A pharmacist has reassured his customers that he’s here for the longterm as their building goes up for sale for £1 million.

While the Grade-II listed property which houses Cheadles Chemist in Whitstable High Street is on the market, the pharmacy is going nowhere, bosses have said.

Milan Patel, who runs the business, said: “The location is for sale, the pharmacy's not closing.

“I took over the pharmacy in about February or March, we negotiated a new 20-year lease with the landlord but the landlord's position has changed and they want to sell the freehold.

“It's being rebranded as PRX Pharmacy in the next couple of weeks, the fascia will be changed, and I plan to be there for 20 years.”

The shop is currently let out at £30,000 a year on a full repairing and insuring basis.

The lease contains tenant-only break options in July 2031 and July 2038 respectively and there are five-yearly open market rent reviews.

The only element of the pharmacy which could be at risk is the washroom to the rear of the building which is rented out on a tenancy-at-will basis.

If terminated, a payment of £10,000 to the tenant would need to be made to facilitate the moving of the toilets but it is only envisaged this would be the case if the property were to be partially redeveloped

As well as its commercial offering, the sale includes a four-bedroom three-storey residential property, a large rear garden, a partly unconverted barn, and off-street parking.

Marketed by Azure Property Consultants, the estate agent has suggested the vacant areas could be converted into a holiday let – potentially bringing in another £40,000 a year.

Azure said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to purchase a wonderful historic building full of charm and character with endless potential.”

Last year Whitstable patients told KentOnline they felt they had been “left in the lurch” by the loss of pharmaceutical services.

However, the former Cheadles site in Seasalter has now reopened much to the delight of residents.

A community chemist is still due to move into Estuary View within the next few months, although delays have already prolonged the process.

Dr John Ribchester, a GP at the surgery, said: “Whitstable needs all the chemists it's got because the population is large.

“It's nearly 40,000 and it's steadily increasing with all the new builds going on.

“We don't need less chemists. We need to be at full strength.”