done! Owners of small businesses can come in and say, Hey, I’ m making this brilliant beer, or I’ m making this gin, or I’ m making this chocolate. I’ m making these crisps or these biscuits. Would you put them on your shelves? And we can say, Yes, we can. That’ s the magic.”
Only last month, a chat with a Ukrainian winemaker led to Louise selling“ these incredible wines” from Odesa.“ I’ m sure the people of Seven Dials will really get behind it,” she says, proud to be able to help in some small way.
“ It’ s just another little middle finger to Putin with every bottle sold, I think. And it’ s just the sort of thing that you don’ t get in a supermarket.”
The Co-op have given them an eviction date of November 26th.“ It couldn’ t be worse” she says.“ We wrote to ask them to please have a heart, to let us go after Christmas. And they’ re refusing to answer.”
The Whistler asked The Co-op press office for a comment. We’ re still waiting.
There’ s a petition you can sign. Add your name to the list. Every name helps.
Our MP Sian Berry( pictured opposite in Seven Cellars with her predecessor Caroline Lucas) wrote to the Co-op to express the community’ s dissatisfaction with this situation. This is how the exchange went.
From: Brighton Office < brightonoffice @ parliament. uk > Sent: 02 April 2025 10:21
Dear Shirine, I’ m writing regarding a local issue that’ s been raised by a number of constituents. I’ m aware this has been raised with you in previous years. It relates to two small businesses, Latina Café, and Seven Cellars, in the Seven Dials area of my constituency. The properties which house the businesses were acquired by Co-op last year, and there are fears this will lead to the existing businesses being forced out of their properties should the Co-op seek to expand. Prior to being elected, I visited both businesses and met with the owners, Louise Oliver, and Adelia Pereira, as well as some members of the local community who are regular customers and who made clear their deep concern about the potential loss of these two vibrant small businesses. From the conversations I had during my visit, and given that the petition supporting the businesses now has over nine thousand signatories, it’ s clear there is strong support in Seven Dials for both Latina Café and Seven Cellars. They really are an important part of fabric of the Seven Dials community, and as a result, there is a lot of anxiety about their long-term futures. Whilst I appreciate the future of these properties is the Co-op’ s decision, I hope that the company’ s commitment to community values will mean community concerns about the need for business mix in the area, and the future of these much-loved, women owned businesses will be considered. The local communities preferred outcome is for the Co-op to extend leases and to pause on any expansion plans. I do hope that this is a viable option from Co-op’ s perspective, and is something you will consider. I look forward to hearing from you shortly on this matter so I can update constituents who have written to me about this. Best wishes, Siân
From: Paul Gerrard Sent: 29 May 2025 12:36 To: Brighton Office < brightonoffice @ parliament. uk >
Dear Ms Berry Thank you for your e-mail to Shirine Khoury- Haq, CEO of the Co-op Group, regarding Seven Dials in Brighton. I have been asked to respond and please accept my apologies in the delay in this response. You will be aware that we’ ve had extensive correspondence with your constituents and your predecessor regarding this site. We applied for planning permission to extend our site another way but this planning application was rejected, we negotiated with your constituents and sought to purchase their lease at market rate, however we were unable to agree on this. Despite considering other options, we have not been able to find an alternative solution so we have now given notice to our current tenants in Seven Dials although we have extended the notice period to ensure they can continue until the start of 2026. I appreciate that you may be disappointed with this outcome. However, I can confirm that while we did consider alternative options, we were unable to pursue them. Yours sincerely Paul Gerrard Director- Campaigns, Public Affairs and Policy The Co-op
Letters
OK, not a letter sent to us, but a letter sent to our Councillors. Think of it as inspiration. You could do the same. You should do the same
Good morning, I’ m a resident of the Seven Dials area, which you represent, and I’ m reaching out to ask for your support with a matter that is deeply affecting our local community.
You may be aware that the Co-op store at the Seven Dials roundabout( 106 Dyke Road) has plans to expand. A few years ago, the company purchased the protected leases of the two neighbouring properties. Recently, the independent businesses occupying these properties were informed that their leases will not be renewed at the end of this year.
Many residents, myself included, are disappointed by this underhanded move. I’ m hoping you might be able to support our community in coming together to oppose the expansion of the Co-op.
Admittedly, I don’ t know much about how matters like this are handled at the local government level. However, I do know that this proposed expansion would significantly erode the unique character of the area. Seven Dials is cherished for its vibrant independent businesses, which help define its identity.
The two premises under threat are currently home to a much-loved café and a wine shop. These buildings have housed independent, locally run businesses for 184 years. Replacing their distinctive Victorian shopfronts with a larger, generic, and overpriced supermarket would represent a serious loss of historical and cultural heritage.
It’ s also worth noting that there is already another large Co-op store just a three-minute walk away on Dyke Road. There is simply no demand for a second large outlet offering the same products within such a short distance.
There is strong feeling within the community that these businesses should be protected. Local groups are actively discussing how best to support them, but we’ re unsure of the practical steps we can take to stand up to a large corporation. A long-running local petition, which now has over 11,400 signatures, clearly shows the strength of public opposition.
Any advice, support, or guidance you can offer would be enormously appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you. Best wishes Scarlett Molyneaux