An iconic Brixton cinema is to be turned into a high-end ‘Little’ Waitrose supermarket, The Brixton Blog can reveal today (April 1).
The Ritzy Cinema, in Windrush Square, will be transformed into the Waitrose store, which is due to open on April 1 next year.
Ritzy owners are to sell the picture house to the John Lewis Partnership, and the convenience store will be the first of its kind in Brixton, right at the “beating heart” of the vibrant town centre.
Waitrose spokesperson, Joe King, said: “Brixton is a buzzing, vibrant part of south London that is a venerable melting pot of culture, and it is fast becoming a real foodie haven.
“Not long ago this site was home to a dusty old cinema, with nothing but movies and bar snacks for all the community, but it will now be utterly transformed. It’ll be an attractive, high quality development that sets a high standard for other developers. We hope it will attract the kind of wealthy people who can afford to live in Brixton now.”
The move will create 20 zero-hour contract jobs, none of them for local people. It is not thought that any of the staff will be paid the Living Wage.
There are now 303 Waitrose branches throughout the UK and nearly a third of stores fall within the M25. Later this year, another little Waitrose will be opening in West Hampstead.
What is the date today, Ed?
But I must say, the prospect of Harvey Nichols opening a branch in the Reliance Arcade is pretty exciting. It will really lift the tone of the place.
I heard it was touch and go between Waitrose and an extension to Poundland. Poundland were not preferred in the end because they wanted to have a 24 license to sell booze at a pound a pop, and the council thought this would be disadvantageous to the respectable independent outlets in the area.
[…] local news websites like ours also got in on the act. Brixton Blog in London reported that their local independent cinema was to become a Waitrose. Another London […]
NO, we have got to stop this vandalism. This square belongs to us, and certainly not to another food outlet.
Wake up Brixton!!!!!!
Best one I’ve seen so far.. A for effort,
This is the most patronising, obvious April Fool ever. How many clues do you people need?
Thickos.
[…] Cinema to become 'Little' Waitrose Supermarket" https://brixtonblog.com/ritzy-cin…ermarket/21430 A little close to the bone, or as TooTallTim pointed out – "About bloody time, it's hard […]
This news is nothing. I heard that the nearby 99p shop is taking over the Brixton Academy. Beat that for breaking news!
[…] “Not long ago this site was home to a dusty old cinema, with nothing but movies and bar snacks for all the community, but it will now be utterly transformed. It’ll be an attractive, high quality development that sets a high standard for other developers. We hope it will attract the kind of wealthy people who can afford to live in Brixton now.” LINK […]
This is nothing. Yesterday the Council completed the sale of the Town Hall to Center Parcs. Imagine—by this time next year there will be a 150 ft-high teflon dome at the bottom of Brixton Hill.
The character of the High Street will be completely compromised.
I’m happy to have a waitrose in brixton instead of Sainsburys or Tesco’s but I’m definitely not happy about the location. With a Holiday inn popping up around the corner Brixton is fast becoming unrecognizable. Is there no way we can prevent this from happening?
Well the place went really down hill after it banned the Bugle – good riddance 😉
April fool…I hope…?
This is outrageous! The Ritzy is part of the wider Brixton community – another supermarket is not needed!
[…] cater for the area’s burgeoning foodie scene, Brixton’s much-loved Ritzy Cinema is to be replaced by a Little Waitrose. The new store will open on 1 April next year, Brixton Blog informs […]
You almost had me there