A great atmosphere, just four empty shops and no litter or chuggers… could this be Kent’s best high street?

There’s certainly a buzz around Tenterden as bustling crowds make their way through the town during the annual Christmas market - an event that seems to grow in size every year.

But just as importantly, punters venture there all year round, taking advantage of the numerous quirky stores to explore.

So what keeps people coming back in their droves?

Will Cleaver, 74, who moved to Tenterden six months ago, said: “I love being able to walk everywhere, and I support all the local merchants.

“When I moved from America, I needed everything, like a kettle and an iron, and I bought it all from Webbs.

“You’ve got Waitrose, Tesco. This morning, I’ve been to the doctor’s around the corner, the dentist up the high street and had a glasses appointment. I didn't need a car.

“In the summer, you have the train and all these gorgeous open spaces to walk in - it’s absolutely brilliant.

“I have a bus stop a minute away from my front door, and you can go to Maidstone or Ashford and get the high speed to London, and then you’ve got the country at your fingertips.

“There’s a lot of talk about high streets dying, but for Remembrance Sunday, they shut the high street, and it was like the entire town came to the war memorial - the street was packed with young and old.

“It was incredibly moving - a real sense of community.”

Costa, Waitrose, Tesco, Boots and Specsavers call Tenterden home - but there are not many other big-name brands.

It also features one of three The Original Factory Shop stores that remain in the country, with the others in Headcorn and Biggin Hill, after the closure of their Deal High Street store earlier this year.

Such is the predominance of independent businesses, residents were less than amused when Domino’s recently moved into the former Lloyd’s bank on the high street, which had been vacant since 2017.

Estelle Burton, who has lived across the East Sussex border in Rye for the last ten years, says Tenterden’s image should be preserved.

She told KentOnline: “I think it's great for an enjoyable little wander. I usually head to Hastings for my practical shopping, but here, it’s a charming high street, and I love shopping for vintage items, so that’s mainly why I come here.

“It’s got its own identity, and that’s what it should stick to. We probably ask a similar question of Rye, which is more in danger of having too many knickknacks shops that aren’t really practical for every day.

“I think they could add more big-name stores, but it needs to be done in a very selective way that’s sympathetic to the surroundings.”

What also sets the town apart is its lack of empty shops, with only four vacant units.

As the annual Christmas market got underway, with dozens of businesses braving the fierce weather of Storm Bert, we asked traders what they make of the town.

Lawrie Williams works for Butternut Box, which offers tailor-made food and meal plans for dogs. He was amazed at the welcome he received on his first trip to the town.

He said: “Tenterden’s really lovely, even though the weather’s been less than ideal.

“We travel all over the south, but it’s been a good town to come to. The whole market has been really lovely and I’ve made a few sales.

“There’s been a good mix of people around as well and they’ve been so welcoming. Sometimes you can go to places, and that’s not always the case.”

Another factor in any town’s success is its nightlife, which in Tenterden continues to grow.

For many years, its high street has been home to four pubs, but this year it has also welcomed The Grapevine Champagne and Jazz bar.

The Old Dairy Taproom is also open seven days a week, offering punters craft beer and wine and holding live music events twice a month.

Bosses behind the Loungers chain also recently revealed they will open their fifth Kent branch inside the former Embassy Cinema building, which will now be shared between the bar/cafe and Rockits Sensory.

However, the plans do leave the leisure scene lacking one vital ingredient: a cinema. Many were disappointed that the building, which had been vacant since M&Co fell into administration, would not return to its former glory.

Previously, an ambitious scheme to restore a cinema to Tenterden was abandoned in 2022 after no suitable location could be found.

Tamarind Thai will soon join the town’s variety of independent restaurants, which will replace This Ancient Boro after the town centre ale house and tapas bar closed its doors earlier this month.

Will Cleaver added: “I don’t really participate in the nightlife often, but I did go to the Euro final at the local pub, and it was brilliant - I may have been the oldest person there, but it was superb.

“I always hear them from my flat on a Friday night, and I like that. There’s always an atmosphere.”

Despite being one of Kent’s smaller towns, with a population of just over 8,000, Tenterden punches above its weight - offering something different to the busy city of Canterbury and county town Maidstone.

Finding somewhere to park isn’t a major problem, with supermarket giants Waitrose and Tesco still filling prime town-centre locations and the local leisure centre offering more spots.

The Kent and East Sussex Railway also draws punters in with its locomotive between Tenterden and Bodiam, welcoming 90,000 passengers a year.

Danielle Sellers, from Canterbury, said: "There are fewer chain shops here than Canterbury, and it just feels quaint and nice. It’s something different from the norm.

“It definitely has its own identity, but it is somewhere, I’d say, that is probably a bit more expensive and a bit classier. It has a nice feel, with nice places to stop and have drinks and food.

“I think if it had more chain stores, it would lose its appeal. This year, I’m trying to buy presents from independent places, which is another reason I’ve come to Tenterden.”

Paul Budd, from Staplehurst, agrees that Tenterden’s shops are pricier than other towns - but thinks the overall experience is worth paying more for.

“Maidstone is a bit rubbish these days, which is why I love coming here,” he said.

“Some shops are like stepping back in time and a bit quirky. It’s different from the run-of-the-mill high streets. I mean, today I’ve come here to go to the ironmongers.

“Parking can be a pain this time of year, but we got a spot at the train station, £8 for the whole day. I really can’t complain.

“The area may be a bit dearer, but when I can go out for a meal and thoroughly enjoy it, I’ll be happy to pay.”

While the golden age of Kent’s high streets may have passed, it’s clear that punters can still find shopping havens full of character if willing to explore.

Maybe now is the time to venture to Tenterden, which has firmly established itself as one of Kent’s very best.

High street snapshot:

*Number of empty shops: A solid offering with only four vacant shop fronts, with plans in the pipeline to bring life back to one long-term empty unit

*Biggest name in the high street: Tenterden lacks the usual assortment of big-name brands but makes room for a small number of staples, including Boots, Waitrose, and Costa

*Hidden gems: The town is full of hidden gems ready to explore, from independent restaurants to quirky boutiques

*Amount of litter: Even on a day as busy as the opening of the town's Christmas market, there was no rubbish to be seen

*Number of chuggers: No chuggers to be seen despite the crowds

*Low point: Its lack of leisure facilities has to be the main drawback, and unfortunately there’s nowhere to go past 11pm

*High point: Praise has to be given to Tenterden’s thriving independent scene