Replingham Road is heading into the new year with a wave of new businesses taking over long-empty units, led by the expansion of beloved French deli Chanteroy into the old Barclays Bank.
The bank branch closed several years ago and has sat empty since, becoming a familiar eyesore on the Southfields shopping street. The old Barclays site was among those considered when Lidl announced expansion plans earlier this year, but it is Chanteroy that has secured the unit. Fit-out work is now underway behind the new glass frontage, with the deli planning to open a second location in the new year.
Chanteroy has built a devoted following since opening its French deli near Southfields station on Wimbledon Park Road, with queues regularly stretching out the door at lunchtime. The tiny shop is known for its freshly baked baguettes, pastries and French provisions, and has earned what one reviewer called “the French community’s seal of approval” for its authentic offering. The larger Replingham Road premises will give the business considerably more space than its current cramped quarters.
Balti bonanza
Further along the road, Chapter 2 has opened at 197-199 Replingham Road, bringing elevated South Indian cuisine to a site with its own culinary history. The restaurant is an evolution of The Biryani Centre, a family business that started during lockdown when founder Radhika Kamaraj began selling home-cooked food on Facebook.
What began with 10 orders quickly grew to 40 within a week, and the family eventually opened a permanent location in New Malden. Chapter 2 represents a new direction, with a five-course tasting menu, cocktails, and interiors featuring salvaged Chettinad tiles and reclaimed furniture. The site was previously home to Sarkhel’s, the well-regarded restaurant run by a former head chef of Bombay Brasserie.
Chapter 2 opened about a week ago, with renovation work continuing inside. This should be a great addition to the cluster of shops at the far end of Replingham.
Light and space
At 193 Replingham Road, The Studio SW18 is preparing to open. The unit, previously a Pilates studio, will become a light-filled space for photoshoots, content creation and small workshops. The website promises a “warm, neutral, thoughtfully styled space” for creators, small brands, photographers and workshop hosts, with uses ranging from branding shoots and product photography to baby massage classes and community sessions. The business is currently taking early access sign-ups ahead of its opening.
Surely soon?
And then there is the never-ending saga of the Italian Deli & Café at number 3. The corner unit at the Merton Road end of Replingham Road has been through multiple false starts over the years, with various signs of activity followed by renewed stagnation. The latest chapter: the fence has been repositioned from the side to the front, the window is now fully boarded up, and a fresh “rent/sell” sign has appeared. Whether this renewed activity will finally bring someone into the space remains to be seen.
For a high street that has seen its share of empty units, four spaces changing hands simultaneously feels like genuine momentum heading into 2025.
