West Hampstead's small stores fight to survive as latest retail giant moves in

Published: 09 September, 2010
by JOSH LOEB

INDEPENDENT traders are bracing themselves for the arrival of another high street chain in West Hampstead.

Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s has applied to Camden Council for a licence to open a store at 204 West End Lane, premises currently occupied by franchised mini market Best One. 

The site is just a few doors away from the Tesco Express, which opened in 2008, and a five-minute walk from Tesco Express in Fortune Green. 

Sainsbury’s has applied for a licence to sell alcohol from 6am-11pm each day. A hearing date for the application is yet to be finalised but the council has already received objections.   

Lib Dem councillor Flick Rea said Tesco delivery lorries regularly block the road.

“I can only hope that Sainsbury’s is more public-spirited,” she added. “To have a Sainsbury’s so near Tesco is an odd development. It seems like overkill. Maybe there will be a war to the death between them.” 

Waqas Khan, manager of Hampstead Food and Drinks, a family-run newsagent and grocery shop in West End Lane, said he feared his business could close as a result of competition from the supermarkets.

“Sales are down by 50 per cent since Tesco opened,” he added. “We are worried that business rates will increase again. We are in the middle of both of them.”

Staff at Atlanta Food and Wine, just up the road from the proposed Sainsbury’s, said it was only a matter of time before their shop closed.

Jonathan Turton, who writes the blog West Hampstead Life, said not everyone was against the supermarkets but added that traffic in West End Lane could get worse if Sainsbury’s opened there. 

“The fact that it’s a chain replacing a franchise means it doesn’t make a lot of difference to the character of the street,” he said. 

“But traffic is a problem. Tesco is a high-turnover store that needs restocking frequently and is in an area that is a bit of a bottleneck anyway.” 

A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman said: |“We are delighted to be investing in Camden, bringing new jobs and better choice for local shoppers.  

“We have also found that our Sainsbury’s Locals can help to support the vibrancy of local high streets by encouraging people to shop locally and use other local shops and businesses. 

“We believe that West End Lane provides us with an excellent location for a Local store. It’s a well established and busy retail pitch and is well placed to serve local residents living nearby and shoppers visiting the other shops and businesses in the area. The new store will complement the other shops in the area and bring further choice for local shoppers.”

The last date for objections to the Sainsbury’s licensing application is September 15.