A much-loved Kent business is set to close for good - sparking concerns over town centre trade and falling footfall.

Staff have confirmed that MB Food Hall in West Street, Faversham, will shut down on October 29 - about nine years after it first opened.

News of the shop’s closure has prompted residents to brand West Street “the quietest route in the town”.

Wanda Herriman, who has been visiting the food hall every week for the last two years, fears more shops could close as the cost-of-living crisis bites.

She said: “There are certain things in there that I can’t get in other shops.

“I’ve noticed prices have been slowly rising.

“It’ll be a loss to the community, but people just can’t afford to spend money. It’s a sign of the times.”

Shoppers Anne Henderson and John Hawes also lamented the loss of MB Food Hall, which launched in 2013.

“We’ve been coming to it ever since it opened,” the pair said.

“It’s a great shame. It sells great fruit, great veg, lovely cooked meat, and has lovely staff.

“What’s not to like?”

Loyal customer Margaret Scott, who says she uses the store up to four times a week, believes it will be “a terrible loss” for the town.

“There are things here that you can’t get in the supermarkets..."

She stresses the shop sells items she is unable to find anywhere else.

“It has everything,” she added.

“There are things here that you can’t get in the supermarkets. It’ll be a terrible loss.”

Despite the closure, bosses from Tommy Butcher, which shares part of the building with MB Food Hall, has revealed its plans to stay open.

Bosses aim to fill some of the gaps the loss of the shop will leave in people’s trolleys.

Assistant manager Paul Cooper stated: “We’re very sad to see the food hall closing.

“We hope this doesn’t stop customers coming down to West Street

“We will still be open and are hoping to extend our range to include some of the products that will be lost next door.”

Other firms have had their say regarding the town centre, with mixed views on the concern shown by residents.

A spokesperson for Ollie Bongo’s Pet Essentials, which has traded in Market Place for about seven years, believes the market “needs to be updated”.

“We are getting worried,” they said.

“It feels like a lot of the smaller shops are struggling. The market needs to be updated.”

Lauren Strudwick, manager of Timpson-owned Max Spielmann Photo Labs in Market Street, feels the issue is more related to non-market days.

“We share the concerns of the residents, but it’s only the odd shop here and there closing,” she said.

“Our concern is more about footfall. On a Saturday, it can be really busy,

“But it doesn’t feel like people are coming on non-market days.

“It’s hard to pinpoint what needs to be done, but something does need to happen.”

Tim Brown, chair of the Faversham Traders Association and owner of E Street Music, is optimistic about the future prospects of the town centre.

“Since the pandemic, the town has been a little quieter, but new shops are springing up,” he said.

“The traders association have spoken about things we’d like to bring in.

“We feel we can do things that will help make Faversham a place that people want to visit.”

The owner of MB Food Hall was unavailable for comment.