A closure-hit part of a town centre has been dealt another blow after a Cypriot cafe shut suddenly.

Ashford’s Taste of Cyprus opened last summer, offering a wide array of Mediterranean food and drinks.

But the site, which is known for its ornate balcony, was boarded up earlier this month, leaving the Middle Row area with another empty unit.

The adjacent John Wallis pub has been shut since 2020, while various other sites – including the former Your Move estate agents – sit empty.

But despite several businesses in Middle Row closing their doors, a new tanning shop is due to open soon.

Called Solaire, work is ongoing in the building which will provide tanning, aesthetics and IV vitamins.

Owner Stephanie Waller, 33, says she and her partner have been wanting to open a sun shop for years.

“I own an aesthetics clinic in Elwick Road (Stephanie’s Skincare and Aesthetics) so we are going to tie the two together,” she said.

“We have lay-down beds upstairs, stand-ups downstairs and aesthetics downstairs as well.

“It’s very exciting and we’re going to have an open day with gift bags.”

The shop will be the first in Ashford to offer IV vitamin drips which is a way of getting vitamins straight into the bloodstream.

“It’s a drip like you’d have at the hospital if you’re dehydrated,” Miss Waller said.

“It’s subscription only medicine so it’s appointment only.

“You can add all sorts of different vitamins into your drip and they go straight into your bloodstream so they bypass digestion.

“You can have vitamin D, biotin for your hair, or simply a hydration drip.”

Miss Waller will keep Stephanie’s Skincare and Aesthetics in Elwick Road open for advanced aesthetics and will be doing botox, lip filler, IV drips and vitamin shocks at the new Solaire.

“I’ve done a lot of market research and we’ve got the best beds on the market,” she said.

“Aesthetically it’s going to look really good, so we’re hoping we’ll stand out and people will want to come in.”

An opening date for Solaire has not yet been confirmed.