Judging by the ever increasing area in the square being claimed by the Ritzy and the relentless branding they've slapped all over the place, it's being to look like the Ritzy's very own annexe!
Are they licensed?? (I think you have to post a licensing certificate somewhere that says exactly how many seats you are allowed outside)
They seem to have recently thrust their branded area far further in the direction of Coldharbour Lane (see middle pic).
I did get slightly peeved the other day at the lack of access to the slopes down to the pedestrian crossing now that they "own" so much of the square (when pushing a pram) - it's a bit of a silly thing to get annoyed about but I was mildly irritated for a while.
i assume they're paying lambeth a hefty price for all those seats blocking the main square. they should be able to given how much they charge to see a film these days.
Can't believe how cheaply the council rent our space to this mob. It might not be quite so irritating if this cheap space was being shared by some of the smaller traders in Brixton. I wouldn't mind seeing something resembling a summer market with a choice of stalls selling food/drink, clothes/jewelry, postcards or such. The Ritzy presence is just so bland and corporate.
Btw, it should be 'City Screen Square', it might tout itself as our old favourite Ritzy but its all just smoke and mirrors.
And probably getting their loyal customers in before the BCA opens its cafe less than fifty yards away...
It would be nice to see another independent cafe there too, along with small local traders getting a slice of the square.
And that's a peculiarly British trait, albeit one that is slowly eroding. You have the best pubs in the world, but you cannot get your heads around cafes. There are of course honourable exceptions. Note I'm not talking about greasy spoons here.
The square itself has provision in the design for a cafe booth, subject to future planning application. Unfortunately, the plans in the 2007 application are so badly scanned, it's impossible make out exactly where this is
If you work from home, it's a way of maintaining sanity and getting to chat to other sanity-concerned freelancers.
Black Cultural Archives - they're refurbishing and extending Raleigh Hall at the southeast corner of the square. Thread: http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/threads/258163-New-home-for-Black-Cultural-Archives-Raleigh-Hall
My understanding is that the space wasn't offered up to The Ritzy. They approached Lambeth and made them an offer which was accepted. Obviously Ritzy are in a better position to take advantage of the square than other businesses but that on its own shouldn't preclude them from being allowed to do so. Similarly, a business group approached the council about setting up the small market outside KFC a couple of years back. Anyone could have asked to do this but the group that did it got the pitch. Then local businesses complained that it was unfair competition and the licence was withdrawn. (Not sure if there wasn't more to it than that). If businesses want to use the spaces I guess they should put forward a proposal. If you don't ask...
Recently there was a link posted to a document outlining the pricing structure for seats in the square which implied that perhaps a policy exists. Even if someone asks/proposes it shouldn't mean that the council just give to they that ask. Something like the commercialisation of a very expensive public square should have had at least a little consultation attached to it. What if McDonald's had asked first?
I guess if the new square was directly outside McD's they might have been allowed to although I know that not all offers are accepted. I wonder what they'd do? Personally I'd not like that. I was more responding to the suggestion that smaller businesses should be allowed some of the space. Maybe they would be if they made a viable proposal - like the markets I referred to. IIRC the outline price structure was not for the square per se but for allowing use of Lambeth owned outside space in general, e.g. SW9 bar maybe, or San Marino's. (It may be that in those particular cases they own the outside space - I'm not entirely sure - but there will be other instances where the council let neighbouring businesses use parts of the street). IMO it would be a shame if Ritzy (or whosoever happened to be adjacent to the square) was not allowed to come to an arrangement to serve in it. Although I agree with Ed's comments that it is a pretty imposing setup.
I don't recall any of the proposals for Windrush Square featuring a vast chunk of the area being taken over by a private company. As it is, vast pots of public money appear to have just funded a nice al fresco new dining/cafe area for the Ritzy.
Ritzy has certainly benefited from it. There was always an express intention to allow forms of private economic activity on parts of the site in the form of a coffee shop and also markets. I agree that this particular use was not discussed.
