If you were a shop landlord would you a) rent it to some grocers who might close down in a week b) get good rent from a chain on a long lease whos less likely to go bust. The rent will never be cheap enough for new indies I dont see landlords reducing rents so that they can please the people of Lordship lane with a organic coffee shop I know what I would choose if I were in those shoes. kford Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ???? is on the money. The rents argument is the > stongest against this trend. The big boys have > such buying power and arrogance - look at Nero; > they've swaggered into town without even bothering > to sort out their planning permission. And > Foxtons' two fingered gesture of a shop front > speaks volumes for their attempts to integrate > into the community. > > Support the shops and eateries that are already > here - the good ones will survive and thrive, the > dross will be replaced by new indies, if the rent > is still cheap enough.