Designer clustering

Food and gentrification go hand in hand in London

The opening of the “middle class” sandwich chain Pret A Manger in Wood Green has created a division between shoppers and residents and provoked gentrification debates. There’s been a variety of opinions voiced from hopes of change to “loss of culture” in the area.

In my personal opinion, being once a resident of Harringay (borough of Wood Green) and shopper at the Wood Green mall, I have a split point of view. I believe that a Pret will bring more jobs and give a nicer place to enjoy Pret’s 99p filtered coffee. However, I think it’s too pricey for the majority of the residents in the Wood Green area. The only other cafe is the Costa in the mall that has been there for years and is in need of a desperate refurbishment. The Pret looks out of place compared to the other stores in the area like the Sports Direct, Primark, discount stores etc.

Sources:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/residents-hit-out-at-middle-class-pret-in-wood-green-shopping-centre-a3348616.html

https://www.themall.co.uk/wood-green/whats-on/at-the-mall/2016/whats-new-pret-a-manger/