SNELLER COMMERCIAL URGED FONE & VAPE LANDLORDS TO STICK WITH BAKERY
Sneller Commercial negotiated the deal between the new ‘Fone and Vape’ tenants in the High Street and the landlords, it can be revealed.
They also revealed that they had urged the landlords Zechariah Charitable Trust to “agree terms’ with the previous tenant Cavan Bakery, which closed a month ago, because they ‘felt they were the most suitable for the premises.’
At the time Cavan Bakery’s managing director Nicky Taylor told Teddington Town: “After more than 17 wonderful years trading from 25 High Street we have taken the difficult decision to close this shop on 16th April.
“At our most recent lease renewal, we were unfortunately unable to agree reasonable terms with our landlord.
“In particular an uncapped service charge has been imposed which would be unpredictable and could, over time, seriously jeopardise the long-term future health of our business. As responsible stewards of a local, independent company, we cannot take that risk.”
The landlords, The Zechariah Charitable Trust, describes itself as a ‘grant-making charity established to relieve poverty, primarily focusing on individuals of the Jewish faith, operating in England and Wales with reported activities including education and training support.
According to official documents the charity (Number 1090784) has a registered address in Clapton Road, East London and as of March 31 2025 showed total income of £54.920 with a total expenditure of £86.318.
It adds that no Trustees receive remuneration or payment. A call to the Trust today was refered to another company called Better Properties which is described on a gov.uk as a business ‘buying and selling real estate.’ It is understood the Trust owns other local properties in the area.
Sneller Commercial also revealed that it had advised the new tenants that ‘with regard to the shop signage, we informed the tenant that planning permission would be required for any new shop front or signage.”
At this stage it is unknown whether planning permission was requested and Teddington Town has put the question to Richmond Council. However, an enquiry to the planning department show no record of a planning application on behalf of 25 High Street, Teddington.
The Teddington Society issued a critical statement about the shop’s appearance and its negative impact on the High Street.
Their statement said: “The longstanding Cavan Bakery shop on Teddington High Street is being replaced by a Phone & Vape Shop to the horror of many members.
“There are two strands to this – one is stopping the visual deterioration of the High Street and our conservation areas by the conversion of the front of the shops using cheap and garish materials.
“The other is the limiting of shops such as ‘phone and vape’ type shops as there are already 3 in Broad Street.
“The Society has already put in an application to Richmond Council’s planning enforcement about the fascia and have had an acknowledgement that they will investigate.
“The main reasons are the unacceptability of the material and lighting of the new fascia in a conservation area, the proximity to a Grade II listed building and the non-compliance with the Council’s Shopfronts Supplementary Planning Guidance.
“The other issue is a new phone and vape shop on the High Street – our prime conservation area. It’s all part of the general deterioration of the High Street in particular and our retail streets in general.
“We have already had messages from members about the proximity of a vape shop to Awesome Studios, which a lot of children use.”
The Sneller Commercial statement said: “We were the letting agents for this property on behalf of Zechariah Charitable Trust. We were instructed by our clients to market the property on their behalf, and we have a duty to present them with all expressions of interest and leasing proposals received from prospective tenants.
“Although we can make recommendations to our clients and with our extensive knowledge of the High Street and many successful lettings, we provided our thoughts on the suitability of the proposed tenant.
“However, the final decision is the landlords, not ours, and we received instructions to proceed with the tenant that has now taken occupation.
”We can also advise that prior to marketing the property, our recommendations to our client were to agree terms for Cavan Bakery to renew their lease, as we felt they were the most suitable tenant for the premises, but unfortunately our client did not agree with our recommendations and Cavan Bakery unfortunately vacated.
“With regard to the shop signage, we informed the tenant that planning permission would be required for any new shop front or signage and you will need to make enquiries with the planning department of the local authority to establish if planning permission has been obtained and raise any objections with them.
The agent at Sneller Commercial added: “I have been a resident of Teddington all my life and employed with Sneller Commercial for the last 30 years and I can assure you that I take a personal as well as professional interest in the businesses that occupy the local premises and this will reflect in any advice that I provide my clients, but we also have to accept that we have a professional duty to follow our client’s instructions.”
Asked about the background to the Trust, Sneller Commercial said it could not comment any further on the client.