Final weeks for Gabriel's Wharf after almost 40 years

A group of independent businesses will be evicted from their site on London's South Bank this month to make way for redevelopment.

Gabriel's Wharf, which has existed since 1988, is home to around 20 independent businesses, including art galleries and food artisans.

"Everybody loves it and we just feel so sad," said Frances Bingham, one of the co-owners of Potters' Yard Arts. "It's one of the few places left in London that has that lovely, happy, innocent kind of feeling about it."

Its not-for-profit owner, Coin Street, said the site would be demolished and regenerated, with business owners required to leave by 27 September. It plans to build a nursing home on the site in 10 to 15 years' time.

Charles Diallo, owner of vegan restaurant Fed by Plants, said the closure had left him devastated.

"It's totally unfair," he said. "We're just going to have to close and hand them the key."

Potters' Yard Arts has been selling paintings and pottery at Gabriel's Wharf for years, with Bingham describing it as a "very safe space".

"A lot of the businesses are owned by women, black people, gay people, you know. It has that lovely right-on vibe."

Co-owner Liz Mathews said that, despite some decorations being removed ahead of the closure, the area had retained its character.

"We do feel very sad about the plants and trees going and everything being stripped back in this way, but the wharf still has its beautiful spirit and it will have while we're here," she added.

Coin Street Community Builders said in a statement published on its website: "Gabriel's Wharf, in its current form, has always been a temporary use of the site.

"It was originally set up in 1988 using garage units, and the units have reached the end of their life.

"Their condition demands we take action to regenerate the wharf for the next 10 to 15 years."

The developer said its plans "remain unchanged" and include a nursing care home as well as measures to "improve other services and facilities for our community".

The developers added they had "been open about the reasons behind the planned closure" and were "continuing to promote Gabriel's Wharf through the upcoming Arts Festival in September to help tenants have a successful final year".

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