A shoe shop is reportedly to leave a shopping centre three years after joining the complex. Pavers will leave Ashford Designer Outlet in October this year, after opening its store at the centre in 2023, it has been reported. The shop's unit sits between ProCook and Le Creuset.

Peter Heritage, the outlet's centre manager, said the chain will leave the site in October, adding that "this was a commercial decision taken by the brand", Kent Online reports. He also said: "While it's always disappointing to see a brand leave, we're already in active discussions with an alternative retailer. "We're confident the unit will be reoccupied in time for the key Christmas trading period."

The departure of the store from the shopping centre means there will only be one standalone Pavers store in Kent, at Chatham Dockside.

Pavers was launched back in 1971 in York by Catherine Paver and now has over 100 stores in the UK.

This comes as, earlier this month, another footwear brand, Russell and Bromley, went through a major restructuring after entering administration.

The company, which was established in 1880, completed a £2.5m pre-pack administration deal in January 2026. Retail giant Next stepped in to acquire the company's brand name and all intellectual property rights.

Next's acquisition was highly selective in terms of maintaining the company's physical retail presence. The deal only included three high-profile store locations: Chelsea, Mayfair, and the Bluewater shopping centre. A total of 33 shops and nine retail concessions were not part of the deal and those locations have since been forced to close their doors permanently.

In its administration FAQs, it added: "NEXT acquired the brand name, domain names, and intellectual property of Russell & Bromley. NEXT also acquired 3 stores: Mayfair (London) 395/397 Oxford Street; Chelsea (London) 64/66 King's Road London; and Bluewater, Kent. All other stores are under the control of the Administrators."

"While the previous operator has ceased trading, the Russell & Bromley brand will be operated by NEXT in the near future. In the interim, former Russell & Bromley customers are welcome to shop with NEXT."