The smell of fresh coffee and the sound of chit-chat now fills a high street shop that has stood empty for more than a year.

Costa Coffee’s new cafe in Gillingham, which has created eight jobs, was officially opened by Gillingham and Rainham MP Rehman Chishti.

He joined manager Magdalena Kwiatkowska on Tuesday to cut the ribbon and said “it was a pleasure to officially open the new Costa Coffee store which is bringing new jobs and helping trade in the town”.

The branch is on the corner of High Street and Green Street, opposite WHSmith.

A spokesman from the company said: “So far we have had fantastic feedback from our local customers. We are proud to become a part of the local community.”

Costa will be open from 6.30am until 7pm on Monday to Saturdays, and 8am until 6pm on Sundays.

The building used to be Albermarle Bond Pawnbrokers but the company went into administration in early 2014 and closed the store.

Ward councillor Clive Johnson said: “I am concerned about local businesses that aren’t chains but on balance, I think it’s a good thing, the high street is in need of regeneration.”

Having lived in Gillingham all her life, fellow ward councillor Naushabah Khan hopes Costa is the start of new investment in the town.

She said: “Unlike Rochester High Street, which is very much made up of small traders, small businesses and coffee shops, I think for Gillingham High Street this is a really positive move.

“For a long time now I’ve been saying Gillingham High Street needs investment and improvement so it’s good to be able to see something like Costa coming in. Hopefully that will drive some of that change.”