On March 23, 2020, the country was plunged into an unprecedented lockdown. At the time, many of us expected just a short stint of closures for shops and businesses in our high streets but the weeks turned into months as we were all told to stay at home.

So exactly two years on, we sent reporter Laoise Gallagher to Chatham High Street to find out how much has changed and if firms are recovering...

The sun was beating down on Chatham High Street, precisely two years after the country was plunged into the dark abyss of the very first lockdown.

That recognisable smell of freshly roasted coffee from Coffee Republic and the smoke of a dozen cigarettes hit me as I stepped out of the Pentagon Shopping Centre and onto the bustling street outside Primark.

The scene was distinctly different to that of March 23, two years previously. The ghost town that Chatham became was once again jubilant and thriving, or so it seemed.

Groups of friends and families were gathered on the benches chatting loudly with plenty of shopping bags in hand – adorned with familiar logos of Boots, Primark, Superdrug and Sainsbury's.

But my contentment of relaxing in the sunshine came to an abrupt end when I ventured through the doors of Chatham's independent businesses, .

They say they are struggling now more than ever, with rising costs of living and a lack of investment meaning they are clawing at what they can to prevent themselves falling into a financial black hole.

A shop assistant from Mr Flower, a florist in the High Street, said: "The passing trade is absolutely diabolical. It's awful.

"During the lockdowns we were actually okay. This time two years ago we had lots of Mother's Day orders to do because people couldn't get out so we were doing contactless deliveries of bouquets.

"Now we're back open but we're dealing with price increases everywhere so people don't have the money to spend.

"We're also having to put our prices up because flowers are more expensive to buy, plus if we're doing deliveries then the cost of fuel means we are losing more money."

She added that for many independent businesses it is no longer about making profit, it is simply trying to keep their head above water.

"On the high streets now it's just estate agents and banks, the independent shops are just dropping off all the time," she said.

Continuing my walk, I headed towards the old Debenhams store. It had closed in January 2020, before we realised the ferociousness of the virus that would soon take over our lives.

At this end of the high street the crowds dwindled and the sun was blocked by the shadows of the old department store.

It was eerily quiet, except for one pair sat on a bench loudly discussing a mysterious disease that could apparently be cured by a swim in salty seawater.

Not wishing to hear any more of what sounded an increasingly disturbing conversation, I stepped into Kent Quality Fish, a seafood shop which despite the pandemic opened its doors in April last year.

Moshtaq Latifi is the owner and said that since opening in the height of restrictions he had seen an improvement in terms of people coming through the door.

He was able to stay open throughout the lockdown as the shop was classed as 'essential', however he admitted the business was still struggling to break even and some months would even make a loss.

Covid cases are currently on the rise across the county, with 968.6 cases weekly cases per 100,000 in Kent – up 265.4 compared to last week – but for businesses such as Kent Quality Fish, this is the least of their concerns.

Mr Latifi said: "To us, Covid is almost old news now. There are many other factors at play."

He added: "Firstly Brexit and the supply chain issues as well as the current war in Ukraine – it all means that the prices at suppliers are going up.

"When we go to the market to buy our goods, they're all two to three times more expensive which is pushing us a lot.

"If it continues in this direction it could lead to closure for us because our prices are going up and our customers can't afford those prices anymore.

"The current economic situation is definitely more of a concern to us than Covid is now."

Both of the teams at Mr Flower and Kent Quality Fish expressed a concern for the future of Chatham High Street and the accessibility in terms of parking.

The manager at Mr Flower has been on the High Street for 35 years and believes the cost of parking close to the store is now "extortionate" and losing them valuable business.

According to the Pentagon Shopping Centre website, one to two hours will set you back £1.70, with a £1 increase for every two hours added.

For those at Mr Flower this can be difficult when trying to arrange quick collections for sensitive issues such as funeral wreaths, as customers have to pay out and can't park up easily.

The shop worker told me: "The parking wardens are so hot on it as well.

"We can't even have someone park up and nip in to collect some funeral flowers for two minutes without them going out to a fine. The council needs to do something about it to help us."

To finish up my whistle-stop tour of Chatham, I made my way along to the Dockside Outlet.

Since 2020, there have been many changes at the site, with restaurants Villagio, Friendly Phil's and The Broadwick moving out in February last year.

It hasn't been one-way traffic – moving in have been ITV's Ninja Warrior to the old Dickens World unit and a new KFC has just opened up shop.

Despite the car park being noticeably more busy than this time two years ago, there were still relatively few people around.

Inside the outlet it seemed people were making a beeline for The Range at the very back or heading to a café for brunch but it certainly wasn't overcrowded.

A big blue tent was positioned in the middle of the entrance hall with Covid testing and boxes of free lateral flow tests being handed out.

It's a stark reminder that, two years on, we're still not out of the woods yet.

Many shoppers were taking up the offer of a free testing kit with free testing set to end after April 1.

Covid patient numbers in Kent have risen by almost 30% in a week as new cases continue to soar across the county.

As new cases have risen, so have the number of people with the virus in Kent's hospitals – from 240 to 305. Just up the road from Chatham in Gillingham, Medway Maritime Hospital in particular has seen a jump from 32 to 50.

We are told it could be much worse were it not for the vaccination programme – but there is no jab in the arm that can shield businesses from the impact of rising costs.

Tudor Price from Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce said: "Rising costs have come at a poor time, businesses are just on the brink of recovering and getting a bit of foot fall back into high streets.

"What we're seeing now is obviously the rising costs, passed on to businesses and retailers by their own supply chain.

"We've also go rising energy costs and no business enjoys the pleasure of an energy cap on their bill which can be incredible sums of money at the moment – up to 300% increases.

"And the consumers are of course also struggling which means they're not looking to spend any money at the moment, so unfortunately that creates a downward spiral and it's very hard to get out of that."

Babette Powell from bpHR consultancy said traders were finding themselves in a catch 22 situation, not knowing what to do for the best.

She said: "Ultimately to survive it may come down to adding the increase onto services and products offered to the clients and customers.

"However, if they are in the same boat as you then they will just go and find someone cheaper.

"It's a catch 22 situation to know what is best but there have been so many small businesses starting up in recent years, it would be a real shame to see them not survive now."

So what does the future hold for Chatham and its high street?

Sunny Ee, Medway Council's assistant director of regeneration, talks enthusiastically about its potential.

He describes how by building new homes near shops in the town footfall will hopefully increase.

And with a huge cash injection on the way, perhaps it could be just what is needed to help businesses recover.

“We are continuing to invest heavily in Chatham, our emerging city centre," he said.

"Medway is one of just 72 areas across the country to benefit from the government’s Future High Streets Fund.

"We need continued long-term investment from government to support the recovery of our high streets.”

"We have received nearly £9.5million which will be invested into Chatham to further economic growth, increase housing and create more jobs and to provide a vibrant town centre experience.

“We have also received an additional £14.4million from the government’s Levelling Up Fund which will be invested in three projects The Docking Station, The Brook Theatre and The Fitted Rigging House, to support the area’s flourishing creative sector and provide further opportunities for economic growth.

“Our acquisition of the Pentagon Centre and Mountbatten House, alongside our own housing company’s, Medway Development Company, Waterfront and Garrison Point developments which will provide high-quality housing in Chatham, further demonstrates our commitment to ensuring Medway continues to thrive, supporting our economy, local businesses and jobs.

“These are exactly the kind of measures which are needed to ensure true levelling-up across the country and we need continued long-term investment from government to support the recovery of our high streets.”