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Maidstone: The Works moves into The Mall, King Street, as Poundland announces expansion plans

A familiar name in discount shopping is moving to a Maidstone shopping centre as part of a £5million refurbishment.

The Works, which last served customers in the town last June but was burnt to the ground in a devastating arson, will open in The Mall, King Street, later this summer.

It will be located next to H.Samuel jewellers in the unit formerly occupied by Samanthas on the upper level and will offer savings of up to 80%.

The Works was completely destroyed by the fire
The Works was completely destroyed by the fire

The unit The Works used to occupy on Week Street had to be torn down following the blaze and is currently being rebuilt. It has not yet been announced what store will be moving in.

Poundland is having a complete refit and will be expanding in to the unit next door, increasing its floor space by almost 50%.

That move will mean neighbouring M&J Luggage will relocate to the vacant unit next to it.

It's a case of out with the old in with the old opposite those two stores as T J Hughes returns to its old unit in the complex.

Several of the staff made redundant when BHS, another of The Mall's major retailers, went under have found new jobs at T J Hughes.

TJ Hughes store in the Mall, Maidstone, just before it closed in 2011
TJ Hughes store in the Mall, Maidstone, just before it closed in 2011

The news comes as the £5m refurbishment of the centre — which has seen new entrances, lighting, toilets and an expansion of Golden Boot into the former Ship Inn on Gabriel's Hill — surges towards completion.

Suzie Brindle, marketing manager at the centre, said: “We’re thrilled to be welcoming The Works to The Mall, and a brand new store for Poundland too. There’s lots of exciting changes taking place, and we’re sure both new stores will be hugely popular with our shoppers.”

The Mall in King Street
The Mall in King Street

Gareth Holland, retailer assets manager, said: “With the extensive refurbishment of The Mall almost complete, Poundland have exchanged an agreement to upsize and refurbish their existing store to create a unit of almost 10,000sq ft.

"Its opening should be almost simultaneous with the opening of the new 30,000sq ft T J Hughes store. The refurbishment will be fully completed by the end of September when further new lettings will be announced."

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