The Old High Street Intra in Chatham is bouncing back from the economic hardship of the pandemic and witnessing a resurgence as a host of new businesses breathes fresh life into the area.

A vibrant mix of new businesses have recently set up shop, demonstrating the resilience and vitality of the historic Old High Street Intra, located where Rochester and Chatham High Streets meet.

With five new stores having recently opened and strong interest from other businesses looking to relocate, this short stretch of high street is bucking national trends.

One of the newcomers is School Time, a school uniform shop that has moved from Railway Street, Chatham. Diane Bathe, Owner of School Time, said: “We’re really excited to have completed our move to the Old High Street Intra. The new premises offers plenty of space and our proximity to numerous cafés provides customers with plenty of great options to wait while their uniforms are customised.”

Decktronix, a record shop catering to DJs, producers, and vinyl collectors, is another exciting addition to the High Street. Inspired to relocate by the area’s rich music, arts and cultural scene, the shop has found its perfect home in the Intra area. The expanded premises has been transformed into a popular social hub.

The opening of Ranscombe Studio offers recording sessions to local music acts, ranging from punk bands to solo folk singers, while the Konstanty Mvrzynski Atelier & Gallery brings a distinctive fusion of haute-couture designs and a gallery featuring local artists.

Boasting a huge variety of restaurants and cafes, the culinary landscape of The Old High Street Intra is also evolving with the opening of The KINKI restaurant, which offers fresh-to-order burgers, pasta dishes, and a well-stocked bar, and Amala Buka which introduces authentic African cuisine to the mix, enriching the area’s already diverse food scene.

Cllr Lauren Edwards, Portfolio Holder for Economic and Social Regeneration and Inward Investment at Medway Council, said: “This rich and diverse area is flourishing and has developed a well-deserved reputation as a hotspot for culture, music and creative businesses. We’re delighted new businesses have chosen to move to Medway’s creative heritage quarter and the area’s popularity continues to showcase the resilience of Medway’s business community. We look forward to supporting these businesses and the wider area through Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone programme.”