A place which once echoed with the clatter of barrels and the scent of hops now buzzes with the footsteps of shoppers as Fremlin Walk shopping mall marks 20 years, stirring memories, sparking opinions and raising questions about what comes next.
In March 2005, Fremlin Walk in Maidstone opened its gates to the public following years of planning and construction.
Built on the site of the former Fremlin’s Brewery, the £75 million open-air shopping centre aimed to revitalise the town centre and attract national retailers.
The original brewery, founded in 1861, was a major employer until its closure in the 1970s.
Some original features were preserved in the new development, including a red-brick archway and a gold elephant weather vane, based on the company’s logo.
Locals still associate the site with its brewing past. “I remember walking past the original brewery in ’68 as a kid thinking, what’s that ‘orrible smell? said David Moran.
“My dad told me it wasn’t ‘orrible, it was hops.”
Ivan White, who ran the Pudding Lane shop Fad Graphics from the 1950s and now chairs the Friends of Maidstone Museum, remembers exactly what the area was like before the shopping centre arrived.
“I think everybody was disappointed in the sense that it wasn’t a covered centre in the beginning,” he said, referring to the expectations for an enclosed mall.
He recalls how changes to roads and building layouts disrupted local trade at first.
“The road used to go right through here,” he said, recalling how the layout dramatically changed.
“It disappeared underneath what is now the shopping centre.”
Fremlin Walk added more than 50 shops to the town centre, along with a multi-storey car park and improved pedestrian access from Week Street and Earl Street.
Big names like Boots, H&M, Waterstones and River Island took up space early on, and many are still trading two decades later.
Newer brands such as Pandora, Lovisa and Build-A-Bear have joined in more recent years, while others, like Zara, have moved out as retail strategies shift.
General manager Lloyd Wright has worked at Fremlin Walk since before the doors opened.
“I’ve been here nearly 21 years, he said.
“She’s my baby. I’ve seen her through recessions, through the pandemic, through changes in ownership and everything in between.”
He says the retail landscape has changed significantly.
“The way people shop has changed.
“It’s not just about buying something quickly, it’s about the experience.
“People want to feel safe, have a nice place to eat, maybe browse, maybe meet a friend.
“That matters now more than ever.”
Lloyd believes the future of Fremlin Walk lies in becoming more versatile.
“Eventually, I can see it becoming a one-stop shop. You’ve already got your banks, but you might also have your opticians, your dentist, maybe even your doctor’s room,” he said.
“It’s about making it useful and accessible for the local community.”
That vision is shared by Ivan White, who has seen the town evolve over the decades.
While Lloyd focuses on convenience and diversification, Ivan links this need to a broader change in Maidstone’s population.
“There’s huge amounts of people who live here now,” he said, pointing out that many of the old office buildings in the town centre have been turned into flats.
“Doctors, dentists, food shops, those are the things people living here actually need.
“What the town needs is what we’ve lost, which is the Marks and Spencer’s,” he added.
Among those who regularly use the centre are younger shoppers who’ve grown up with Fremlin Walk and now notice the shifts more keenly.
Tegan Homeward and Lexi Preston, both in their twenties, said the shopping centre still has its appeal.
“They got rid of Zara, though,” said Lexi. “Everyone wants it back; that’s what people always say.”
The pair agreed they want to see more well-known, mainstream brands return, the kind of names that currently pull people to places like Bluewater.
They described the area as “posh” and said they enjoy visiting, but feel more big-name brands would improve the experience.
Not everyone supports the idea of expanding services beyond retail.
Valerie Prebo, a long-time local shopper, said she values Fremlin Walk as a clean and well-maintained place to shop, and hopes it stays that way.
“You’ve got your little clothes shops and a few little shops. I think that’s how it should be.
“It’s nice seeing the big brands,” Valerie added, “but when you can see the little things with it, it makes it a little bit more like home.”
Philip Shorter, another resident, praised Fremlin Walk’s layout, describing it as feeling “like a village”.
He believes the area needs to lean further into offering a unique, in-person experience.
“If you want the shoppers to come in, you’ve got to give them an experience rather than just a shop,” he said.
Mr and Mrs James, who often visit Fremlin Walk for lunch, described it as “the only decent place in Maidstone” these days.
The couple, who asked us not to use their first names, said: “Week Street and the High Street aren’t what they used to be.”
They especially enjoy Pret and say the centre feels cleaner than other areas in town.
While they would like to see more independent shops, they doubt many small businesses could afford the rent.
What bothers them most is the sight of empty shop units.
Not everyone is impressed by Fremlin Walk’s offering.
Charlie Tea described the centre as “soulless,” adding: “As much as Frasers has added a presence it’s not a good shopping experience. I’d rather go to Canterbury or Bluewater — it’s personal choice, of course.”
Ann Wingrove, a long-time Maidstone resident, agrees.
She said: “I’ve lived in Maidstone virtually all my life, and I had to go to the NatWest bank and decided to go for a wander and browse.
“Sad to say, but there wasn’t any shop I felt draw me in.”
Sue Hackett shared a similar view. “When Fremlin Walk opened there were plenty of good and varied shops, plus, of course, House of Fraser, which was a lovely shop with many franchises.
“Unfortunately, it is no longer like that so I never shop there.”
Behind the scenes, Fremlin Walk isn’t just about retail. It plays a part in supporting its community too.
It runs a sustainability programme that now diverts around 300 tonnes of waste annually.
Coffee grounds from cafés are passed on to a local landscaper who shares them with care homes and community gardens. They are both a nutrient source and pest deterrent.
Rooftop beehives have also been maintained for five years, helping pollinate nearby parks and green spaces.
“You don’t see that from the high street,” Lloyd said. “But it’s happening, and it’s working.”
Security remains a key part of the operation.
The centre has 24/7 staffing and works closely with Kent Police and One Maidstone BID to manage anti-social behaviour.
The name Fremlin Walk comes from the Fremlin’s Brewery which stood on the same site.
Founded in 1861 by Ralph Fremlin, the brewery quickly became one of Maidstone’s biggest employers.
Ralph, known for his strong Christian values, refused to sell beer to pubs and instead focused on bottling it for people to drink at home, a unique approach at the time.
By the early 1900s, Fremlin’s was the largest bottling brewery in the country.
Its elephant logo, a nod to the strength of its ale and the far-reaching trade routes of the British Empire, is still visible today on the centre’s archway.
The Maidstone Museum has a new permanent exhibition, called The Oldham Gallery: Exploring Maidstone’s Past and Present, which highlights local history and includes a section on the Fremlin Brewery.
Opening hours for the museum in St Faith Street are 10am to 4pm on the days it is open. Opening days vary between low and high season so check the website for details at museum.maidstone.gov.uk
The museum is closed on Sundays.
