Our town centres were once bustling community hubs where people could buy everything they need for the week.

Over time, with the rise of internet shopping and the explosion of large out-of-town supermarkets, the need for a butcher and baker on your doorstep quickly declined and the high streets started to adapt.

Big chains took over. Restaurants replaced fruit and veg shops and once busy drug stores have been left empty.

Some towns have even started to reduce the number of places to visit in favour of flats and HMOs.

Despite this, stories of new businesses opening are still some of the most popular on KentOnline.

As we welcome in 2025, our reporters had a think about what they’d like to see in their town centres this year.

Ashford - Liane Castle

Ashford town centre gets a lot of stick for "having nothing left" but actually it is lucky to still have some big brand names clinging on.

In County Square shopping centre there's New Look, Next, The Works and The Entertainer to name a few.

Waterstones also returned to the shopping centre after six months away.

The chain left its unit next to Superdrug in June having occupied a spot for more than a decade.

But earlier this month it finally reopened just a few doors down much to the delight of shoppers.

Then there's B&M, Holland and Barrett and Boots in the high street.

The gridlock on the roads and noisy crowds in town on the build-up to Christmas proves it still has a lot to offer.

But you can't ignore the fact that ever since Wilko departed its long-held store in Park Mall in September 2023, there has been a noticeable drop in footfall.

What Ashford needs is more variety.

Another big-name brand to fill the empty Debenhams store in County Square, which has sat empty since January 2020, could do wonders for the town.

There have long been calls for Primark, but any name willing to take on the three-storey flagship unit would help to resurrect the town and save the shopping centre's extension from being turned into flats.

Canterbury - James Pallant

Canterbury’s city centre has it all - stunning parks, a great library, theatre and cinema, a variety of restaurants, and shops for just about everything.

While other places in Kent have struggled to hang on to their high street banks, Canterbury is spoilt for choice.

And as residents elsewhere bemoan the loss of local pubs, Cantabrians argue over which Wetherspoons is top and which is bottom of the high street, and which of the dozen boozers in-between are best.

We are fortunate to have a steady traffic of tourists and students to support so many independent businesses. Some last only a couple of years before being supplanted, but few shopfronts remain empty for long.

Classics like the 14th century Old Weavers House restaurant, Canterbury Pottery, and Cafe St Pierre have been around long enough to prove authenticity and charm is what the cathedral city is all about.

Its blend of historical and cultural significance, natural beauty and bustle attract people from near and far. And yet, Canterbury’s prestige and popularity are the source of some of its problems.

Within the Roman city walls, signal is often poor - in part because Canterbury’s Unesco World Heritage Site status frustrates plans to build mobile phone masts that could obstruct views of the Cathedral.

Another common complaint is the increasingly high cost of parking, but even at £3.70 an hour, the demand is there.

If there is one thing the city centre desperately needs in 2025 besides 5G it is a proper Post Office.

Long waits are standard at the WHSmiths location, and for a city as busy as Canterbury, it is a real shame we have been deprived of a well-staffed, standalone Post Office for so long.

Dover - Sam Lennon

Funny how we can see France from the cliff top at Dover but there is little influence from it in our town centre.

Some businesses have made a nod to our next door neighbours, for example there is a café in the town centre precinct called La Salle Verte (The Green Room).

Tourism information boards have long been both in English and French.

But what’s missing is a full blown French bistro, which is one of the things I would like to see as an improvement in the town centre in 2025.

Dovorians and visitors to the town would probably lap it up. Hop across the sea to Calais and you can eat like a king at surprisingly low prices.

A few years ago over there I had boeuf bourguignon, beef stew braised in red wine, for just 10 euros.

More concessions in car parking charges would be welcome in Dover. The cost is currently £1.80 an hour up to 6pm.

Although that is comparable to the centre of Folkestone, some car parks in the middle of Ashford ask for £1.10 to £1.30 an hour and stop charging after 3pm.

In other ways, Dover town centre has enough to offer and has been enhanced over recent years with new arrivals such as the St James’ Retail and Leisure Park, in 2018.

This gives people more of a choice of where to shop and dine and the arrival of the Fastrack rapid bus service in November will hopefully draw more people to the town centre.

One thing certainly to look forward to in 2025 is the reopening of the 800-year-old town hall, the Maison Dieu, after a £10.5 million investment.

Even more parts will become accessible to the public and the building as a whole is hoped to become once again a major venue for events such as public meetings, concerts and stage shows.

Faversham - Max Chesson

As a traditional market town which prides itself on its reputation as such, Faversham has long managed to avoid reliance on big brands.

While suffering from the same challenges as all town centres, it has generally come out looking like one of Kent’s finest.

