Hampstead greengrocer evicted over 'lack of price tickets'

Ian Jenkins said he will be forced to sell his bungalow after his licence was terminated by landlords Hampstead Community Centre.

The 72-year-old is begging the charity to reconsider its decision and "show compassion" after a difficult two years dealing with the pandemic then losing his wife of 50 years Anne Mary Jenkins.

• MOST READ: Sheep to graze grass in Hampstead Heath for a week

The business has been on the High Street for 25 years and was first run by Ian's son Paul. Ian took over managing it in 2019 and his daughter Louise quit her job in April to help out her father.

HCC says it gave verbal warnings that it was "contravening pricing laws" ahead of a final warning in July and a termination notice on August 15, both seen by the Ham and High. 

Ian, who lives in Epping Forest and has no pension, was given until Wednesday (September 13) to pack up and leave.

He wakes up at 2.30am every day to go to market to buy fresh produce and said "prices change in the market, you have to allow for that".

Ian Jenkins at his stall in Hampstead High Street, where he's being evicted for not showing pricing on all his fruit and veg (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

"All I want is another chance. I have been a bit forgetful over tickets. I haven't had a stall full of tickets but it's not what they say, that I haven't had any tickets," he claimed.

"They've turned my life upside down. I'm going to have to sell my home. I haven't slept properly since I found out about it and the doctor's given me sleeping tablets.

"I lost my wife 18 months ago. They've no compassion at all doing this over tickets."

Louise said a friend helping the family, who ran the stall for a year, received a letter in June last year but died three months later. 

She said the family bought more pricing tags at that time and put them up and after the final warning in July bought more to display on all items.

But a photo was taken showing barely any ticket prices. 

"One day they took a picture, the day before we were due to go on holiday. It was opportunistic. They are being callous and petty. I don't think they want us here."

She asked HCC for the minutes of the meeting and how the decision was made but her request was denied.

Local resident David Margelies, started a paper petition to save the business, which got 150 signatures in four days. He said: "The thing that struck me is they were always helpful during Covid and supporting the community.

"It requires so much support from the community as possible which is why I set up the petition."

Neighbour Martin Hicks said: “This is a devastating blow to a family who have operated this site for many years and just recovered from serious financial difficulties and personal tragedies."

The fruit & veg stall is next to the Hampstead Community Centre, which has served Ian Jenkins with a termination notice for not showing all his prices (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

Liberal Democrat councillor Linda Chung, who is also a trustee of HCC, said: "I regret it deeply," adding: "I'm totally supportive of the market as an entity. The decision has been made extremely carefully, I scrutinised that, I asked all the questions, I did all the relevant stuff. The decision has been made fairly."

HCC centre manager Richard Weaver said on behalf of the charity that through the years the centre "has made every effort to help and support" Ian.

"It is thus with very great regret that the decision was made," he added.

"The decision was made fairly, and with considerable thought. It was a unanimous decision made by the trustees and management board, and we are unable to go into the matter any further."