The closed down Woburn Tandoori in Woburn Walk [Simon Lamrock]

INDEPENDENT busines­ses in a picture-book parade are facing an uncertain future after a series of steep rent rises.

The popular cafe Casa Jardim and long-established Woburn Tandoori say they have already been forced out of Woburn Walk, Bloomsbury.

Several units are now shut on both sides of the street, partly owned by the council, and shopkeepers have told the New Journal they may also be forced to leave in the coming months with new leases being drawn up with each unit.

The few remaining shops on one side of the Grade II-listed street include a newsagent, a mystic shop, an antique shop, a wedding dress shop, a hairdresser, and a Japanese clothes shop.

They fear big money chain stores will be the only companies able to stay in the street.

One of the family managers of the Woburn Tandoori, which had closed after 37 years in the street, said the rises from the council were in the region of 80 per cent.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said: “It was a ridiculous proposal, and this coming from the council not a private landlord. We thought there would be some way to negotiate, but they just pressed ahead with the plan.

“During Covid, they were charging us rent. How stupid was that? It meant we had so much to recover afterwards, and now this – it was too much.

“Before Covid we would stay open until midnight and we would also have a real lunch crowd coming in. But that changed with the working from home thing and people also starting bringing in their own lunches. So we stopped the lunch service, and then we started closing at 10.30pm. The vibe just wasn’t the same.

“It’s sad because we have been there as a family for so many years. We have all worked there. And there are the customers too – there are people who come from other countries on visits, and also come to see us. It was a comforting, homely place – traditional.”

The family said they would be open to returning to the unit but not under the terms being pushed for by the council.

The footfall to the street has been hit seriously hit by the closure of Casa Jardim, which also shut due to lease renewal demands.

Andrew Dunn, managing director of the leading art history journal Burlington Magazine Publications, said: “I joined in January 2021, during the winter Covid lockdown. It was heartening to see this 200-year-old purpose-built shopping street returning to life over that year. It is sad to see how many vacancies there are now, and to hear our neigh­bours’ anxiety about rent rises.

“In particular, Casa Jardim was a buzzy little flower shop and café. Their offerings were high quality, priced at the upper end of what I would consider fair, and they were usually busy: it is hard to imagine a new tenant offering something of the same quality while supporting a significantly more expensive lease. Woburn Walk is quieter without it, less worth a detour.”

The heart of the street is the Woburn News shop. Michelle Patel, a newsagent’s shopkeeper for 36 years, says that her situation is “very sad and frightening” because of the uncertainty surround­ing her business.

“The landlord needs to understand that we are a footfall business, yet we only earn 15 pence or 20 pence per passer,” she said.

“Rent is the killer for all of us.”

“The buildings are so old, you wouldn’t believe it. When it rains, the water comes inside and damages our stock. The council won’t do anything,” she said.

She also said that Mondays and Fridays are particularly quiet because of people working from home.

He estimates that the offices nearby are half-empty and that this is hurting the business.

Dating back to 1822, Woburn Walk was previously home to W.B. Yeats, the legendary Irish poet, from 1895 to 1919.

The novelist Dorothy Richardson also lived in Woburn Walk, opposite where Mr Yeats stayed.

In 2024, the historic walkway featured in season 3 of the Netflix series Bridgerton, a period drama set in the 1800s.

Christine Hodder, who lives nearby, said that the newsagents “was the heart of a much valued community resource”, adding: “It would be a tragedy if they had to close down and a loss to so many people that she helps, including homeless people who she also supports when they come into the shop.”

Another resident, Joshua Dubarry, added: “I hate to see the local businesses that we all love and support have to close down due to price rises.”

A Camden Council spokesperson said: “We want to support all our business tenants, helping them to develop and thrive in Camden.

“We are duty bound to ensure our tenants pay a fair market rent, however the rents at Woburn Walk have not increased in recent years. When we seek to increase rents for our commercial properties, we will always discuss and agree any proposed increases.

“Additionally, a number of leases at Woburn Walk have expired and the tenants have remained in the units at lower rents, until new leases are agreed.

“We provide a wide range of services and resources designed to support our local businesses that can be accessed online through our Business Support Hub and always ask that our business tenants contact is if they have any issues or concerns.”