Demolition Challenges
The next phase of regeneration of WD (Woodberry Down, Woodberry Grove, Seven Sisters Road) presents many challenges to the independent hospitality sector in the area with 3 cafes/restaurants (all with outdoor seating as an attraction), facing significant disruption from demolition and construction noise for several years.
WDCO’s Action
As a strategic partner for the regeneration programme WDCO decided to take action on this during the summer break with a Vice Chair , Gita Sootarsing and Necdet Ozturk (co-opted business representative), exploring innovative ways to boost footfall before demolition started. We decided
to pilot a late night opening/special offers programme , which required a paradigm shift from competition to collaboration.
Sublime capitalised on the design of the pizzeria which was partly a bar, and offered ‘Happy Hour’ on Thursdays; Nar chose to extend their opening time on Fridays to 8pm, with a special evening menu and discounted drink prices. A flyer was produced with costs met by the businesses. Marketing was extensive through a combination of mediums including the Regeneration Partners newsletter (R&R and NHG ), flyer
distribution around the estate and at events.
That pilot took place in September and Sublime continued with Happy Thursday and will offer Theme Nights in 2026.
Drury were going through a business re-set , shifting from franchise to independence and recently started to use their pavement licence to sell beautiful affordable flowers and trialled a ‘farmers market’.
Nar will now piloting Friday lates to host activity groups(it started when a ‘closed’ group lost their regular venue).
Beyond Hospitality-the wider local economy
Looking beyond hospitality, with new businesses opening on Seven Sisters Road, and the new community space facing West Reservoir and Spring Park it may be worth considering an A4 poster, including a map, promoting all the businesses(barber, Stationery at Post Office, hospitality, independent grocers, the gym , Yoga studios etc) with all these outlets displaying the posters on their premises alongside estate
management and social media promotion. We are aware that people at one end of the estate don’t necessarily know what’s available at the other end as its not in their line of vision on their way to/from work, medical centre, school, the parks etc.
If you have any bright ideas/experience on resilience do comment, all contributions to empowering our neighbourhood welcome.
Please get in touch with Gita using our Contacts Page
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