Tonbridge Bean

In 2022, the Tonbridge Civic Society (TCS), through its Tonbridge Futures initiative, proposed an exciting and forward-thinking plan to revitalise the long-vacant former Beales department store in Tonbridge town centre. Their idea: transform the site into a vibrant, indoor market and co-working space—a project rooted in community needs, local enterprise, and sustainable regeneration.

While the proposal sadly remains unrealised, primarily due to Sainsbury’s holding other intentions for the site, we at The Tonbridge Bean commend TCS for their vision and the proactive approach they’ve taken to reimagining Tonbridge’s town centre for the better.

A Market-Led Vision for a Modern Town

The old Beales site, empty since the department store closed in January 2020, occupies a significant and strategic location in the heart of Tonbridge. For three years, it has stood unused, becoming both a symbol of high street decline and a glaring missed opportunity.

Recognising this, the Tonbridge Civic Society approached the site’s leaseholder, Sainsbury’s, with a detailed concept: a community-focused indoor market, complete with local food and drink vendors, clothing stalls, second-hand books and records, and a dedicated co-working hub on the mezzanine floor.

Their proposal was far from nostalgic. It was a modern, practical idea—one that tapped into the growing appetite for flexible workspaces, locally made goods, and experiential shopping that can’t be replicated online.

“Vitality and passion go into creating new businesses,” the Civic Society wrote in their proposal. “These concessions could provide a springboard for great ideas which lack the financing to risk taking a lease on a high street premises.”

It’s a model that has proven successful in towns such as Canterbury and shortly Folkestone where similar markets have helped revive local economies and bring communities together under one roof.

The current proposal and site for Beales in Tonbridge.

The Missed Opportunity

Despite the public merit of the scheme, Sainsbury’s—who holds the lease for the unit—has not taken the idea forward. As reported in a separate article, the retail giant appears to have different, undisclosed plans for the site.

For many, this has been a source of disappointment. “It’s hard to understand why such a promising, community-led proposal wouldn’t be explored further,” said Lisa, a local small business owner who would have been interested in a stall at the proposed market. “Tonbridge has creative energy—we just need the spaces to show it.”

TCS had even suggested reimagining the adjacent car park as a public plaza—hosting temporary events like the town’s farmers market and becoming a civic space to anchor the community.

A Lasting Contribution

While the Beales market vision has not yet been realised, the effort behind it is still deeply valuable. The Civic Society has demonstrated that local voices are capable of presenting bold, viable alternatives to high street stagnation. It has also shown a willingness to engage directly with both private stakeholders and the wider public—a model that more towns could benefit from.

Importantly, TCS hasn’t given up. They have stated their intention to continue preparing proposals for discussion with the local authority and other stakeholders.

Looking Ahead

The Beales site remains somewhat in limbo (Sainsburys has yet to start work), and with it, an opportunity to redefine what a high street can offer. While Sainsbury’s may not have taken up the Civic Society’s proposal this time, the ideas it sparked should not be lost.

At The Tonbridge Bean, we believe that civic imagination—combined with real community involvement—is exactly what towns like ours need. The Tonbridge Civic Society’s market proposal may not have come to life yet, but its spirit deserves celebration, and perhaps, in time, resurrection.

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