Friars House

I noticed that there is a redevelopment scheme going on at Friars House along Blackfriars Road. Does anyone know what is being planned for this site?

I thought the developers had pre-let the 1st to 8th floors to Practical Law Company.

Not sure what is happening to the ground floor.

Several new retail units on the ground floor

James Hatts wrote:

Several new retail units on the ground floor

That's nice, considering that the proposed Linden Homes development further up the road will take out half the retail space on Blackfriar's Road for its construction.

So, what do you reckon? Another overpriced convenience store that doesn't sell what you want to buy? Maybe a row of estate agents? How about a nice deli and a cobblers that opens at useful hours?

James Hatts wrote:

Several new retail units on the ground floor

Thanks for the info

See previous thread here

Since then, the building manager has confirmed Sainsbury's but is being coy about the other two spaces.

One of the other retail units will be Pret a Manger

James Hatts wrote:

One of the other retail units will be Pret a Manger

So we're going to get another Sainsbury and another Pret, when there are instances of both already within 500m. I thought capitalism was supposed to provide choice.

Maybe, when we've got a load more people living at the Linden Homes development and the planned Berkeley Homes development further down the road, there might actually be enough people here to have useful shops, rather than more chain shops chasing the office-dwellers' pounds, and pubs that don't open at weekends.

I still prefer Supersave Express just opposite Friars House. In there I can buy one stamp if I want, get my Oyster topped up, buy a nice fresh pain au chocolat, buy fab incense sticks, get my envelopes and try all sorts of lovely cartons of fresh juices. And they do a mean samosa too. Always friendly, very community-minded and always a smile and a joke. Try getting that at Sainsbury's as they bellow at you TILL NUMBER NINE! No connection, just prefer it!

DebraG wrote:

I still prefer Supersave Express just opposite Friars House. In there I can buy one stamp if I want, get my Oyster topped up, buy a nice fresh pain au chocolat, buy fab incense sticks, get my envelopes and try all sorts of lovely cartons of fresh juices. And they do a mean samosa too. Always friendly, very community-minded and always a smile and a joke. Try getting that at Sainsbury's as they bellow at you TILL NUMBER NINE! No connection, just prefer it!

Very well put,i'd add to that the hot rolls in the morning though.

They are very nice people and I will continue to give my business to them also.