Old Roots Café Faces Closure at Oval Tube

0:00On April 5th, a family run cafe called Old Roots in Oval Tube Station bases closure after 20 years. Transport for London just told them their lease won't renew right after a big revamp. If plans push through, they'll shut down by summer next year. The young owner, 26-year-old Metine Balsy, took over from his dad recently. He poured money into fixes, now scrambling to recover costs in the next year and a half. He worries big chains like gales, prett, and gregs are squeezing out independence who can't match their scale. This echoes the Brixton Tube newsstand that closed in February after a huge rent jump. That 35-year-old spot made way for a chain in a bigger unit, sparking public backlash online and in the news. TFL says they're still talking with Old Roots and no final call yet on the lease. They pray small businesses for adding life to stations and offer meetings to sort rent or lease issues. Most hikes tie to safety upgrades or unit expansions that boost value. Small spots like these keep London's underground vibe alive,

1:03but these fights highlight the pressure on family operations. Stay tuned as talks continue.