London jewellers J McCarthy which was loved by Margaret Thatcher and counts Princess Anne as a customer could be forced to close after more than 200 years over plans to redevelop building
- London store may close as Metrus Property Advisors hopes to open a restaurant
- Owner Robert Mullings found out about plans when he went to renew his lease
- He plans to launch an appeal if lodged application for change of use is approved
Prestigious London jeweller J McCarthy could be forced to close after more than 200 years – over proposed plans to redevelop the building into a restaurant.
The Westminster store, which counts Princess Anne and Margaret Thatcher among its customers, may have to search for a new premises after commercial property agency Metrus Property Advisors confirmed it is considering redeveloping the site.
It is likely any new location would be less central than its current home on Artillery Row – where the jeweller moved after its earlier site on Stratton Ground was destroyed in the Blitz.
Robert Mullings, who runs the store, said he was told Metrus hopes to redevelop the site into a restaurant when he attempted to secure a new five-year lease.
Prestigious London jeweller J McCarthy (pictured) could be forced to close after more than 200 years – over proposed plans to redevelop the building into a restaurant
‘We were trying to secure a new five year lease on the premises, but they informed us they want to put a restaurant here and next door, where Barclays Bank is,’ he told the Telegraph. ‘That means there simply wouldn’t be any space for us and we would have to go elsewhere.’
Mr Mullings would need to find a new location and pay incredibly high rents as a new tenant if he wanted to stay within Westminster, a move he said ‘would finish us.’
‘As a new tenant elsewhere the rent would be a lot higher and we would simply go out of business,’ he added. ‘It would be the end of our business after so many years.’
J McCarthy plans to launch an appeal if Westminster Planning Committee approves an application for change of use put forward by Metrus.
The Westminster store may have to search for a new premises after commercial property agency Metrus Property Advisors confirmed it is considering redeveloping the site. Pictured: Inside the jeweller
J McCarthy counts Margaret Thatcher (left) and Princess Anne (right) among its past and present customers
He has appealed to the Mayor of Westminster and the House of Commons for help.
Adrian Sayer, managing director for Metrus, said: ‘No decisions have been made as to what will be changed even if planning permission is granted and indeed in the light of the Covid pandemic there may well be no changes at all.’
J McCarthy, one of the oldest jewellers in London, was established by Justin John McCarthy as a pawnbrokers near Victoria Street in 1798.
It traded at this location for more than a century before the premises was destroyed in the Blitz in November 1940.
J McCarthy, one of the oldest jewellers in London, was established by Justin John McCarthy as a pawnbrokers near Victoria Street in 1798
It traded at the Stratton Ground location for more than a century before the premises was destroyed in the Blitz in November 1940
The store then moved a few yards away to its current location at Artillery Row ‘with only some cracked French porcelain salvaged from the wreckage.’
J McCarthy specialises in antique jewellery and silver, alongside ‘sourcing beautiful items for our extensive client base built over many decades’.
It is currently run by Mr Mullings, whose great, great grandfather joined the McCarthy family by marriage.