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Morrisons reveal opening date for new Folkestone supermarket
09:15, 29 October 2019
updated: 14:23, 30 October 2019
A new Morrisons will open in Folkestone exactly a year after the original store was destroyed in a huge blaze.
The supermarket in Cheriton Road burnt down after a fire started in a deep fat fryer in the cafe on Thursday, November 8 2018.
More than 50 firefighters battled the inferno at its peak and fortunately there were no injuries.
Over the last 12 months work has been carried out to gut the ruined building, clear the site and then re-build it.
Bosses have now announced it will officially re-open on Thursday, November 7.
This fits in with the chain's prediction that the store would be open in time for Christmas.
The opening will come almost three weeks after a make-shift Morrisons, which was erected in the car park and has served customers since last December, closed.
Since its closure on Saturday, October 19, shoppers have been able to catch a shuttle bus to the Dover shop, put on free by Morrisons.
Earlier this year, plans were announced to completely demolish and re-build the fire-wrecked Morrisons, replacing it with one roughly the same size as the previous store.
But Morrisons made a U-turn on this plan in Marchwhen they revealed parts of the original building - including its steel structure and some brickwork - would be incorporated into the re-build.
Costs and how much Morrisons could re-claim from their insurers were the reasons behind the amended plans.
Partial demolition work started in May, with builders seen on site ever since.
Inside the new superstore will be a wider range of groceries, plus a bakers, butchers, fishmongers and florist, as well as clothing from the Nutmeg range.
Key cutting and dry cleaning services are also expected to be on site, with Amazon lockers installed for customers to collect their online shopping.
During the summer, drivers were left frustrated after claims their cars had been splattered with paint being sprayed onto the new store.
The cars were all parked in the close-by Three Hills Sports Park when airborne paint particles wafted across the lot and landed on their vehicles.
At the time, Morrisons said it was 'aware of this incident' and was 'liaising with the lead contractor to help any drivers affected'.
