Former Wilko Bromley - What readers want to see it become

The store in Bromley High Street officially closed on October 8, 2023, as part of a nationwide chain liquidation in which 111 of its remaining stores closed.

Bromley was among the locations hit by the closures, bringing the end to a major retail outlet on the high street.

The unit remains vacant 28 months after the store closed, and we took to the News Shopper Facebook page to ask readers what they wanted to see the former unit turned into.

At the time of writing, the post had received a total of 192 comments, with a wide range of responses - ranging from retail chains to a nightclub and indoor sports facilities.

Among the suggestions for the former Wilko unit, many felt it should remain a retail space, with discount and homeware stores topping the list. B&M, The Range, and Home Bargains were the most popular choices, followed by Wilko itself.

Other retail options included Farmfoods, Woolworths, Matalan, Aldi, Dunelm, and Iceland, reflecting a strong demand for value-focused shopping and home essentials.

Several respondents suggested that the space could be repurposed for entertainment and leisure activities.

Ideas ranged from nightclubs, bars, and music venues to more family-friendly options such as ice skating rinks, indoor cricket clubs, snooker and pool halls, and general leisure centres, which would add to the existing leisure facilities like the nearby Vue cinema.

Other proposals focused on specialty and lifestyle services, including barbers, nail bars, massage salons, and educational or craft-focused businesses.

A smaller number of comments suggested well-known stores such as Ikea, Uniqlo and the Disney Store, while others proposed food and dining options like Wasabi, large food courts, and all-you-can-eat buffets.

Let us know what you think in the comments below.