Flames engulf old Debenhams sending smoke billowing into air as dozens of firefighters battle blaze

[@marksmith9218]

What's with the eerie music, couldn't they have come up with something more uplifting, like 'smoke gets in your eyes'?

[@Themanyfacesofego]

@@marksmith9218 I like the eerie music.

[@Themanyfacesofego]

Canterbury City Centre has been in decline for about a decade. It was a wonderful store. I think homeless people must have lit a fire to keep warm...and that's another problem: We have built thousands and thousands of homes in the area, but have more homeless than ever. Somethings not adding up.

[@gabriellaj.o.6180]

Canterbury is improving to how it was. Whitefriars is full for the first time since the pandemic and the old Wilko is under offer to another major retailer now at long last after the cheap tat retailer that was there. Most of the shops are filled apart from the tat shops but the city is better than what it was but too many restaurants. Debenhams went nationwide. John Lewis looked at this store but never took it on. The rent was £1m a year and no chain can make that work.

[@karenconway6061]

I worked in this building, some parts at the back part of building were so old. There was a crypt in the basement that was part of the cathedral. What a shame that all that history has gone.

[@gabriellaj.o.6180]

You used to be able to eat in the Crypt which was a restaurant until Health and Safety put a stop to it.

[@TheHateSpeechChannel]

Ahh, I love the smell of insurance claim in the morning 😅

[@gabriellaj.o.6180]

This is disgusting that this happened. It's happened with the Grade 2 star part of the building. I blame CCC and English Heritage who should have stopped this lying empty for nearly 6 years. Nasons had a fire as well. I hope the building can be saved and I hope they are made to redo it as it was as a grade 2 star building internally. Now , surprise surprise the development may not go ahead. Don't understand why someone like the Original Factory shop does not take the main building or even Hoopers or Frasers as at least there would be a use for it. It's such an eyesore. Well done the fire men who stopped the historic heart of the city being destroyed. It could have easily spread to other buildings. The owners of Debenhams buildings have no intention of doing any development in Canterbury. They should be made to sell it to someone who will give it a future. It could easily be a Frasers store with the old furniture store a Flannels and the former children's store a Jack Wills. Shameful. We all knew it was going to happen. Arson for sure. 15 year old brat local to Canterbury arrested and charged. Hope he rots in jail for years.

[@Bluediamond200]

Getting rid of the old buildings it’s what they do, bring in the new.

[@gabriellaj.o.6180]

They cannot demolish this as it's a Grade 2 star building and will have to be rebuilt as it was whether the landlord likes it or not. There is no intention to develop the three Debenhams buildings because they don't have the cash.

[@serzh1950]

Petrov and Boshirov raise concerns about improper handling of matches

[@gabriellaj.o.6180]

A 15 year old boy has been arrested and charged with arson. How he got in I do not know. It was quite secure

[@serzh1950]

@@gabriellaj.o.6180 ⚡ Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega signed a decree allowing the construction of Russian military bases in the country and the deployment of cruise missiles there. The distance from Nicaragua to Washington is no more than 3,000 kilometers in a straight line. Mikhail Mishustin, the Prime Minister of Russia, instructed the Russian Defense Ministry to reach an agreement and sign an agreement on military cooperation with Nicaragua.

[@user-ih6vs3eg3o]

As a Canterbury resident this doesn’t add up, I remember something in the local newspaper saying that they wanted to put new flats there. Let’s see if that happens bc no matter what they will destroy this beautiful old building originally a theatre

[@gabriellaj.o.6180]

It is not happening. The other two shops were due to be sold off but it has not happened. The flats and 12 shops is not happening as it's too costly and it's a listed building. The Grade 2 star part has to be rebuilt internally and externally as it was. Canterbury could do with another department store. Why Frasers cannot buy this store I will never know. That being a Frasers and Flannels across the road with Jack Wills in the third owned by Frasers would rake it in given the young profile of the city and Mr Ashcroft would be welcome in the city as well.

[@user-ih6vs3eg3o]

@ I stand corrected, I agree Canterbury needs another department store John Lewis would do so well here. We have too many pop up cafes and vape shops and so something like a small outlet style Ralph Lauren, hollister, lacoste, house of Fraser or something like that would do so well.

[@gabriellaj.o.6180]

@@user-ih6vs3eg3o We do and guess what a 15 year old youth from Canterbury has been arrested and charged with arson. The damage in the day time looks bad from the aerial footage on here. The main part has gone through all three floors. I do miss the Crypt restaurant in the basement which we ate in the 1980's and 1990's. Why it closed I will never know. Debenhams owned the freehold of this store once then sold it to lease at £1m a year and it just could not work. John Lewis did look at this but baulked at the rent and who could blame them. No one can manage £1m in rent a year.

[@gabriellaj.o.6180]

Thank god we have Fenwick and M and S. I do hope they never go or Canterbury is finished. A city with 5 department stores once upon a time, Debenhams, Nasons ( up for sale for £6m as Biggleston Yard, BHS now Primark it is truly sad to have two ex department stores lying empty facing each other. Hope John Lewis consider Canterbury in the future.

[@user-ih6vs3eg3o]

@@gabriellaj.o.6180 I’d say there’s some hope with the ivy and Olivia bonas coming to Canterbury they filled up cheap and tacky pop up shops, unfortunately the church also controls it of the rent and they can be very greedy. I was born here and live here now and there is hope for the future. The area is being gentrified like Whitstable was!

[@poli946]

34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. 35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.

[@tedoneilclark4710]

Poor UK another great institution gone to wreck and ruin. Destroyed actually, so very sad.

[@khadeejarahman8372]

Oh commiserations to you Debenhams plus all those whose lives and properties must have been caught up in the inferno! I pray that you be greatly rewarded/replenished here on Earth and in the Hereafter for we do come into this World with nothing, therefore shall leave with none(Amen/Ameen)! Be cheerful and please do not grieve extensively for its all God's Work! Have a Wonderful Christmas nevertheless and do stay safe at all times! Fondest memories! Khadeeja Alghali-Rahman (London, UK)💪👋😭🤣🥳🎉🎥🕴️🦌🦋🦗⚓👁️🐔🕊️🦢🐑🐄🧞🏋️🤼🐘🦞🐾❤️🐞🌴🏞️🦕🐉🐊🐢🦖🏜️🌜🌛

[@LindenButters]

Handy for insurance.

[@catherinemeakes9234]

If it was an old building and had been closed for a long time, gas and electricity would have been cut off so what caused the fire 🔥

[@gabriellaj.o.6180]

Arson

[@leec4027]

Glad ive just purchased an EV

[@leec4027]

The Sun 😂😂 dont tell me Russia caused it.....

[@mrnobody1067]

NEVER BURNT BEFORE 😠😠😠😠😠😠😠🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