The story of the much-missed Kent shopping centre left abandoned for years

In a bustling seaside town lies an abandoned shopping centre, lost in time.

Once vibrant and thriving with colourful shops and eclectic items, weeds have now encroached on the tarmac and every building sits empty.

Arlington Arcade is located below one of Kent’s most iconic buildings – a brutalist 1960s tower block on Margate seafront.

While almost everyone has seen and passed an opinion on Arlington House, many do not know the story of its shorter, greatly missed sister.

In its heyday, the arcade had a joke shop, a burger and doughnut stall, a tattoo parlour and many other choices for shoppers.

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But in about 2009, things started to go wrong, and shutters appeared on most of the windows.

It is unclear exactly why the centre closed, and sellers were reportedly by the leaseholders Freshwater told to leave one by one.

Asbestos in the 1960s buildings is rumoured to be the cause.

Now, fly-tipping plagues the “eyesore” area, which is blocked off to the public with tall metal fencing.

The outside has been covered with graffiti, while other parts are used for advertising neighbouring Dreamland.

Local photographer Frank Leppard remembers the mall well.

He told KentOnline: “There was the smell of doughnuts wafting out the arcade onto the front and the gun noise from the open tattoo shop.

“Everyone would chuck those snaps on the floor that go pop from the Joke Shop, which was most people’s favourite place.

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“It was an amazing community of shops – sort of like an open-air version of Margate’s Old Kent Market.

“It always had a good vibe and was 10 seconds from the beach.

“You could get everything from a kiss me quick hat to a stink bomb.

“It is still greatly missed by locals today.”

The complex, along with the flat block, is technically owned by Thanet District Council (TDC).

However, the local authority’s involvement stops at a ground rent basis, and all responsibility lies with Freshwater, which has the site on a long-term lease.

A council spokesperson said: “Thanet District Council has a freehold interest in the land where the Arlington Arcade was situated.

“It occupies part of the land that is leased to the owners of Arlington House, on a very long lease.

“Arlington House, the arcade and associated car park are owned and managed by the leaseholder.”

In 2011, plans were in place for a Tesco store on the site of the car park and the dilapidated stores.

But the proposals were met with fierce opposition by neighbours, who said it would ruin the shoreline.

The supermarket eventually backed out of the scheme due to “changing consumer habits”.

Arlington House residents hoped this would mean the once-loved shopping destination would be revamped.

No such luck.

With the centre still derelict, some say it is putting a downer on the rest of Margate’s vibrant, up-and-coming seafront.

Debbie Loh and John Darbourne live in Deal and regularly visit Margate for a day out.

Mrs Loh explained: “I think it lets down the rest of the seafront.

“We came from the railway station and as you walk in that’s what you can see.

“We’ve been to Margate before, but if that’s the first impression it’s not a good one.

“That’s the bit maybe visitors would take away, as well as people coming back to Margate who live and work here.

“It isn’t great to see that, when there are so many beautiful buildings in this area.”

Mr Darbourne, 59, added: “You’ve got the wonderful sights further down the road now in Margate, and this is a bit of an eyesore.

“It could really do with updating and modernising so the local community can use it.”

Mrs Loh would like to see something done with the area.

The 58-year-old said: “I would like to see it brought back to life since it’s been abandoned for so long.

“It’s going to bring more people into the town. It’s going to be good for jobs rather than just leaving it empty and neglected – that’s going to encourage people to mistreat it.

“It would be good for the area.”

Arlington Arcade was popular with residents of the well-known tower block next door.

Lyndon Brand, who recently moved out after 24 years, is sad to see the condition of the mall.

The 60-year-old retired ambulance worker recalled: “It used to be fantastic.

“It really was. Not only because there were some lovely little shops and nice people, but it was also quite a shortcut. Instead of walking all the way around Arlington House you could go through and it was covered so you weren’t getting blown about in the wind.

“It’s a shame they shut it.

“There was a little shop you could buy most everything in – like a small grocers.

“There were quite a few shops there actually, even on the front, but they’re boarded up now. You wouldn’t even know they were there now, but there was a betting office, a fish tank place, mobility scooters, and laundry.

“A lot of people in the high rise used to do their washing there as it was easier than trying to fit a machine in a tiny little flat.

“It was fun and there were lovely people there, but they just shut them all down. They just said, ‘On your bike – we’re closing it down.’

“They just didn’t give any real answers to these people as to why.

“It makes me sad seeing it in the state it’s in now.”

Freshwater says discussions are at an early stage, but that it’s looking into ideas for the run-down site.

A spokesman said: “We are considering a number of options to bring this important space back into use.

“At this time however all discussions are at an early stage and we are not in a position to comment further.”