It's always very sad to see a local independent trader have to close.

This is very close to my heart as I both live and trade in the FH, so my opinions and info here are based on both.

I think the message Hills & Parkes were trying to get across via their FB page is that if you want a local shop to thrive and stay you need to support it and shop there.

The other info I have been told about, this is that the premium for taking on the bussiness as is was originally was £90,000 you would probably have to show yearly takings of at least £500,000 to merit this which I don't think any SE23 shop does. That said as far as I know both parties lawyers were meeting today to finalise contracts etc.

I am not voicing any opinions on this as I really feel sad that a local shop has closed, I'm just sharing the info I've been told about.

In reply to Hopper I can only speak for myself but just wanted to add that there is one landlord I know of in FH that cares about the area and all in it and that's "AnotherJohn" on here, he's my shop landlord and does so much for our community and he certainly doesn't charge over the odds on shop rents, very sad to hear others might do.

Oh and Mr Man "AnotherJohn" sorry to mention you but it had to be said on this post x