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Go Outdoors rumoured to be taking over empty Tesco site in The Brook, Chatham

A new camping superstore could take over the empty Tesco site in Chatham.

Many shoppers were disappointed when the store in The Brook closed in April and any optimism they had for a new supermarket on the site will take a hit after a revelation on a business website.

According to trusted site BDaily, GO Outdoors is set to take over the space at The Brook and open by spring next year.

Tesco's store in Chatham closed on April 4
Tesco's store in Chatham closed on April 4

Go Outdoors specialises in camping and sporting equipment and has branches across Britain, the closest being Thurrock and Canterbury.

The piece, posted on Friday, said: “The news broke after builders were seen to have been on the site for a long period of time maintaining the building, it was then discretely released that the camping retailer would be taking over.”

The site claims a Go Outdoors spokeswoman has also officially confirmed the speculation.

Go Outdoors branch in Canterbury
Go Outdoors branch in Canterbury

Rumours surrounding the future of the site have included demolition and a housing redevelopment as well as the possibility that budget supermarket Aldi would takeover.

Tesco had been serving Chatham and the wider area since the 1970s and 121 people lost their jobs when it finally closed its doors in April.

The branch was shut down as part of a company-wide cull to cut costs, with 42 of Tesco’s other stores also closing.

Tesco store, The Brook, Chatham
Tesco store, The Brook, Chatham

The Tesco closure followed news that it scrapped plans to expand its Strood store and that Sainsbury’s had decided to pull out of building on the Medway City Estate.

This year the supermarket giant reported the worst results in its history, with a pre-tax loss of £6.4 billion for the year to the end of February.

The Medway Messenger contacted Go Outdoors for a comment, but did not receive a response before the paper went to print.

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