A big-name supermarket has insisted it will not be moving after units at a mall appeared on a property website.

The lease is up on a number of lets at the Mid Kent Shopping Centre in Allington, near Maidstone.

An online advert, by estate agent Sibley Pares is seeking rental offers for a number of units there, ranging from 900 sq ft to 4,800 sq ft, but will not be drawn on which are available.

But while the listing includes a picture with Waitrose in the foreground, a spokesman for the retail giant, owned by the John Lewis Partnership, has said it has “no plans to close”.

The supermarket was the chain's first to open in Kent in 1970.

The advert, which invites interested parties to inquire for availability and rental costs, says the units are listed for D1 use, including “medical/day nurseries, restaurant/takeaway and retail.”

It states: “Potential for alternative uses such as restaurant or leisure, subject to gaining necessary consents.”

The shopping mall has around two dozen units, occupied by independent businesses, charity shops, as well as a pharmacy.

Several traders who spoke to KentOnline said they were surprised at the listing, as the centre is thriving, with no empty units.

Mid Kent Bed Centre owns one of the biggest plots and has been running for 50 years.

Owner Sonny Patel said he had “no idea” why the property had been listed.

“All the units in the centre are full at the moment,” he explained. “I would say we are probably the second biggest tenant after Waitrose.

“We have no plans of moving out.

“We are here for the community, we like the people here and they trust us to provide a service for them.”

Manager Kelly from Boyce’s Bakery said: “We are certainly not moving, our store is very popular!”

Just yards from Waitrose, the company took over a former dry-cleaner’s in March 2020.

Papa John's pizza takeaway and Barnado's charity shop have also insisted they'll be staying put.

A spokesman for Sibley Pares said that several leases in the centre will be finishing at the same time and the advert had gone up to see what will generate interest.