Greenwich Council has found a new operator for the new café in Woolwich’s revamped market square – but for less rent than it was hoping for.

Bob’s Your Uncle, which has branches in Eltham and South Croydon, has been selected as the preferred operator for the space in the new pavilion on Beresford Square, which has been refurbished with £17.4 million of government cash.

The council had been hoping for a £15,000/year rent for the café, which sits on a busy walking route between the Elizabeth Line station and Woolwich’s traditional town centre.

But a report published by the council reveals that it plans to strike a deal at less than the market value – “less than best consideration” – but the reasons have not been made public. Some 28 enquiries were made, with 13 bidders evaluated by the council. 

Bob’s Your Uncle, which was founded in Croydon in 2019, won the bid because it was a local small business, passed financial due diligence, would pay London Living Wage and would support events in the area, the report said. It also had the “lowest rent-free period request”.

“The business analysis has demonstrated low to moderate risk [for] Bob’s Your Uncle, who have an established business model already in operation in two high street shop locations,” the report said. “Noting although the rental offer is below the higher shortlisted offer, the operator’s proven track record and ability to deliver with a reduced risk to the council of financial delinquency.”

Beresford Square with fountains and children playing in them
The new-look Beresford Square is part of a £17.4 million revamp. The café is on the right. Image: The Greenwich Wire

No up-to-date information is provided about the café’s opening, with the report claiming that the building would be fitted out in September, indicating that the project is running several weeks late.

Seven years ago, councillors kicked up a stink to about plans to convert a public toilet into a café in Plumstead. While hugely popular with locals, some councillors raised concerns about the £550,000 project in the ward of the council leader at the time, Danny Thorpe, with the operator given a discounted rent to get started.

However, the Beresford Square new-build has been funded with government money, so any rent the council gets will come as a bonus, even if it is less than it had hoped for.

The full report – or as much as the council will reveal in public – is on the Greenwich Council website.

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