In this month’s instalment of “Why We Love”, we’ll be taking a look at South West London – from Battersea to Belgravia, and Putney to Pimlico.
Local businesses we’ve interviewed:
Charles Derby Estates is a group of financial advisers in the UK, who offer services related to property sales and lettings, as well as financial planning. Their flagship London office will open at the end of June, and cover the SW London postcode area. According to Georgina Green, who represents the company, “The SW London area is one of the most sought out locations in the entire world. Being in this area commands respect.”
The Exhibit is a cocktail bar, American diner, boutique cinema and private hire venue – all under one roof. They have been in Balham for 14 years. Gregory Swaby, Marketing Manager, told us that, “The area has gone through plenty of changes, growth and regeneration, which has always brought us regular customers and clients.”
Huttons is an independent retailer that stocks a unique array of gifts, fashion, accessories, homewares, and furniture. They first opened in the Putney Exchange in 1996. Morgana Raven, Manager, said that, “SW has been very good to Huttons over the years! The Putney community are so loyal. Many of our regular customers have been shopping with us since we opened 18 years ago and we have built up great relationships with them over the years.”
The Bedford is a long-established pub in Balham, which originally opened as a hotel in 1832. They host a number of live music events, comedy evenings, club nights and dance classes. According to Scott Illman, Operations Manager at the pub, SW London has helped business to grow as it has become bigger and more affluent.
Marcus Wareing is an English celebrity chef with a 2 Michelin star restaurant of the same name in Knightsbridge. He moved into the Berkeley Hotel in 2004 with the first incarnation of his restaurant, Petrus. The restaurant has recently been refurbished to create a wonderful new contemporary space. According to Marcus, “Knightsbridge is a fantastic area to be in and is a hub for businesses, local residents and visitors to London.”
Sambrook’s Brewery was established in Battersea in 2008, and brews a selection of cask, keg and bottled beers that are distributed throughout London. Director Duncan Sambrook says that, “The community across SW London has been very supportive of our business since we launched in 2008. Beer drinkers are notoriously supportive of local breweries across the country and SW London is no exception. I even met a customer who enjoyed our beer so much he thought he had been drinking it for 10 years. I didn’t have the heart to tell him we only founded the brewery in 2008.”
Battersea Arts Centre is housed in a beautiful Grade II* listed former town hall built in 1893, and offers a wide mixture of shows and discussions, home-made food and drink, weddings and dances, family fun and creative learning opportunities. The independent arts centre was established in 1979, and appointed their first Artistic Director in 1981. Press Officer Olivia Ivens kindly took the time to answer our questions.
Battersea Barge is a floating pub with live music, comedy and event space for hire. They were established in 2008, although the boat itself was built in Holland in 1932, and was known as the Maria II.
The Jam Tree have two pubs: one in SW6 established in 2011, and the other in SW4opened in 2012. According to Director Yann Roberts, “We rely on people eating out and socialising, and this happens a lot in SW London. The concentration of young professionals is key to our business model.”
The Half Moon is a popular food pub and live music venue. The pub was built in the late 1800s, and they have been hosting gigs since 1963, which makes them one of London’s oldest small venues. Carrie Davies, Venue Manager, says that, “We’re pretty unique as we’re quite an island of live music in this area – most other venues are in central east and north. Customers from Surrey/Kent love our situation though as they don’t have to drive into central, and can avoid the crowds and the congestion charges. Parking in the evening is easier and free here too!”
Why do you love SW London?
Charles Derby: “The amount of living space, the leafy wider roads, world renowned restaurants and hotels, Hyde Park, and the overwhelming presence of these high ceiling buildings in the Kensington area.”
The Exhibit: “It’s a local, not over-developed area. Our staff all live nearby, we’ve plenty of locals and regulars, and we feel like a real part of the community.”
Huttons: “We love having the river on our doorstep! It gives you the chance to escape the usual hustle and bustle of the city and just relax for a while.”
Marcus Wareing: “It is full of elegant history.”
Sambrook’s Brewery: “We are surrounded by fantastic pubs, which is ideal for our business.”
Battersea Arts Centre: “It has beautiful green spaces and a fascinating history. Renowned for its radical politics, Battersea was a focal point in the early days of the Trades Union movement, Independent Labour Party and the campaign for Women’s Suffrage.”
Battersea Barge: “The water, green spaces, quirky cafes and restaurants, and great views.”
The Jam Tree: “Vibrant, green, friendly and self-sufficient.”
Half Moon: “Putney is safe, green, affluent and unpretentious. There is a huge range of eateries and drinking holes that are good quality. It’s pretty calm too, and I love being right by the river.”
What makes the SW London area unique from other business centres in the UK and around the world?
The Exhibit: “Diversity, money, the age of people living here and the ‘energy’ and volume of independent businesses in the area. People are always looking to work together, which is very invigorating for local businesses and the community.”
Huttons: “Putney has a great mix of local independent businesses and bigger chains. The amazing assortment of shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes make it a real destination as well as a local shopping area. We also have a great community spirit here – there is always something new happening, whether it’s an event to go to, an exhibition to see or new shops and restaurants.”
