dartford council says it is working with Trafalgar on finding an “alternative setting”.

No announcement has been made about the theatre’s annual pantomime – and this week tickets were still being sold for performances.

Soap star Shona McGarty was due to take the lead role in Beauty and the Beast from December 9 until New Year’s Eve.

Rebecca Latimer, from Swanscombe, was one of a group who had booked tickets to the Christmas show and is furious the full amount had to be paid by October 2 despite the building’s future being up in the air.

“I knew it wouldn't be open for Panto yet they (Trafalgar) still expected us to pay for tickets by October 2,” she said.

“They wouldn't give an extension until the end of October when they said we would find out the next update so the lady who does our group booking decided it would be too much hassle and cancelled, therefore forfeiting our deposit.”

She added: “I feel really sorry for the workers in there. First they had to deal with Covid, and now this. Hopefully it will recover and it will not be sold off to developers and turned into flats or something.”

Other shows potentially affected by the closure include Frankie Boyle on November 13, Sister Sledge on November 14, Gareth Malone on November 26, Showaddywaddy on January 6, Swan Lake on January 17/18, Jimmy Carr on February 3, Stranger Things on February 12/13 and Anton Du Beke on March 3.

A Dartford council spokesman said: “We’ve previously said that Dartford Borough Council is working with Trafalgar Theatres to minimise the impact on performances while RAAC is removed from The Orchard Theatre’s roof.

“This is substantial work and we are determined to minimise the disruption to the theatre, its staff and local businesses that depend on its trade.

“As a public authority we operate with full transparency and the process of creating alternative provision during the time the Orchard Theatre is closed is something we are committed to share openly.

‘We are going to lose £100 every Saturday’

“Both the council and Trafalgar Theatres are working hard on alternative arrangements to explore whether performances that would have taken place at The Orchard Theatre can take place within an alternative setting and this item is the first step towards that.

“We expect to make an announcement within a very short time.

“At the heart of all this is our absolute commitment to providing entertainment in the borough and also carrying out the repairs to the theatre that will see it serving Dartford for many decades to come.

“In those circumstances, we would ask ticket holders to future performances to wait for further information from The Orchard Theatre.”