Forum Topic

The Kitchen cafe at Putney Leisure Centre

This small family business has been running for 10 years. It is in danger of closing because a larger company (probably a chain) is likely to take over the premises. Places for Leisure who run the centre for Wandsworth can probably get more rent. This is a classic case of a big chain squeezing out a small independent business.

Susan Wyatt ● 66d4 Comments

Andy they didn’t decide to go out on their own 10 years ago, WBC decided to offer it out to businesses to take on the lease.Places leisure run many leisure centres on behalf of many different councilsIt gets put up for bids every few years, and recently places won the bid for it againYour post made it sound like the leisure centre decided to go it alone, they had no choice in the matter

Emarisa Battoia ● 66d

Hello, I was hoping that you might see this question and join in. When such a facility was run by a WBC department, would it just be subject to the market or would there be times when encouraging local businesses might come into consideration (if there was such a policy)?

David Ainsworth ● 66d

David, whilst its a non profit organisation it still needs to boost income to pay  wages  salaries,national insurance pension contributions. Which are all on the increase. Not sure what theirvarrangement is on the actual premises presumably they have some lease agreement with the Council. They were originally the Council's leisure dept and went on their own 10 or more years ago.

Andy Pike ● 66d

I don’t think it matters if places are a chainIt’s a local public sector leisure centre, and there is something quite bitter about a local authority leisure centre pushing out a local business for no other reason. The new Council have given huge concessions to the local leisure centres in the borough, and therefore should have some clout when it comes to things like this.They are a lovely family and I’m pretty certain they also have the cafe at &Tooting leisure centre which will mean them losing both their businesses.

Emarisa Battoia ● 66d

Is "Places for Leisure" a "Not-for-Profit" organisation?

David Ainsworth ● 66d