Earlier this year, the beloved market claimed the title of the oldest in the county as it celebrated its 1,000th anniversary and is very much the jewel in Faversham’s crown.

There’s a good food scene among the traders, with independent shops such as East Street Deli and Tartan Butchers capturing the hearts of countless residents.

To the outskirts of the town centre is Home Bargains, while Poundland also moved into Preston Street last year – helping to boost the retail sector.

But it would be nice if the town had a big department store-type facility which could offer some more big-name brands while also offering space for start-ups who may not be able to afford the rent on their own.

Failing that, something like a Marks & Spencer or Next would do quite well – though parking would be a bit of an issue.

You’ll also hear some clamour for a KFC or McDonald’s, but whether or not this would actually be a good idea is very much up for debate.

Gravesend- Alex Langridge

"No more nail salons, barbers or takeaways, bring back Marks and Spencer, BHS and Debenhams."

This is what you will hear anytime you ask shoppers in Gravesend what they would like to see in their town centre as they long to see it return to how it was in days gone by.

Although the town does have its fair share of nail salons and takeaways, it also boasts a huge array of independent shops, and leisure activities like laser tag and reformer pilates, pubs and a variety of restaurants.

It is also home to success stories like The Panic Room escape rooms, which continue to expand, and Hatch which has transformed the historic borough market.

Personally, I’d love to see more quirky, independent boutiques and fun cocktail bars open but I know that is perhaps not on everyone’s wishlist.

Maybe the shoppers longing for the town centres of the past are right.

It would be nice to see some of the big-name shops stick around and return to the town to help turn the attention away from Bluewater Shopping Centre.

A department store to fill the gaps left by the likes of BHS and Debenhams might just be the type of business Gravesend needs.

Gillingham - Gabriel Morris

Early 20th-century buildings full of character clash with brutalist sixties façades on Gillingham’s high street, making the town centre shopfronts form a hastily stitched-together, vivid mess.

Yet by day, there’s always a hustle and bustle of locals.

You can usually find what you’re looking for; I’ve hunted for all sorts, from niche tools for a weekend DIY job to a new pair of shoes for work - I’ve never returned empty-handed.

Charity shops, cafés, and hairdressers aren’t in short supply, and a few specialist stores are even part of the offering.

But by night, it’s a different affair. Yes, there are a few pubs, including some friendly backstreet boozers, but other than that, there are few ways to spend your time come dusk.

A few more restaurants on the high street wouldn’t go amiss - people of Gillingham have a taste for more than just a fast-food fix.

After all, there’s a diverse mix of cultures in the town, which could be celebrated with a range of establishments offering these cuisines.

Perhaps some form of entertainment is also needed to draw a crowd at night. An escape room or axe-throwing business could do just that.

Gillingham’s issue is that it competes with neighbouring towns and Chatham Dockside, which arguably have a better nighttime economy. Competing with those won’t be easy in 2025.

Maidstone - Cara Simmonds

Sadly, ever since Zara and M&S left Maidstone town centre I find myself heading there less and less for shopping.

I know it is just two chain brands, but their departure has had a massive impact on the high street.

Now there are more than five fast-food chains along Week Street and a ridiculous amount of vape shops and convenience stores.

I miss Laura Ashley, Paperchase, Topshop and Accessorize along Fremlin Walk. Most of them were unfortunately hit by both Covid and the cost-of-living crisis.

Maidstone seems to have shifted in a different direction, with higher-end stores leaving for shopping centres like Bluewater or going completely online.

I would like to see more clothes brands such as Hollister, Mango and Urban Outfitters appear as well as fun homeware shops like Oliver Bonas and Søstrene Grene.

Most of my time in the town centre is spent eating out at independent restaurants like Frédéric Bistro, La Taberna and Roll 'n' Bowl - the more places like these, the merrier!

Finally, to top it all off, I'd love a swanky cocktail bar that focuses on serving quirky cocktails and hosting exciting musical events.

Margate and Ramsgate - Chris Britcher

Margate town centre has always been a game of two halves. On the one hand you have the revitalised Old Town – pretty streets, an enticing blend of dining and drinking options and an increasing number of independent traders.

As a bolt-on there’s the in-demand outlets over-looking the Main Sands. All are well fed by the new breed of tourists which flock when the sun shines.

Then there’s the classic high street boasting what remains of the big retailers who didn’t jump ship to Westwood Cross all those years ago. The further from the tourist thoroughfares the less aesthetically pleasing it becomes.

But then it’s a rare high street which wins a beauty award. It is, however, in need of some TLC. The Centre – a classic piece of uninspiring 1970s pedestrianised architecture which only its mother would describe as attractive – has been transformed in recent years into a colourful site more in keeping with the nearby Old Town.

