In a bustling seaside resort lies an abandoned shopping center, lost in time.
Once vibrant and thriving with colorful shops and eclectic items, weeds have now encroached on the asphalt and every building stands empty.
Arlington Arcade sits beneath one of Kent’s most iconic buildings: a 1960s brutalist tower block on Margate’s seafront.
While almost everyone has seen Arlington House and has an opinion about it, many do not know the story of its smaller, much-missed sister.
In its heyday, the arcade had a joke shop, a hamburger and donut stand, a tattoo parlor and many other choices for shoppers.
But around 2009 things started to go wrong and shutters appeared on most windows.
It is unclear exactly why the center closed, and vendors were reportedly told by Freshwater’s tenants to leave one by one.
Rumor has it that asbestos in buildings from the 1960s is the cause.
Now the ‘eyesore’ area is plagued by fly tipping, which is closed off to the public with a tall metal fence.
The exterior is covered in graffiti, while other parts are used to advertise neighboring Dreamland.
Local photographer Frank Leppard remembers the mall well.
He told KentOnline: “There was the smell of donuts wafting through the arcade to the front and the sound of gunfire coming from the open tattoo parlour.
“Everyone threw those pictures on the floor that came from the Joke Shop, which was most people’s favorite place.
“It was a great community of shops, sort of an open-air version of Margate’s Old Kent Market.
“It always had a good atmosphere and was 10 seconds from the beach.
“You could get anything from a kiss me quick hat to a stink bomb.
“It is still greatly missed by locals today.”
The complex, together with the apartment block, is technically owned by Thanet District Council (TDC).
However, the municipality’s involvement ends on a land rental basis and all responsibility lies with Freshwater, which has a long-term lease on the site.
A council spokesperson said: “Thanet District Council has a full interest in the land where the Arlington Arcade was located.
“It occupies part of the land that has been leased on a very long-term basis to the owners of Arlington House.
“Arlington House, the arcade and associated car park are owned and managed by the leaseholder.”
In 2011 there were plans for a Tesco store on the site of the car park and derelict shops.
But the proposals were fiercely opposed by neighbours, who said it would destroy the coastline.
The supermarket eventually withdrew from the plan due to “changing consumer habits”.
Arlington House residents hoped this would mean the once-beloved shopping destination would be given a new look.
No luck.
With the center still deserted, some say it’s putting a damper on the rest of Margate’s vibrant, up-and-coming seafront.
Debbie Loh and John Darbourne live in Deal and regularly visit Margate for days out.
Ms Loh explains: “I think it lets the rest of the coast down.
“We came from the train station and when you come in you see that.
“We have been to Margate before, but if that is the first impression, it is not good.
‘That’s the piece that visitors might take away, as well as people coming back to Margate and living and working here.
“That’s not nice to see, while there are so many beautiful buildings in this area.”
Mr Darbourne, 59, added: “You now have beautiful sights further up in Margate, and this is a bit of an eyesore.
“It would really need an update and modernization so that the local community can use it.”
Ms Loh would like to see something done with the area.
The 58-year-old said: “I would like to see it brought back to life as it has been abandoned for so long.
“It will attract more people to the city. It will be good for employment rather than leaving it empty and neglected; that will encourage people to treat it poorly.
“It would be good for the area.”
Arlington Arcade was popular with residents of the famous tower block next door.
Lyndon Brand, who recently moved after 24 years, is saddened by the condition of the mall.
The 60-year-old retired ambulance worker remembers: “It used to be fantastic.
“Really and truly. Not only because there were nice shops and nice people, but it was also quite a shortcut. Instead of walking all the way around Arlington House, you could go through and it was covered so you weren’t blown around by the wind.
‘It’s a shame they closed it.
“There was a small store where you could buy almost anything, a kind of small grocery store.
“There were actually quite a few shops there, even at the front, but they are now boarded up. You wouldn’t even know they were there now, but there was a betting office, an aquarium, mobility scooters and a launderette.
“A lot of people in high-rises did their laundry there because it was easier than trying to fit a machine into a small apartment.
“It was fun and there were nice people there, but they all shut them down. They just said: ‘On your bike, we’ll lock it up.’
“They just didn’t give these people any real answers as to why.
“It makes me sad to see it in the state it is in now.”
Freshwater says discussions are at an early stage but ideas are being explored for the derelict site.
A spokesperson said: “We are considering a number of options to bring this important space back into use.
“However, at this time all discussions are at an early stage and we are not in a position to comment further.”