Category Archives: Centrale

Met investigates criminal damage as Barclays front is smashed

Croydon town centre’s Barclays Bank was the target of vandalism attack in the early hours of this morning, with its toughened glass frontage completely smashed in. The bank branch, in a prime location on the junction of North End and … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Centrale, Crime | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Exciting Easter lined up for visitors to Centrale and Whitgift

This Easter, Centrale and Whitgift shopping centres in Croydon town centre will be hosting a roster of interactive activities for families – and helping to raise funds for a local arts charity. From April 1 to 5, you and the … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Activities, Business, Centrale, House of Fraser, Stanley Halls, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Much-loved Whitgift Centre café to shut down on Saturday

This Saturday will be your last chance to enjoy a decent cup of coffee, maybe a sandwich or a bit of cake, in what claims to be the best café in the Whitgift Centre. The Camden Coffee House has announced … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, Mayor Jason Perry, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Puerile attempt to design town centre with sticky-back plastic

Patronising and puerile, the council’s latest attempt to “engage” the public  has reached a new low, even by the subterranean standards of Fisher’s Folly. The cash-strapped council is now trying to pretend it is doing something about the state of … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, Croydon Council, Environment, Mayor Jason Perry, Turf Projects, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Croydon escapes worst effects of Gove’s ‘Developers’ Charter’

Tory minister takes a swipe at London Mayor as he moves to reduce planning restrictions and allow ‘some incredibly poor quality homes which should not have been built’ Croydon and Sutton might just escape the worst excesses of Michael Gove’s … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2024 London elections, Business, Centrale, Croydon Council, Housing, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Planning, Property, Sadiq Khan, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

While admiring town centre’s new art, try not to get arrested

The newly installed street art around the town centre has its appeal, the overtly hostile security policy in Centrale less so, says KEN TOWL It was quite a thrill to be described as “the IC1 male taking pictures with a … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Art, Business, Centrale, Ken Towl, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Rolex and gem boutique Loupe opens £3m store in Centrale

Following a £3million investment, Loupe Croydon opened its doors on Friday. The luxury diamond, fine jewellery and watch outlet is in Centrale, off North End, and occupies 4,300sqft of retail space, and features a showroom for Rolex with an Authorised … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Centrale, Loupe | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

2023 in Croydon – as told through our best-read articles

THE YEAR IN REVIEW Part 1 – January to April The parlous state of the council’s finances would remain a thorny issue throughout the year, after Tory Mayor Jason Perry issued a Section 114 notice of his own in November … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Birch (Selsdon), Business, Centrale, Crime, Croydon Council, Heathfield House, History, Inside Croydon, Knife crime, Mayor Jason Perry, Sarah Jones MP, Selsdon Park Hotel, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tory Perry launches ‘Urban Room’ where nothing’s happening

Our retailing correspondent, MT WALLETTE, reports on the latest half-cock initiative from the council to ‘revive’ the ailing town centre: an insta account and a desperate plea for ideas from the public Mayor Jason Perry’s latest feeble effort to somehow … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Andrew Pelling, Business, Centrale, Croydon BID, Croydon Council, Environment, Fairfield, Growth Zone, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Peter Underwood, Planning, Ria Patel, Secret Cinema, Stiles Harold Williams, TfL, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Millionaire pulls plug on Mayor Perry’s ‘big idea’ for Allders

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The businessman behind Secret Cinema folded five companies in August, as ambitious plans for the ‘turning point for the future of entertainment’ in Croydon’s dilapidated town centre are abandoned. By STEVEN DOWNES Jason Perry put on his … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Centrale, Croydon BID, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Secret Cinema, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Diwali festival of light set to brighten up the Whitgift Centre

The Whitgift shopping centre is inviting Croydon residents to join in the festivities as they celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Light, on Saturday November 4. Diwali is one of the most significant festivals in Hinduism, symbolising the triumph of light … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Centrale, Church and religions, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Westfield boss says Croydon scheme could take 15 more years

‘Sustainable’ plans for redeveloping the town centre could see as many as 30,000 new flats built, according to one council figure, but a scheme that was originally due to be completed in 2017 now might only be finished more than … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Centrale, Sean Fitzsimons, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Hammer blow for Whitgift Centre with new delay to masterplan

