An international coffee shop chain looks set to move into Whitstable High Street.

Caffè Nero is rumoured to be eyeing up the building which previously housed Woolley’s Menswear.

Woolley’s has occupied Whitstable High Street for 104 years. It was opened in 1914 by E. T. Woolley, and was recently run by siblings Colin Woolley and Frances Williams.

But the shop shut earlier this year, and coffee giant Caffè Nero – which has more than 800 branches in countries across the world – is reportedly considering moving in.

Advertisements for barista jobs at Caffè Nero in Whitstable have already been spotted online, but a spokesman for the company said he was not yet able to confirm if it will be opening a branch in the town.

The prospect has been met with mixed reactions from local shopowners and residents.

Many are concerned a new chain on the high street, which is already home to a branch of Costa, would put the town’s independent coffee shops at risk by potentially pushing up rent and taking customers away.

“You watch – one by one the little independents will disappear and it will be just another ubiquitous high street,” said one shop owner.

Another resident said: “As if we need another commercial chain coffee shop.”

Brian Hitcham, chairman of Whitstable Chamber of Commerce, said: “At the moment we’ve got a number of big empty stores in the centre of the high street. But with premium rent, you’ll only get a chain going in there.

“It’s just a shame if it’s a coffee shop, which is the worst type of chain we could get in terms of the number of coffee shops we have in the town.

“Anything moving away from food and drink would be preferable. We’re awash with coffee – I think that’s the problem.”

Others, however, have argued a chain would not pose a threat to the high street.

Steve Jones, owner of Whitstable Produce Store, said: “We specialise in local things for local people. While it’s good that there’s one less empty store in the high street, I don’t really believe it would affect us. If anything, it would probably affect places like Costa rather than local places.”