Hobbycraft confirms new store opening at Riverside Retail Park in Canterbury

Hobbycraft has confirmed a new store will be opening in Canterbury this summer.

The shop will join the chain’s five other stores in the county in Ashford, Thanet, Maidstone, Strood and Tunbridge Wells.

Other retailers already in the park in Ten Perch Road include Morrisons, Boots and B&M.

A spokesman for Hobbycraft said: “We are delighted to confirm that our new Hobbycraft store will open at Riverside Retail Park in summer.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming craft beginners and enthusiasts alike into our new store and will confirm more details closer to the opening day.”

Hobbycraft has yet to confirm which unit the new store will be based at.

Fastfood giant KFC is also set to move into the retail park, becoming the chain’s third restaurant in the town.

Although there is no opening date yet it is hoped the new site will create 14 jobs in the former Carphone Warehouse unit.

The retail park, built in 2000, has always been occupied by retail tenants - but is looking increasingly deserted following the departure of Carphone Warehouse, Argos and Mothercare.

Argos waved goodbye to the site in March 2021 as the retail giant announced changes to the way it would operate in future.

Mothercare then suffered a similar fate in January 2020.

The superstore in Wincheap became one of 79 stores to close country-wide when the company went into administration.