Damon Albarn has thrown his support behind one of west London’s last remaining pie and mash shops, which is facing closure after a landlord demanded to more than double its rent.
During a visit to Cockney’s in Notting Hill, the Blur frontman said it was “outrageous” that the traditional family-run businesses could be shut down over rocketing costs.
Owner Ruth Phillips has been serving up food from the Portobello Road shop for more than 30 years.
But last month she was told her rent was being hiked from £31,500 a year to a “completely unaffordable” £64,000, an increase she says will force her out.
Thousands of people have now signed a petition, set up by Kensington and Bayswater MP Joe Powell, in support of Cockney’s.
Albarn, who is a regular at the pie shop, said: “London will always be the sum of its parts. It is a truly cosmopolitan city because of the Londoners who come from all over to live and work within its boundaries.
“I have lived and worked in and around this community for most of my adult life, so it’s very important to me to meet with Ruth and speak up in support of the campaign to save Cockney’s.”
The musician and songwriter added: “It’s outrageous that the costs are being pushed up to the extent that it is becoming unsustainable for independent and family-run businesses such as Cockney’s to continue.
“These are the people and institutions who give the area its local identity, Kensington and Chelsea must do everything they can to protect them from redevelopment.”
Cockney’s and Bush Pie & Mash, in Uxbridge Road, are the last two remaining traditional pie and mash shops in west London.
Ms Phillips runs the shop with the help of her family and uses a recipe that is more than 100 years old.
She told the Standard she was “devastated” when she received the increased rent demand.
“I know the amount I can afford and it’s certainly not £64,000,” she said.
“Nobody else is paying these high rents. They go between £30,000 to £40,000.”
She added that every five years she had had a rent review, with payments going up £5,000 each time.
“But because new people have moved into the area... they are hellbent on putting my rent up from £31,500 to £64,000,” Ms Phillips said.
Joe Powell MP said it was difficult to speak to the landlord directly because the building appears to be owned by a company registered abroad.
He told the Standard: “It was great that Damon came down to support this crucial part of Portobello Road, one of the last remaining traditional, long-standing businesses.
“Ruth has been pragmatic. She has had her own survey done and she knows the rent has to go up, but she can't do more than doubling it.
“Because we don't know who the landlord is, we don’t know what information is going back and forth.
“But there is a lot of pressure on the agent to come to a fair solution to this.”