CROYDON IN CRISIS: No more ‘Death Star’-type, £1.4bn Westfield shopping mall say developers, who want to build ‘thousands’ of flats, as Paris-based firm looks for a more sustainable approach In a hammer blow to any hope of urgently rescuing the … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, Croydon Council, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

After 54 years, Sainsbury’s enters final week in Whitgift Centre

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The departure of one of the shopping centre’s ever-presents will only reinforce the feeling of decay and decline in the town centre Sainsbury’s has confirmed that the final day of trading for its Whitgift Centre store will … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

FREE spring rolls as Chopstix opens for business in Centrale

Chopstix, the noodle chain, opens its newest store in Croydon’s Centrale next week with a mouthwatering offer of spring rolls to be given away free of charge to the first 1,000 customers. The new Chopstix store includes the brand’s “living … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Centrale, Restaurants | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Sainsbury’s confirms it is to close Whitgift Centre store

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Supermarket chain says it was a ‘difficult decision’ to close flagship shop – but at least they have five higher-profit ‘Local’ shops nearby. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Britain’s second-largest chain of supermarkets has admitted that it can … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, Planning, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

What will the ‘new’ Westfield deal really mean for Croydon?

STEVEN DOWNES outlines some of the likely consequences of this week’s announcement that Paris-based Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield have bought out their former partners Hammerson for the redevelopment of the town centre In all the flurry of civic excitement over the announcement that … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, CPO, Croydon Council, Growth Zone, Housing, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Planning, Sadiq Khan, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

MP Jones: Time for Westfield to grasp Croydon opportunity

Sarah Jones, the MP for Croydon Central, today responded to the news that Westfield’s parent company had bought out Hammerson’s half-share in the Croydon Partnership, including the Centrale shopping mall, potentially removing the log-jam in the long-delayed redevelopment of Croydon … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, Croydon Central, Sarah Jones MP, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Perry blasted after trying to take credit for Westfield’s new deal

Political correspondent WALTER CRONXITE on how elected Mayor’s grandstanding over a deal with which he had no involvement has been seen through by ordinary Council Tax-payers Croydon Mayor Jason Perry came under fire last night, as he tried to take … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, Mayor Jason Perry, Sean Fitzsimons, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Westfield seals deal to buy Hammerson out of town centre

Westfield’s parent company has this afternoon confirmed that they have bought out Hammerson, the owners of the Centrale shopping centre, from their half-share of the Croydon Partnership, the joint venture which has inflicted a decade’s worth of development blight on … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, CPO, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Centrale’s owners set to sell-up to Westfield in cut-price deal

Our vacated shopping centre correspondent, MT WALLETTE, on the latest multi-million-pound boardroom manoeuvres over Croydon’s developer-blighted North End It has taken more than a decade, but Westfield’s hostile takeover of the Centrale shopping mall in Croydon town centre looks as … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Town Hall meetings halved as new Mayor dodges questioning

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Tonight’s cabinet meeting has on its agenda the borough’s underperforming schools, the Westfield failure, Council Tax Support and council rents… in all, 24 items need to be considered at a meeting where opposition councillors will barely be … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Centrale, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Education, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Report in the Public Interest, Schools, Section 114 notice, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Westfield non-developers facing £5m fine for failed supermall

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Council concedes it is virtually powerless over land-owners and developers for long-delayed regeneration scheme, as influential scrutiny chair admits her committee is not convinced things will change. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES The company formed 10 years ago … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, CPO, Croydon Council, Growth Zone, Heather Cheesbrough, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, Property, Rowenna Davis, Tony Newman, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Shopping malls pick Croydon Health as nominated charity

The Croydon Health Charity, based at Mayday Hospital, has been announced as the nominated charity of the year for the Centrale and Whitgift shopping centres. The announcement is a boost for NHS staff and patients across the borough, as the … Continue reading

Posted in Centrale, Charity, Croydon Health Charity, Croydon NHS Trust, Health, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Whitgift Centre is on a roll in the build-up to Christmas

Centrale and Whitgift shopping centres have announced that they will be opening a free roller rink in Whitgift Square on Saturday November 25, to be a feature of festive activities in the town centre right through until Christmas Eve. It … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Activities, Business, Centrale, Croydon BID, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment