Places Leisure has denied plans to replace the independent cafe at Putney Leisure Centre with a franchise coffee chain or vending machines, but did not confirm whether the current business would remain after refurbishment.
The statement came as Jeannine Ángel, who has run The Kitchen cafe at Putney Leisure Centre for over a decade, launched a petition to save her business. The petition has gathered 175 signatures since going live yesterday.
“We can confirm that there are no future plans to replace the food and beverage options within the leisure centres in Wandsworth with a franchise coffee chain or vending machines,” a Places Leisure spokesperson told Putney.news.
However, the company stopped short of confirming that Ángel’s 10-year-old business would continue operating in the redeveloped leisure centre.
Ángel’s solicitor sent two letters to Places Leisure seeking dialogue about the future of the business with a deadline of today to respond. At the time of writing, no response had been received.
As we reported last month, Ángel is fighting to keep her business as the leisure centre plans major refurbishment. Despite serving the community for years and being told her cafe was “part of the family,” she was ordered to close the cafe following an unexpected inspection. When she question that decision through a solicitor, the enforced closure was written off as a “misunderstanding”.
“This is my community,” Ángel said at the time, describing how her cafe serves as a vital meeting point for parents, swimmers, and elderly residents who rely on the affordable, welcoming space.
Reconsideration request
The petition, titled “Save Our Local Leisure Center Cafes from Closure,” calls on Places Leisure and Wandsworth Council to reconsider the plans and protect local independent businesses.
“We remain in discussions with JDSR Ltd and are continuing to work to ensure the best outcomes for JDSR Ltd, our customers and Places Leisure,” the spokesperson said. “Due to the nature of these ongoing discussions, we are unable to provide further information at this time.”
Staff at the leisure centre have been instructed to refer questions from customers to general managers while negotiations continue.
The company’s statement addresses concerns about corporate franchises replacing independent operators, but leaves unanswered whether any food and beverage provision will remain in the refurbished facility, or what form it might take.
The refurbishment is part of a wider £24 million investment in Wandsworth’s leisure facilities, though no timeline has been confirmed for when work at Putney will begin.
