Kaspa’s Desserts in Canterbury High Street to shut permanently

A dessert restaurant is set to permanently close amid plans to convert it into a fish and chip restaurant and takeaway.

Kaspa’s Desserts opened in Canterbury High Street in January 2016 but after eight years, the business is closing its doors next week.

In a notice displayed in the shop window, bosses thanked their customers but said they would be serving them for one final time on September 25.

It comes after submitted plans to convert the cafe into a fish and chip shop were withdrawn.

Planning papers state the applicant plans to lodge a fresh application with “improvements”.

A change of use application was initially lodged along with listed building consent to install kitchen and extraction equipment and shopfront alterations.

In the closure notice in Kaspa’s window, bosses wrote: “This store will be permanently closing.

“The last day of trade will be Wednesday, September 25.

“Thank you to all of our customers.”

Kaspa’s has been approached for comment and whether it plans to look for new premises elsewhere in the city.

The company will have five branches left in Kent - Ashford, Sittingbourne, Dover, Broadstairs and Chatham.

But with plans yet to be approved for any replacement business, the site looks set to sit empty until permission has been granted.

Residents have shared their upset over the loss of the Canterbury Kaspa’s branch.

One wrote: “Perhaps just not getting the trade on a high street location? Such a shame…”

Another said: “Devastated… Kaspa’s is better than Creams.”

It comes as an international gelato chain revealed plans for its first Kent store which will open later this year inside a former high street bank.

Ice cream purveyors Amorino already boast 30 stores across the country but is now transforming the old TSB building on the corner of Parade and Butchery Lane in Canterbury.