London licensee fights to revitalise high street

Michele Cremona, who runs Laine Pub Company’s the Candlemaker, in Battersea, south London, has launched the Battersea Mystreet campaign​, which aims to get local residents to turn away from supermarkets and come back to shopping on the high street.

The pub will encourage local food suppliers including butchers, fishmongers and green grocers to take part in a weekly market aiming to undercut supermarket prices and become the go-to place for residents’ weekly shop.

Empty shops will become home to pop-ups from local artists, designers and other suppliers in an attempt to recreate the high-street buzz of old.

'New life'​

At last week’s launch, Cremona told the Publican’s Morning Advertiser​ that her idea could be translated to other parts of the country where high streets were desperate for a new lease of life.

"I think that this is something more pubs should be trying. They should be embedded in their communities and looking around to see what they can do to make their surroundings better. Often pubs are the place long-standing members of the community mix with newer members, so they’re ideally placed to bring people together.

"We have an opportunity here in Battersea to bring our high street back to its former glory and so far we’ve had a great response."

At the launch event, other local businesses spoke about their desire to join the Candlemaker’s campaign. Battersea MP Jane Ellison is also among those backing the initiative.

She said: "Keeping our high streets lively and attractive is one of my top priorities and I look forward to working with local traders and residents in the Battersea High Street area."

Revival​

The Government is also looking at new measures to help facilitate a high street revival including a study on boosting retailers’ ability to compete more effectively with online businesses.

The Candlemaker’s campaign comes off the back of Cremona’s new role as manager of the pub. She previously ran Soho pop-up the Full English, which supported small British family farms.

She has also transferred her ‘Herb Hospital’ of rescued plants to the pub and will be using them in the kitchen. The pub will donate 25p from every full English breakfast and pint of Laine’s Best beer sold to gardening charity Thrive.

Laine Pub Company chief executive Gavin George said: "We’re so proud of what Michele is doing at the Candlemaker. Not only does she care deeply about her community, she’s motivated to do something about it. On top of that, the pub has never looked better."