The owners of a pub and café just off Borough High Street have hit out after Southwark told them to take away their outdoor seating without any notice.
The King’s Arms pub and Crol and Co. café both said their businesses are massively affected by the loss of outdoor seating on Newcomen Street, a relatively quiet residential road that goes off Borough High Street, leading towards the back of Guy’s Hospital.
The outdoor seating licences for both businesses were due to run until September this year but a council officer came to both businesses last Thursday (May 19) to tell them to remove the tables and chairs immediately. The officer said it was dangerous for people to cross the narrow street to get to the seating area, as cyclists often pass through.
Veronica Cunningham, who owns the King’s Arms, said she understood the logic of the decision, but that taking away her outdoor seating would have a huge impact on her business. “You could see the difference at the weekend when it was sunny,” she said. “I’ve already lost some regulars.”
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Nico Renson runs Crol and Co next door. He said he had been planning to hire someone, now they were going to have let a member of staff go. “We don’t know where this is coming from,” he said. It came out of the blue for us.”
Both Ms Cunningham and Mr Renson said that they were unaware of any complaints made to them about the outdoor seating. Ms Cunningham said she thought the outdoor seating had transformed the street, which she used to find intimidating at night.
Mr Renson added: “It was a welcoming sunny spot for people to enjoy , being so close to the hospital we had many patients treating themselves to a coffee and a drink before or after appointments. Both businesses have suffered obviously but we believe the real victim is the street.”
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Southwark’s opposition Liberal Democrats also weighed in on the side of the two businesses.
Cllr Victor Chamberlain, leader of the Lib Dems in the borough, said: “Amid this cost-of-living crisis, and post covid, we should be supporting local independent businesses and jobs as best we can.
“Pubs like The Kings Arms and businesses on Newcomen Street are integral to not only Southwark’s economy, but also its community spirit. The council should be encouraging new ideas that add to the borough’s culture, especially if it can make al fresco dining permanent. ”
Southwark Council did not respond to a request for comment.
The King’s Arms also launched a petition to get the council to reverse the decision, which you can find here.
It’s dangerous – I agree – on Thursday or Friday evenings when groups of people, drinking, have gathered and stood off the pavement, especially at the squeeze by the pub causing pedestrians to walk on the road where there are silent cyclists passing by. The owner must be turning a blind eye to the problem.