Marcus Wareing: “It has everything on its doorstep – beautiful buildings, fantastic restaurants and great shops.”
Sambrook’s Brewery: “Our business has done very well from the brewing heritage in South West London. Many of our staff have been employed in the industry previously, and this makes recruitment so much better. More generally, transport links are good from SW London into central London and out to the South East, which makes it relatively easy to service a large customer base. Customers are eager to support and embrace new businesses and products that provide a wealth of opportunities for budding entrepreneurs.”
Battersea Arts Centre: “The proportion of residential areas give SW more heart and a sense of community.”
Battersea Barge: “It’s corporate without being too corporate, with a lot of creativity mixed in.”
The Jam Tree: “Good transport links, green spaces, and good quality housing and retail.”
Half Moon: “SW London has more of a balance of residential and business than other areas I know. It has an out of town feel, but is only 3 miles from the West End.”
What are the challenges of operating a business in SW London?
Charles Derby: “Fierce competition and finding parking!”
The Exhibit: “Competing with central London, and the idea that we’re “far away” when in fact we certainly are not.”
The Bedford: “Competition, business rates and rising rent.”
Huttons: “The biggest challenge would be the amount of competition that has come to the area over the years since we opened. To distinguish us from the gift shop chains, we stock a lot of smaller companies as well as some of the bigger named brands. A lot of our products are made in the UK, including a lot of local designers and artists that we are delighted to support.”
Sambrook’s Brewery: “Business rates and rental prices are probably the biggest challenges.”
Battersea Arts Centre: “As a theatre our location outside of central London means that it’s sometimes hard to reach new audiences as people perceive us to be too far away. In reality we’re only a 10 minute train ride from either Waterloo or Victoria, so once people take the plunge they feel as if they have made a discovery.”
The Jam Tree: “Generally, the proximity to residential properties means we have to operate under certain conditions.”
Half Moon: “Being off the beaten track for live music has its drawbacks – it’s harder to attract bands to come SW London. We’re seen as far less hip and trendy than East London and Camden.”
Where do you go for your morning coffee?
The Exhibit: “The Humming Bird Cafe every time!”
The Bedford: “Lavish Habit”
Huttons: “BB’s cafe in the Putney Exchange, they have great mini muffins if you fancy a treat but don’t want to over indulge! It has a really quirky interior and the staff there are always really friendly.”
Marcus Wareing: “The team at my restaurant make fantastic coffee so I am very lucky to have it on tap.”
Sambrook’s Brewery: “Not many options by the brewery, but if I am up by Clapham Junction I’ll drop into Jack’s café for a bacon sandwich and a coffee!”
Battersea Arts Centre: “Il Molinos. It’s a bright and airy café – perfect for our weekly comms meeting.”
The Jam Tree: “The Roastery on Wandsworth Road.”
Half Moon: “Grind – it’s got great coffee and it’s next door!”
Do you know of a hidden gem for business lunches?
Charles Derby: “Gusto makes an ideal get-away from the hustle and bustle of Portobello Market.”
The Exhibit: “Harrison’s”
Huttons: “The Boathouse pub has an amazing fish restaurant above their main bar area. They have a balcony that overlooks the river – you can’t beat it for fresh food or the view!”
Marcus Wareing: “My restaurant! We have a great new lunch menu which is as light or indulgent as you want it to be. We cater for quick business lunches, leisurely entertaining lunches and also celebrations.”
Sambrook’s Brewery: “Galapagos on Battersea High Street.”
Battersea Arts Centre: “Mien Tay is renowned for its quick and vibrant Vietnamese dishes – even Ainsley Harriot appears proudly on a photo in the window.”
Battersea Barge: “Lambeth Palace Cafe”
The Jam Tree: “The Dairy”
Half Moon: “People know us as a live music venue but often aren’t aware we serve food 7 days a week. We’ve got a lovely snug dining area and a fab outdoor space.”
Where is your favourite spot for a drink after work?
Charles Derby: “Jule’s Restaurant, which is walking distance from our office.”
The Exhibit: “The Exhibit! Or I do enjoy popping up to Venn Street Records in Clapham.”
Marcus Wareing: “After work for me is post 12am so it’s not really something I do!”
Sambrook’s Brewery: “The Ship in Wandsworth.”
Battersea Arts Centre: “With the sad closure of Battersea Mess we stick with our very own Scratch Bar, which has a themed cocktail of the week and craft beers to choose from.”
Huttons: “We often head to Coat and Badge for after work drinks especially on a sunny summers evening. They have a fantastic beer garden and when it’s hot enough they fire up their BBQ, which does great food. They offer some great little touches like free sun cream in the summer and blankets you can borrow in the winter.”
A big thank you to the businesses who took the time to answer our questions. Do you have any SW London hotspots you’d like to share with us? Let us know in the comments section below. And if you’re looking for office space in South West London, don’t hesitate to contact us.