The bakery chain Gail’s is set to open a new café on the Hammersmith Civic Campus site as it prepares to sign a lease with the local authority.
One of Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s flagship schemes, the Campus, once fully complete, will offer a range of cultural amenities alongside bars, restaurants, homes and a refurbished Town Hall.
The King Street complex is to also deliver office space plus a new cinema, which is to be run by Curzon.
The confirmation of Gail’s as one of the Civic Campus’ forthcoming tenants is revealed in a decision notice outlining details of the arrangement.
Approved by the council’s Executive Director of Place, the notice instructs an officer at H&F Housing Developments, a local authority-owned company leading on the issuing of the leases, to enter into an agreement with Gail’s for one of the units.
The documents state the rent will be open market subject to five-yearly reviews, with a rent-free period to be granted.
“The grant of a lease to Gails Limited will be an important step towards the activation of the Civic Campus. Gails Limited will be a key anchor tenant,” it says.
“Once they have entered into an agreement for lease, they are committed to entering into the lease. This will act as a catalyst for the marketing and the disposal (lease) of the other commercial leasehold units.”
Gail’s and the council both declined to comment given the lease is yet to be signed.
It is unclear when the Gail’s is expected to open.
The Civic Campus’ main contractor, Ardmore, entered administration earlier this year.
The project is already running years behind its original schedule, with Brexit and an on-site accident in 2022 among the issues reported to have affected construction.
A council spokesperson previously told the LDRS they were aware of Ardmore’s circumstances and had “prepared accordingly”, with a full opening expected this summer.
Some Gail’s openings have faced opposition in London from local residents amid concerns about existing independent businesses struggling as a result.
