Notting Hill Banksy: Struggling shopkeepers hope return of mural will boost business

Notting Hill shopkeepers are hoping the return of the neighbourhood's Banksy mural will boost its struggling businesses.

Until last week, the street art had been covered up for two years while the building, at the corner of Acklam and Portobello Road, was refurbished into luxury flats. Obscured behind boards and scaffolding, tourists who visited the site were left disappointed.

Meanwhile, even with thousands of tourists flocking to the popular street on weekends, shopkeepers have been struggling to keep their doors open.

Business owners told the Standard shops pop up and then close months later - but added they hope the return of the mural will bring more potential customers to the area.

The owner of Coffeebello, who gave their name as Maz, said: "It’s quite difficult around here, shops open then close. I’ve been here for years but I nearly had to close last year.

“I don’t know if [the Banksy mural] will change anything but it can only be a good thing."

Karen Stott, owner of Karen Boutique, said: “The fact you can now see it is really good.

"If it brings more people here it can only be a good thing, the more the merrier."

Zero waste and grocery store Liberté Chérie has been open eight months. Its owner Charles Pelletier said he likes his shop being in such close proximity to the mural.

“I don’t know if it’ll change anything but it is incredibly cool to have a piece of art like that visible again."

Banksy's "Graffiti Painter" appeared in 2008. According to reports, the artist and his friends appeared dressed as builders and erected scaffolding to screen them working on the mural.

It now has many names, including "The Painter" and "Velazquez", after the Spanish artist by that name who people believe is the inspiration for the piece.

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