The simple opening of a door marked the welcome return of an old friend to Tenterden High Street.

The Webb’s of Tenterden kitchen and homeware shop reopened yesterday, nearly two years after a devastating fire gutted the historic building.

A queue formed outside for the opening at 11am. Staff unlocked the doors and welcomed customers back inside with a smile and a glass of bubbly.

Waiting for them was a transformation with double the retail space, themed rooms and a lift between the ground and first floors.

Director Carol Webb said: “I feel a bit of everything – relief, excitement and trepidation.
“It has been a long 22 months to get to this. Everyone has worked so well but it is a listed building so it all took time.

“I am thrilled with how it looks and what we have now.”

Since the fire on the night of November 5, 2013, Mrs Webb has been trading from part of the family’s ironmongers shop three doors away.

The new shop houses not only kitchen and homeware goods but the linens and babywear that was next door but one. That shop has now closed.

“The fire gave us the opportunity to do what we wanted to do,” said fellow director Nigel Webb. “Although it was devastating, we have brought the shop into the 21st century which we could not have done before.”

The ground floor now houses kitchen and homeware while on the first floor is linens, babywear, bathroom accessories, luggage, gifts, haberdashery and toys with a themed dining room, bedroom and bathroom.

After the opening day, the Webbs took to Twitter to thank people, saying: “We’ve had an amazing, busy day with support and good wishes from all you lovely people.”