Hatton Garden heist-themed bar plans withdrawn after furious backlash from jewellers
Proposals to turn the scene of Britain's infamous £14million jewellery robbery into a themed drinking venue have been abandoned after a furious backlash from local businesses.
Plans to turn the scene of Britain's infamous £14million Hatton Garden jewellery heist into a robbery-themed bar have been dramatically withdrawn following a furious backlash.
The controversial proposals would have seen the former safety deposit company's premises transformed into a drinking venue called The Hatton Garden Heist, complete with a branded awning. But the idea sparked outrage among local jewellers, with some accusing developers of glorifying a crime that left victims devastated and millions of pounds worth of valuables still missing.
The audacious burglary took place over the Easter weekend in April 2015, when a gang of elderly criminals dubbed 'Dad's Army' broke into Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Ltd. The thieves climbed down a lift shaft into the basement before drilling a 45cm-wide hole through the 50cm-thick wall of the high-security vault.
They then raided 72 safety deposit boxes, escaping with an estimated £14million in cash, jewellery and precious metals. The gang members were subsequently jailed, while the extraordinary crime inspired a feature film and television series. However, much of the stolen loot has never been recovered.
The former vault has remained empty since the raid, with the enormous hole left behind as a reminder of the burglary. Developers Hatton Garden Properties Ltd submitted plans in July for the themed bar at the site, but opposition was swift. Among the most vocal objectors was E Katz & Co, a jeweller that has occupied its premises for more than 70 years and feared losing its location. Owner George Katz and his son-in-law Robert Willis warned: "The greatest crime of all would be to see E Katz & Co destroyed for nothing more than the glorification of a robbery."
Diamond wholesaler L&R Josyfon Ltd also condemned the proposal, highlighting that some victims who lost their life savings were still alive. Another local trader branded the theme an 'abomination' and an insult to the jewellery trade. Planning officers had already indicated in March that they would struggle to support the application because of concerns about losing jewellery workshops and retail space.
Now, developers have officially pulled the plug. In a letter dated October 30, planning consultants Rolfe Judd Planning confirmed the applicant had "regretfully taken the decision" to withdraw the application after being told it would not be recommended for approval.