A Walworth bakery and cafe is baking its loaves from the bowels of a Georgian church after saying its rent became unaffordable.
Independent eatery Louie Louie has renamed itself Saint Louie after relocating to the crypt inside St Peter’s Church, on Sunday, October 15.
The cafe’s owners have said they are “delighted” by the move and that its products will be cheaper thanks to a more affordable rent.
Proprietors Chris and Lena Greenwood said: “We are delighted to be able to save existing jobs and to continue to work in Walworth.
“We worked extensively throughout lockdown with St Peter’s, feeding the most vulnerable in the parish via our Neighbour in Need programme, and it is amazing that St Peter’s have literally now come to our rescue in our time of need!
“Furthermore, it means we will be able to drop prices to be as affordable as possible, at a time where every little most definitely helps.”
According to Mr Greenwood, the landlord of the old premises on Walworth Road insisted on receiving 100 per cent of the rent during lockdown.
Unable to afford it, the cafe has struck up an agreement with the nearby church. The two organisations worked together before to put on musical events and feed vulnerable local residents during Covid-19 lockdowns.
Father Andrew Mumby, Rector of St Peter’s Church, said: ”Louie Louie have been great neighbours over the years and bring a real vibe to the newly pedestrianised Liverpool Grove.
“We have enjoyed working together upstairs on a great series of gigs in the church, and now it’s time for something new.”
Mr Greenwood added: “Father Mumby is really pleased that bread is now being baked in the church. All I have to do now is turn water into wine!”
Saint Louie is already welcoming customers to the new store, where they can enjoy tasty pastries and coffee from Redemption Roasters, an organisation that employs prisoners so they have money when they’re released.
A spokesperson for the landlord said they had done numerous things to ease the financial burden on the tenant including a temporary postponement on rent which only had to be paid back after the pandemic. They added, given high interest rates which the landlord must pay, they could not offer a major discount, but accepted an offer by the tenant to pay in instalments, which were flexible.