Dartford business news

Business Dartford Business Awards 2026: The Full List of Winners Milly's Cake House, Russell Fewins, Hollywood Performing Arts and ellenor are among the Dartford Business Awards 2026 winners. Every category, in full. 18 October 2026 · 3 min read Business Europa's Dartford Solar Roof Met 40% of Its Power in Month 1 Europa Worldwide's Shield Road hub got over 40% of its power from a new 600 kWp roof array in its first month. Here is the deal that made it happen. 10 October 2026 · 3 min read Food hygiene Dartford Food Hygiene: Swanscombe Londis Rated 1 Londis on Stanley Road, Swanscombe, was rated 1 at its first inspection. Two shops got a 3, and Ori Cafe at Bluewater and a school breakfast club got 5s. 10 October 2026 · 4 min read Food hygiene Dartford Food Hygiene: High Street Fishmonger Rated Zero Shan's Fishmongers & Butchers on Dartford High Street holds the borough's only zero hygiene rating. Four more are rated 1, and all 20 September inspections scored 5. 25 September 2026 · 6 min read Business Dartford New Companies: 57 Formed in a Month, 8 in Food 57 companies were set up with a Dartford address from 24 August to 24 September, eight in food and drink. Plus the Gazette notices, including Made In Kent Radio. 25 September 2026 · 7 min read Business St Paulinus Pre-School in Crayford Goes Into Liquidation The company behind the 32-place Crayford pre-school resolved to wind up on 14 September, six months after Ofsted judged it to be meeting the expected standard. 24 September 2026 · 4 min read Business Dimples Day Nursery Darenth Is Now Employee-Owned The founders of the Darenth nursery handed majority control to a trust for its staff on 4 September. It has been Outstanding at its last two Ofsted inspections. 22 September 2026 · 5 min read Dartford town centre Dartford High Street: One Empty Shop in the Core, 2% One empty unit in Dartford's core High Street, a 2% vacancy rate against 13.7% nationally. Primark has stood empty since January; the Priory Centre is at 10.3%. 3 September 2026 · 7 min read Food hygiene Dartford Food Hygiene: 19 Fives, One Care Home Got 2 Dartford Borough Council published 20 food hygiene ratings in August. Nineteen were top marks, from Bluewater to a Longfield pub. One care home scored 2. 1 September 2026 · 5 min read Jobs Dartford Benefit Claims Hit 2,645, Highest Since 2021 2,645 people in the Dartford borough were claiming out-of-work benefits in July, the most since October 2021. Under-25s are up 20 per cent in a year. 20 August 2026 · 4 min read Planning Lidl Plan for Horns Cross: 40 Jobs, Comments Close 1 Sept Lidl wants a 2,184 sq m store on London Road at Horns Cross, with 117 spaces and up to 40 jobs. Eleven objections lodged; comments close 1 September. 18 August 2026 · 5 min read Business Anthony Jones, Dartford insurance broker, ceases trading The Crossways firm, trading since 1984, has ceased trading and faces an HMRC winding up petition on 19 August. What policyholders and creditors do next. 11 August 2026 · 3 min read Business Pro Futures Soccer Schools to wind up, creditors meet 12 Aug Both companies behind the Dartford children's football coaching business meet creditors on 12 August to wind up. Claims are due by 4pm on 11 August. 11 August 2026 · 3 min read