More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Traders are full of beans after plans to open a Costa or Starbucks on a seafront appear to have ground to a halt.
Rumours have swirled over the past three years that a cafe or restaurant chain could move into the vacant ground floor space at the Bun Penny flats development in Herne Bay.
Developer Dean Tevfik, who bought the fire-hit former pub in 2014, had gained planning permission from Canterbury City Council to use the area as either a restaurant or cafe in 2016.
Last year, he told KentOnline he had twice met with representatives from Costa to discuss moving into the space in Central Parade, Herne Bay.
He also said he would be open to offers from the likes of Starbucks, Ask Pizza and Subway.
But the plans appear to have been shelved as an application has been submitted to convert the space into a flat.
Nigel Hancock, who launched a petition against a national chain moving in two years ago, said: “As a local businessperson, I think a lot of people will be breathing a sigh of relief.
“A lot of small businesses in town were very wary and nervous about potentially having a Costa or Starbucks there.
“It would have been a popular option for visitors in the town, but it would have detracted from some of the local businesses.”
Nejmi Hassan, who owns Makcari's, says a Costa would have improved business for him, believing that it would increase footfall along the seafront.
But he thinks it would have dented trade for smaller cafes.
“Anyone who believed a chain would have moved into the Bun Penny was living on cloud cuckoo land,” Mr Hassan said.
“That's not a viable site for that kind of business when it only has footfall for three months of the year.
"The turnover a chain would have to make is so much higher than an independent.
“It's probably being changed to residential because potential buyers may be put off living above a cafe.”
Eight of the 14 flats in the block are still for sale on property website Rightmove, ranging in price from £299,995 to £550,000.
Mr Hancock's 2017 petition received more than 350 signatures from residents demanding the space be used to house an independent.
He believes the developers missed a trick by deciding not to do this, adding: “It's a shame that a prime location like that couldn't be used to add value to the town.
“It could be used productively for retail or ideally for a tourist information location.
"There aren't that many establishments in town where you can sit that close to the sea.”
Mr Tevfik was unavailable for comment.
