‘I’ve owned my independent leather shop on Brick Lane for nearly 50 years - we might not make it to 60’

The owner of an independent leather shop who has owned his store on Brick Lane for nearly 50 years has said the business might have to relocate before its 60th birthday. He's blamed the rising cost of renting on the famous high street as the main reason visitors may not seen the store there in the next few years.

“I’ve been here 49 years, enough is enough, sometimes you have to give up,” Mr Ahmed told MyLondon.

“Another five to seven years and we’ll go. A supermarket will probably be here instead of us, or another vintage shop. It will look more like the Covent Garden type places, where you have vintage places and tea and coffee shops, fashion boutiques.

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“The council wants everybody out. They don’t want independent shops, they want high street shops.”

Mr Ahmed is part owner of Bashir & Sons on Brick Lane, in the East End of London. It is an independent family run business which specialises in leather garments.

He estimates that rents for his shop had gone up by 300% over the last four years. He said: “Things are hard. People will disappear like the others have, lots of people have. We’ll probably have to move this part of the business somewhere else.

“It’s changed a lot, everything’s changed. This used to be the junkyard of the UK, the worst place to live in London. Now everyone wants to move here.”

Brick Lane is one of the most famous roads in London. In the 20th century a large population of Bangladeshis settled on the road and its surrounding streets.

However, the well-known lane has now become a hub for hipsters, pushing up rents. Prices can average at around £662 per week for housing, according to London Estate Agent Foxtons, although this could potentially be more for commercial properties.

Mr Ahmed says that the businesses on Brick Lane are always being forced out of the area. He says that he expects that all of the newer vintage shops on the road will also soon have to move off the lane as well.

“Every trade has been here for 15-20 years, after 15 years they move out,” he told MyLondon.

“Before it was all leather trade here, they moved out. Now you’ve got the vintage shops for the last ten years, another five years and they’ll probably move out. Every 15-20 years Brick Lane changes hands.”

A Tower Hamlets spokesperson said: “We recognise that the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis have created significant challenges for our local businesses.

"Local businesses play a vital role in our community, and in October, we announced a £700,000 investment to support them. Additionally, we are preparing to launch two new projects specifically designed for established businesses. The Council also provides a comprehensive planning advice service that local businesses can use if they are thinking about applying for planning permission.

“We work closely with police partners to support businesses around crime prevention. Council enforcement officers engage with local businesses, giving practical advice on safeguarding against crime, as part of their patrols which include providing community reassurance.”

Got a story? Please get in touch at katherine.gray@reachplc.com

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