Kent town’s former main post office set to become Betfred betting shop

The former main Post Office in Tunbridge Wells could be used for Royal Ascot rather than Royal Mail, as there are plans to turn it into a Betfred.

The building has been empty since the post office shut in that location in 2023. It’s on the verge of becoming a grot spot in the heart of the town centre, with graffiti on the hoardings.

Betfred Group is one of the largest global independent bookmakers. Done Brothers (Cash Betting) Ltd, based in Warrington in Cheshire, has applied to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council for a change of use of the building to a betting shop.

Cradick retail property consultants, which was marketing the property from September 2023, said there was “limited interest” in its purchase. It set out how far its marketing campaign went, from agents and web, to property sites, target marketing, boards outside, and particulars.

But it said: “In terms of interest this has been limited subsequently after a year of pro active and general marketing, Betfred is the most serious party and one that came forward, and as such I can confirm the property has been fully marketed and if we could secure an interest on the existing use we would but none has been present and the Betfred interest is the best available and the only one who has truly shown demand.”

The floor layout shows there would be a main counter; customer area; two sets of paper run; a rules/price finder; an early price point; the gantry with two tables with seating, and two sets of banquettes; a bingo area; and stations for numbers and football.

There is also an accessible/customer toilet, and staff facilities including a kitchen, and toilet.

The application says six people would work there. Betfred has two betting shops in the area, one in Calverley Road and one out of the town centre, at St John’s.

Notorious for long queues

The Post Office at Five Ways was notorious for long queues snaking out of the door, especially on weekly pension day, but also during lunchtimes.

As KentLive reported in the winter of 2022, the Post Office’s opening times became erratic due to broken central heating causing health and safety concerns.

It left people worried about sending heavy parcels to arrive by Christmas, as the closure continued for many days while the fault was fixed, with intermittent opening.

And three years before that, we reported how Five Ways Post Office in Tunbridge Wells which had been closed, initially reopened on Saturday afternoons, then full time.

The branch had been sold to a franchise holder ZCO Ltd which carried out a refit with low level counters, PIN pads and hearing loops along with cards, and a gift and stationery section.

But in September 2023, Five Ways Post Office closed for good, and it reopened two days later up the road in Grosvenor Road, a little further from the town centre, in a much less prominent location.

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