A former NatWest bank has been restored to its former glory and put to new use.

Brook House in Swan Street, West Malling, is a Grade II listed Georgian-style property dating from the 1700s with a stuccoed front, a mansard roof, and two columns with stone urns above.

Dr Johnson, the famous essayist and the compiler of the first English dictionary, was a visitor there in 1768 when it was a private home.

The building has been empty since NatWest withdrew in April 2022.

It has now been converted into smart offices for the developer Fernham Homes and a community work hub where people can rent space.

It was officially re-opened by the leader of Tonbridge and Malling council, Cllr Matt Boughton, who said: “Fernham Homes’ new office in West Malling puts the historic former NatWest building to great use.

“They’ve remodelled the inside to create co-working spaces available for local businesses, while bringing high-quality employment into the heart of the town.”

The restoration and conversion cost £2.5m.

It now provides a modern office hub, offering flexible office workspace, with a meeting room and co-working options. In total 40 desks are available for local businesses and residents.

The building now has full electric heating throughout, secure bicycle parking and showers. The car park has been updated with EV charging in all spaces.

The building, originally called Brooke House with an e, will now be known as In The Bank.

Details of room or desk hire can be found here.

More than 60% of the workspace is already occupied.

The specialist electric vehicle charging supplier Brim Chargers was the first tenant. The company's founder Toby Massey said: “Being a technology company, a lot of our work is remote. However, spending time together in a co-working space like this is important for our culture as a team and collaboration.

“This is what keeps us innovating, solving problems and creating new ideas. Not just with each other, but the other people that we share it with.

“Working within the housebuilding sector, we’re looking forward to sharing the same building as Fernham Homes, sharing insights and bouncing ideas off one another.

“It was a big draw for us along with the convenient location and facilities – it’s like a home from home for the whole team.”

Sean Ellis, managing director of Fernham Homes, said: “We are thrilled to be opening Brook House in the same year as we celebrate our 25th anniversary.

“It means a lot to us to bring such a treasured and prominent building back into use for the local community and economy, introducing a new flexible workspace offering and business hub in the town centre.”