It might only be a little one, but Tunbridge Wells residents have finally got what they wanted after years - a Waitrose.

The Shell St John's petrol station now shares its site with Little Waitrose, after Waitrose struck a supply agreement with Shell for the store earlier this year. Several months of development then went ahead after the forecourt and shop closed on January 15.

The Mayor of Tunbridge Wells Len Horwood officially re-opened the site, cutting the ribbon at 9.30am today.

Some of the 1,000 products available in the dedicated section of the forecourt shop include fresh meat, sauces, vegetables, pasta and stir fries as well as ready meals, pizzas, fruit, vegetables, cakes and a selection of flowers.

The first 1,000 customers who made a purchase in the new store received a free Waitrose branded hessian bag.

The forecourt now includes an additional eight parking spaces, and the store has an extra Costa machine and an additional toilet, bringing the total to three.

Ed Hall, Shell UK alliance and strategy manager said: “We’re pleased to announce the re-opening of Shell St Johns. Working with Waitrose, we are bringing an updated and expanded store to our customers in Tunbridge Wells.

"The service station now offers a great range of products for customers, whatever they need - whether that be grabbing a coffee or quick snack during a rest stop, or picking up groceries for tonight’s dinner.”

The appetite for a Waitrose store in Tunbridge Wells has lingered for many years, with various residents expressing distaste towards the new Poundland store opening in 2015, preferring that a more high-end retailer set up shop in the area instead.

Michael Bourke, business to business development manager at Waitrose said: “We have always been grateful for the support shown for the Waitrose brand in Tunbridge Wells over the years so we are pleased that we are now able to give local people more convenient access to a wide choice of our products.”