A long-established bookshop will soon be a Japanese restaurant.

Waterstone’s Earl Street branch shut on Saturday, paving the way for restaurant chain wagamama to set up a 90-seat diner in the building. It is not known yet when the food hub will open.

A Waterstone’s spokesman said some stock had been transferred to the Fremlin Walk branch, but only one member of staff chose to move.
She added: “We would like to thank the team at Earl Street for all their hard work and wish them well.”

Signs have also gone up at Homebase in St Peter’s Street, Maidstone, letting customers know it is due to close on Saturday, July 6.

A spokesman said: “Discussions are taking place with colleagues to identify alternative working opportunities.”

Elsewhere in the town, AMF Bowling is also ready to move to the Lockmeadow complex in Barker Road, where it will open in August as a Hollywood Bowl.

The site it is vacating is unaffected by the demolition of the adjacent King Street car park, scheduled to begin on Monday, July 8.