A shopping centre’s three highly anticipated new arrivals have confirmed opening dates ahead of the Christmas rush.

Space NK, ProCook and Urban Outfitters are the latest stores to set up shop at Whitefriars in Canterbury.

The council’s flagship shopping centre is enjoying a sharp upturn in fortunes since its controversial £155 million acquisition in 2018, and its associated struggles before and during the pandemic.

Split into two, the former HMV unit – which reopened in St Margaret’s Street earlier this month – will be taken over by Space NK and ProCook.

ProCook, a cookware and kitchenware brand with more than 20 years of experience, will neighbour River Island and is set to open on Friday at 9am.

Lee Tappenden, ProCook’s CEO, said: “We’re pleased to be bringing our new store concept to Whitefriars in Canterbury, offering customers a modern and inspiring space to explore the full ProCook range.

“As we continue to expand across the UK, it’s fantastic to be opening in such a vibrant retail destination and to make shopping with us even more convenient for our customers in Kent.”

Meanwhile, Space NK, a make-up store, and clothing giant Urban Outfitters have set their sights on November 20 for their grand opening.

Taking over the two-storey Deichmann building, this will be Urban Outfitters’ third Kent branch – the other two are stationed at Bluewater and Tunbridge Wells.

Elsewhere in the city, the council-owned Riverside leisure complex is eyeing up another three new tenants as it looks to fully let out the facility for the first time.

Thai Orchid, which also has a restaurant in Whitstable, is poised to open at the end of the month, while the former Sekkoya unit next door is being considered by a hot pot restaurant.

A taproom is thought to be among the contenders for the area originally let to Black Sheep Coffee, which never fitted out the building.

It is hoped these three will help fill out the £115 million development, which was previously called a “ghost town” by Sekkoya bosses.

Natasha Hamilton, director of asset management at NewRiver, commented: “Whitefriars continues to thrive as the retail heart of Canterbury City Centre and we are looking forward to the imminent new store openings, well-timed ahead of Christmas.

“We have worked hard in partnership with Canterbury City Council to further enhance an already strong retail offer, with Space NK, ProCook and Urban Outfitters each bringing something new and exciting to Whitefriars, creating more jobs for locals and more reasons to visit Canterbury.

“Our brands trade well, which creates strong demand for space at Whitefriars. We are working with various existing retailers to renew long leases, and we continue to engage with national and international brands not already represented in the city on potential new leases.”