Traders Claim Latest Gail’s Expansion is Like a “Bad Smell” Moving Towards Clapham

Businesses on Clapham High Street brace for impact on their revenue after news that Lambeth Council has approved the planning permission for another Gails, this time on Clapham Common South Side.

Further East, locals in Brixton recently lost their fight against the opening of a Gails branch outside it’s tube station despite it gaining over 1,300 signatures. Brixton’s opening day has sent fear down the road to Clapham’s local business community as they anticipate their soon approaching opening.

Louis Milm, manager of Brickwood Coffee & Bread located next door to the incoming site, shared his concerns: “I’m gutted I won’t lie. About seven years ago, this place was making fantastic money (£17-25,000 a week) and every time a new chain opens up we lose more of the market – our revenue is a lot lower than that now.”

Milm highlighted how his business can’t compete with Gail’s financial security, he said: “Nice coffee shops like this can’t compete with the speed and costs that [Gails] can afford.

“There needs to be some sort of regulation. The market is saturated enough, but to have a Gail’s next door, that will take up to half our revenue. It’s not fair.”

Clapham South is still awaiting it’s opening date however many neighbourhoods can expect a similar pattern emerging across London as Gail’s has opened over 30 new bakeries across the UK in the last year and is in active planning to open 40 more UK branches between now and 2027.

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Publication: MyLondon