The 140-home Willowbury retirement village on London Road, West Malling, is open, and so is its Yarrow restaurant. Its gym takes a few local members.

The Willowbury, a 140-home retirement village on the edge of West Malling, is now open. Its operator, Retirement Villages Group, says so on the village’s own page, and its restaurant and wellbeing club are taking bookings from the public as well as residents. (Retirement Villages Group, The Willowbury)

The village is off London Road, with the address Fuller Pilch Close, ME19 5SX. The operator describes it as about 1km from the heart of West Malling.

What it is

The Willowbury is an “integrated retirement community”. It is not a care home. Residents live independently in their own flats or cottages, with support on site 24 hours a day.

  • Who can live there: people aged 65 and over. A couple can move in if one of them is younger.
  • Homes: 140 in total, mostly one and two bedroom flats, plus a terrace of cottages.
  • Buy or rent: both are offered.
  • On site: a clubhouse with a cafe, bar, restaurant and terrace; a gym and studio; treatment rooms; gardens and allotments. Pets are allowed.

(Frequently asked questions, facilities)

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council granted planning permission in September 2023, according to the operator. It announced a £37 million development loan from Virgin Money in October 2024, when it planned to open in summer 2026. (Retirement Villages Group, 2 October 2024)

What it costs

The operator listed 15 homes on its website on 6 November. The asking prices ran from:

  • £335,000 for a one bedroom flat in Orchard House
  • £910,000 for a two bedroom flat in Braeburn House

Three two bedroom flats were offered to rent, at £3,500, £5,400 and £5,500 a month. The operator says rent covers the flat, electricity, water, broadband and the village services. Council tax is extra. Every listing carries the note “other charges apply”, so ask for the full figures before comparing. (Properties, renting at The Willowbury)

What is open to everyone

You do not need to live there to use two parts of it.

  • Yarrow, the cafe, bar and restaurant, is open to the public. The operator says it seats close to 70 and serves brunch, Sunday lunch and tasting menus. Tables are booked through yarrowrestaurants.co.uk.
  • Aluna, the wellbeing club, sells a limited number of monthly memberships to people living nearby. It has a gym with EGYM strength machines, a studio for classes including Pilates, and treatment rooms. The operator does not publish the price.
  • A community coffee morning runs every Monday from 10am to 11.30am.

(Yarrow announcement, 20 August 2026, Aluna, what’s on)

Its sister village, Paramount Place in Tunbridge Wells, is opening its own Yarrow restaurant this autumn too.

Dates

  • Sunday 15 November: the village team will have a stand at the West Malling Christmas market. The operator gives the lights switch-on as 4.30pm. High Street, Swan Street and West Street close from 7am to 8pm that day; our roadworks page has the detail.
  • Wednesday 2 December, 10am to 2pm: a Discovery Day with show flats, the restaurant and the wellbeing suite. Visits are by appointment.

What it means for you

  • If you are over 65 and thinking of moving, or helping a parent, the Discovery Day is the easiest way to see the flats. Ask what the service charge or village fee is on top of the price, and what happens to it if you sell.
  • If you live in West Malling, Kings Hill or Leybourne, there is a new restaurant and a small gym on your doorstep, open to you whatever your age.
  • If you are looking for care, this is not a care home. The operator says nursing care is not provided in the village; it can be arranged through your GP or district nurses.