A new Greggs store has opened its doors today, marking the bakery giant’s first branch in the town centre.

The shop in Folkestone is welcoming customers for the first time this morning following a long-awaited opening.

It has moved into the former Barclays building, which has stood empty since June 2023.

Sitting on the corner of Sandgate Road and West Terrace, the eatery promises to create 12 new jobs and provide a “modern and convenient” spot for customers to grab their favourite items.

The opening follows months of anticipation after Greggs previously withdrew plans to move into the same building earlier this year.

Greggs has confirmed the new store will be open daily from 6.00am to 7.00pm, offering both indoor and outdoor seating.

Gillian Long, retail operations director for Greggs, said: “Our new shop in Folkestone Sandgate Road has brought 12 new jobs to the local area, as well as providing customers with a modern, convenient new place to experience their Greggs favourites.”

Located opposite the empty former Debenhams department store, the town centre finally has a Greggs of its own - with the nearest branch previously two miles away at the Shell garage in Cheriton.

Neighbouring towns Dover and Ashford each have three Greggs stores, while the chain is also preparing to open in Whitstable High Street as its expansion across Kent continues.

The news comes as Roisin Currie, the chief executive of Greggs, has urged the government to avoid any “surprises” in the autumn budget, as the chain continues to feel the effects of the national insurance hike.

She said: “I guess what’s not helpful is when it’s something that comes out that surprises us, and that’s what happened with the national insurance last year - we weren’t expecting that and it came in very quickly.

“It’s quite hard to plan and manage a business when you have a £20 million hit that you hadn’t predicted or weren’t aware was coming.”

Greggs has said the higher rate of employer national insurance, along with the rising minimum wage, has put pressure on its overall business costs.

It is expected to open 120 new shops this year, which is 20 fewer than it had predicted and has increased the price of some of its menu items as a result.