A popular corner store that sold cocktails in the southeast London neighbourhood of Camberwell has become the latest victim of the cost of living crisis.

The shop, below flats in Town Hall Camberwell, recently shut down because of rising rental costs.

Shop owners Adele and her brother Carl, told South London Lines that their landlord asked for a 40% rent increase in early October. They asked for a more manageable sum but the landlord rejected the request. He said he would prefer the place being empty instead, Adele and Carl said.

They had just five days to move out, they said. There are unconfirmed rumours the corner store will be replaced by a franchise, possibly Starbucks. 

Locals said the store, which partners with Jazu Cocktails, was a lively place. It was frequented by many students, several of whom live in the Town Hall flats.

One Town Hall resident said the closure was sad. The store was always there when they wanted to get a drink in Jazu, the resident said, but now “we can’t anymore”.

Adele said she is “stressed about paying my house rent and anxious to open up anywhere new in case it happens again”.