Fulham Firms Hit by Cost-of-living Catastrophe
With growing list of local businesses forced to close their doors
Fisher’s Kitchen on Wandsworth Bridge Road another casualty
February 18, 2023
The cost-of-living crisis is proving catastrophic for Fulham’s retail and hospitality businesses, with a growing list of local shops, restaurants and pubs being forced to close down.
This month, Fulham Broadway regulars were shocked to find that the long-established branch of Pizza Express on the centre’s first floor had suddenly shut its doors.
With the neighbouring former Oyster Rooms pub now being converted to offices and the unit which once housed Yo! Sushi remaining vacant, this leaves the centre offering just two restaurants, Nando’s and Wagamama.
Pizza Express closes in Fulham with little warning
Outside, Fulham Broadway has been hit hard, suffering the loss of both Thai Rice and Greek restaurant Sophia, while the site of the long-closed Market Hall shows no signs of finding a new operator.
The crisis is devastating both new and businesses that have been in the area for many years. On Fulham Road, recent closures include organic refill store Bygram and children’s shoe shop Pollyanna, a favourite with local families since 1984.
Estate agen haus is another business to have shut
Closures around Kings Road include two popular restaurants, pizzeria L’Antico and Lebanese diner Miski on the corner of Eel Brook Common while further south, Wandsworth Bridge Road now has swathes of sealed, deserted premises, some with forfeiture notices still on their doors and boarded up windows covered in flyers.
Along with its most recent casualties, fish restaurant Fisher’s Kitchen and Angolo Pizzeria, the road has seen the departure of two estate agents, Haus and Fine and Country, the closure of dilapidated Chinese restaurant Aurelia, a branch of Topps Tiles and Angell’s furniture and carpet store.
Vacant shops along Wandsworth Bridge Road
In response to this dire situation, Councillor Zarar Qayyum, President of the Hammersmith & Fulham Enterprise Board, is carrying out a review of the support on offer to local firms, saying: " At Hammersmith & Fulham Council, we recognise that our residents and businesses are facing unprecedented challenges."
In his role as President, he promises “ a clear focus to help our vibrant and diverse local businesses during these difficult times” and is inviting local people to contact him with ideas and suggestions at zarar.qayyum@lbhf.gov.uk.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council offers a range of advice and support for local firms. This includes a business helpdesk, free advice sessions and a monthly Business Growth Hub, and local firms are also invited to sign up for a regular Business Connects newsletter .
For businesses in the area around Fulham Broadway, the local BID, or Business Improvement District, provides services for local businesses to create a better business environment and to help the area prosper, with a range of resources and networking opportunities. Find out more oon its web site.
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