Yet both sides of the High Street – split by Marine Gardens – could do with following in its footsteps. It’s blend of retail isn’t enticing enough to pull in the day-tripper, but is functional if uninspiring.

Balance is key though. Margate is home to many – to cater only for the tourist is a risky business it has paid a heavy price for in the past.

Likewise, there are hopes the eye-sore of the former Primark building on the seafront will soon be revamped with proposals apparently in the pipeline.

However, seeking more for Margate is verging on the greedy given how far it has come over the last 20 years. There are food and drink options to suit all tastes and budgets; Dreamland is enjoying a revival as a music venue and, of course, the Turner Contemporary continues to pull in the punters.

And there is, of course, the traditional opposition to too much gentrification in a place awash with the modern-day phenomena. Margate needs to keep its grit along with the gilded element it has welcomed recently.

The biggest wish? To see the Winter Gardens reopened – bringing new life to the Cliftonville end of town. In whatever guise it takes, to have people spreading further up the coast will boost trade and if Cliftonville takes off, Margate will be hard to beat.

Down the road, Ramsgate town centre is big and sprawling. It is also chock-a-block with empty shop fronts.

There are good reasons for this – Westwood Cross’ arrival 20 years ago ripped many retailers away while the collapsing dominoes of big-name retailers with their big footprints further eroded its offering. The timing of the two should never be forgotten. Not to mention the loss of its tourism hey-day all those decades ago. The town has been a victim of our changing habits.

But there is much to take heart from. Because Ramsgate is a place of rare beauty and, frankly, it needs people to cut it some slack.

The pedestrianised town centre is not suddenly going to burst back into life. Those days, sadly are gone. Finding a new purpose for those empty shops is one for those with a better grasp on town centre regeneration than I. But it does need addressing.

A flurry of independent traders plugging those holes would, no doubt, be hugely welcome. But taking a punt on retail in this day and age needs heavy footfall to make it work. Has Ramsgate got that yet? Maybe not quite, especially given the attractions of its magnificent Royal Harbour and beach doing a very fine job of hogging the increasing numbers the town is now attracting.

Ringing the marina are food and drink outlets which can keep visitors more than entertained for a day. But they can blind visitors to what lurks over the main road and further inland.

To change that would take a huge buy-in from the public and private sectors and that seems a trifle unlikely in the current climate.

As for one key improvement? This is never going to happen, but its train station being more than a mile from its retail heart and beachfront is a mystery which never ceases to amaze. When its (former) station was by the beach punters arrived right where they wanted to be. Moving it closer to 'the action' would be a (prohibitively expensive) masterstroke.

Rochester - Nicola Jordan

The small, quaint buildings lining Rochester High Street have never made the ideal places for the big chains you'd normally get in a town centre.

Putting the pub offering to one side, only Costa, Subway and Pizza Express have made it on the historic cobbles, with charity shops, pubs, restaurants and independent coffee shops filling most of the spots.

In some parts of the county, the loss of big chains such as Wilko and TopShop has had a knock-on effect for the rest of the high street.

But in Rochester, its focus on attracting small, ambitious businesses has saved it from a similar fate.

Chuck and Blade is a real success story, going from a pop-up in a coffee shop to running venues across the country.

Whether you want an authentic Italian, a cosy pub lunch or a boozy brunch, there's something for everyone.

But perhaps a taste of something a little different wouldn't go amiss?

An authentic French-style bistro serving gourmet cuisine francais with some fine wines?

Arguably, the best food in the world, surely there's room for a restaurant representing our friends from just over the English Channel?

And it would perhaps provide a nod to La Providence, the Huguenot French Hospital in the heart of the town.

Sittingbourne - Joe Crossley

There has been a large hole in Sittingbourne High Street since Wilko went into administration last year.

It is not a question of whether it needs filling but rather with what.

But the sheer size of the three-storey building means it will be hard for a single retailer to take up residence.

The obvious thought would be new leisure facilities but thanks to the new Spirit of Sittingbourne development at Bourne Place we already have a bowling alley, cinema and restaurants.

But we do lack big brand clothes shops that would bring people into the town. There was once an M&Co, Burtons and Store Twenty One but they have all left.

So with that in mind, a department store or Primark would be the best options to take on the behemoth.

Looking at the current commercial landscape it would only be feasible to see the blue and black giant come to the town.

While it might not be the most exciting option, it could be the best considering how busy the stores are usually in other towns like Maidstone, Chatham and Canterbury, and attract people to the High Street.

It's also worth bearing in mind that it would be able to serve people from Sheppey who I am sure would make the 20-minute trip across The Swale for a shop.

My wish for the brand to come could be granted or dashed very soon as a bid has been lodged for the building by an unknown buyer.

I eagerly await to see who takes on the lot.

What would you like to see in you home town this year? Comment below.