Northcote Road - Cath Kidston Closing Post Reply

[LoveShoes]

Was having a lovely stroll and browse along Northcote Rd this afternoon. Sadly, it seems that Kath Kidston is closing today! What a shame. Apparently the lease was up for renewal and the footfall or lack of it lead to the decision.

[parsleysong]

Oh that's a shame - not nice to have another empty shop. I went in there a lot when it first opened but in the past few years hardly at all as there are only so many Cath Kidston tea-towels one house-hold can justify. I also think their fabric patterns and clothes designs went downhill after Cath Kidston herself left.

[juliantenniscoach]

Gandy's shut too. I understand it was only a pop up but still, it's another empty site. Interesting I went past Park Road Kitchen on Battersea Park Road, open for business on a bigger site, than the closed Northcote Road site. Shame.

[BFW]

Sadly I understand that its all to do with the greedy Northcote Road landlords pushing rates up all the time. So many empty sites which is really really sad.

[Paulette]

We used to live in the back end of Notting Hill before it became so expensive and I can say the same happened with Portobello road.. independent (or not so independent) shops replaced with big national chains.. Rents are expensive and unless you sell a lot, or sell expensive stuff, then it's tough to survive. That said, after we paid for our house here BTC, we do shop at Lidl for most things but meat and there are so many useless things we can afford any more.

[chorister]

If my experience dealing with Cath Kidston corporate headquarters on behalf of a local charity was anything to go by, then good riddance (the local branch had no discretion even for small amounts). They were ghastly.

[EHMorris]

the Battersea Park Road Kitchen is the original site, Norhcote was an expansion. Guess it didn’t work out and they cut their losses.

[foodeditorjo]

There's one on the King's Road, so why on earth does Northcote Road need one too? It wouldn't take the yummy mummies long to get up there in the 4x4! This area used to be really vibrant... when I first moved here in 2001 Northcote Road was a good, lively mix of shops - many of them local, family-run etc, including a great little Italian cafe at the top that doled out plates of spag bol for about £5 - ideal when you have small children. Since then, it's become an ever-increasingly array of more or less the same chains that are on the King's Road. Soulless, unimaginative and pandering to rich people with their pampered children. Why? Because the landlords are greedy and priced out any local or independent business. I'd absolutely love to run my own cafe and (she says modestly) it's something I'd be good at. But there's no chance in SW11. It's sad that this area has become so boring and homogenous!

[Motherslittlehelper]

BFW - I think your right but it’s a bit more complex, combine the rip off rents with new business rates and the strong internet , many more shops the high street will close.

I buy practically nothing on the high street now apart from the supermarkets, butchers, restaurants, bars, cards and coffee shops. The internet is easier and cheaper for almost everything else.

Why do we even need bank branches, I can pay cheques in on my APP now. Some local shops don’t even take cash anymore, the world is changing.

Maybe it’s time for a rethink on our high streets

[NYE31]

The Cath Kidson in Salcombe has closed down as well.

[Bunnypigeon1]

There's one on the King's Road, so why on earth does Northcote Road need one too? It wouldn't take the yummy mummies long to get up there in the 4x4! This area used to be really vibrant... when I first moved here in 2001 Northcote Road was a good, lively mix of shops - many of them local, family-run etc, including a great little Italian cafe at the top that doled out plates of spag bol for about £5 - ideal when you have small children. Since then, it's become an ever-increasingly array of more or less the same chains that are on the King's Road. Soulless, unimaginative and pandering to rich people with their pampered children. Why? Because the landlords are greedy and priced out any local or independent business. I'd absolutely love to run my own cafe and (she says modestly) it's something I'd be good at. But there's no chance in SW11. It's sad that this area has become so boring and homogenous!

Wow, If you hate the area so much, why don’t you just move?
Not sure you’d get many customers at your cafe if you think everyone around here is so dire....

I’m sad cath kidson closed- I loved their kids pjs and it was alsways a good spot to jump in for a last minute gift!

[foodeditorjo]

Did I say that? I have friends in this area but generally find that SW11 has changed a lot - and not necessarily for the better. Maybe you should keep your nasty sniping comments to yourself. I don't actually live BTC and am happy that way!!

[Bunnypigeon1]

My nasty comments? You’re the one who turned a discussion about a shop closing into a rant about the women who live here and our ‘pampered’ children. Perhaps you are the one who should keep your nasty comments to yourself. Sorry, but your post really annoyed me.

[foodeditorjo]

Wow! Quite breathtaking... you obviously don't have enough to do without having a go at me and you don't even know me!

[Bunnypigeon1]

Ah, whatever....