Save Gaby’s. Fight Clone London!
Since 1965, Gaby’s Diner has been providing affordable but healthy food for actors and theatre-goers. However, Gaby’s days are now numbered after Westminster Council okayed plans by landlord The Marquess of Salisbury and his company Gascoyne Holdings to boot out the diner in place of a generic chain restaurant.
But Gaby fans will not see the eatery shut its doors without putting up a fight, as for them the May 1 closure will rob London of one of its prized independent food venues.
You only need to step through the door to see why so many people have fallen in love with this little eatery, with a counter full of delicious freshly made salads and authentic Middle-Eastern treats. Walls adorned with pictures of famous guests, old theatre posters and raving reviews, Gaby’s is just bursting with character.
Relocation is sadly off the cards for the moment, explains owner Elyahou, saying that he just can’t afford another place in the West End, adding that Gaby’s is the last place in West London that offers the renowned salt beef sandwich, which means when the doors shut for good, the dish will disappear completely from the area.
He said the imminent closure represents a wider problem in London in general, with more and more small businesses being swallowed up by the big companies.
Sara Nathan, creator of the Facebook campaign ‘Save Gaby’s’, agrees that something needs to be done to save independent eats. ‘I don’t like the thought of all the chains that are homogenising our high streets and the West End,’ she said.
Nathan, a customer who has visited the diner through the decades with her musician husband said she was ‘shocked and devastated’ when she heard that Gaby’s was to close. ‘I just wish I had known earlier!’ she added, ‘Gaby is great at falafel and salt beef, but he’s not an experienced campaigner’.
Nathan says the situation just isn’t fair. ‘The Marquess, with over a £300 million fortune, can afford lawyers, advisers, consultants, meanwhile Gaby is an immigrant from Iraq via Israel,’ she said. ‘Gaby has done well for himself, running a successful small business, but he struggles to deal with Gascoyne Holdings.’
The campaign has steadily grown on and offline and now consists of a paper petition with almost 4,000 signatures, plus the original Facebook page tipping towards almost 3,000 members.
To raise awareness of the cause, a Christmas card campaign has also been set up, along with a series of events, kicking off tomorrow with a ‘Cabaret Falafel’ evening. The venue’s high profile regulars also include Simon Callow and Mike Leigh who have also spoken out for the cause.
In an interview with The London Evening Standard, Gascoyne Holding’s representative Adam Wiles said that no decision had been made as yet to which restaurant would occupy the building once Gaby’s was evicted.
Lord Salisbury said he currently had no further comments to make about his company’s plans to shut the diner.
If you want to support the cause, check out the ‘Save Gaby’s’ campaign on Facebook.
Gaby’s Deli
30 Charing Cross Road
Soho
WC2H 0DB
Tel: 020 7836 4233
Image by Paul Iché
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Henry Goodman starts Cabaret Felafel at Gabys’s tomorrow – thursday December 8th at 1745.
He’s singing a couple of satirical songs specially written by Alistair Beaton to help save Gaby’s.
If you want to help, look at the Save Gaby’s Deli facebook page where there’s all the news and, on the info page, suggestions of whom to contact and how to do it.
Tweet@SaveGabys or #savegabysdeli
I’m not on Facebook but feel strongly about losing Gabys from the London scene. Is there another Forum to protest on?
This in a national treasure and MUST BE SAVED, I have been going there for 30 years and had my first salt beef sandwich there with a boyfriend, he has long gone from my life, but my love for Gaby’s lives on!
Dear Sir/Madame ,
must save Gabys
but what is the
strategy, need to widen the issues
as well, possibly boycott new
chains when possible , chains
are fine if limited,
A.leitts
Manchester
w
I am not a Facebooker however I have been using Gaby’s since I worked in the West End in the late 60’s/early 70’s and was introduced to the Salt Beef sandwich. During many 1st night duties we used to take a break with a visit to Gaby’s while waiting for shows to finish. I still go now when in London and have written to Boris in defence of the protection of Gaby’s. It would be a serious loss and further restriction of choice as the West End becomes further blandised by endless rolling and changing international brands.
KEEP GABY’S LIVE