Laundrette closure on The Cut

to save a journey for those of you who used the laundrette on The Cut, it has closed down in the last few days. Dont't know why , just a note in the window saying "closed down , thankyou for past custom"

seems strange as it was recently refurbished and seemed to always be busy ? No doubt it will now be replaced by some style of fancey sandwich shop ....

oh well looks like i will have to go back to leaving my laundry hanging all over my flat to dry again ;)

That's a very worrying development. Just before Xmas Panbros (newsagent/dry cleaners/convenience store) on the Cut closed down because, as they reported to me, their landlord was proposing to double their rent and they could not afford to stay.
The 'Pret' effect appears to have kicked in. I thought there was some protection afforded to the small businesses on both the Cut and Lower Marsh to avoid them becoming commercialised - does anyone know about it?

lagse is right about Panbros. The rent review for the brilliant kitchen shop next door comes up in the summer, so I guess they will go too.

I don't think there is any protection in the Cut or Lower Marsh, you just need enlightened landlords.

Very sad.

I went to the little kitchen shop last week to buy some new plates as they always had a nice selection of eveything
but it was almost empty, what a shame they will probably be next,
Oh to go back in time

Oh drat, was planning to go and wash my pillows in the launderette for ages, as they are a nightmare to dry at home :( Well too late now it seems.

A lady called Chris, worked at the laundrette in The Cut for many years carrying out the service washes.
Sadly, she passed away last year.

The shop i was gutted to see go on The Cut was where pret a menger ? (dunno the spelling lol ) is now. was around 5/6 years ago and was run by an old italian couple. Did fresh veg and italian foodstuffs , some great home made italian food which they heated up for ya or you could take away to heat later. freshly made rolls and sandwiches etc

was taken over by a few guys who tried to keep the italian theme going ..but no where near as good and then slowly turned into your typical overpriced corner shop/off licence :(

I am also worried about the tendency of local shops and services (we need and treasure) being replaced by high street chains like Pret a Manger which are not really not interested in the local community.

Loosing the friendly kitchen shop (I do frequently buy from, a third my Christmas presents last year) would be awful.

However, they do must have a lot of money for rent increases as even during the freezing cold days they kept their door wide open, heating the outside and so wasting money to a degree that it makes you rethink spending one's own there.
If they kept the door closed, saving money on heating costs, things would be cheaper and more people could buy and they might survive.

@Ninja999: the former South Bank Grocery was run for some years by a Portuguese couple (not Italian). But they never really seemed to be having much fun and business wasn't good.

Panbros have moved across the street to smaller premises next to the excellent Delicate cafe, which is miles better than the Pret/Nero across the road.

Hopefully something can be done to prevent yet another coffee chain taking on the corner site that Panbros have vacated.

I loved that Portuguese place, we still talk about it now and how we miss it.