Brick Lane losing its flavour as corporates squeeze out curry

Brick Lane, the east London road symbolic of Britain's Bangladeshi community, could be under threat. Many of the restaurants that line the long, narrow street face closure because of soaring rents.

Already 15 have gone out of business and many more are considering closing. Bajloor Rashid, president of the Bangladesh Caterers' Association, said the influx of corporate brands was making the area, often referred to as Bangla Town, 'soul-less'.



'In the last four years, rent has more than doubled and rates have increased by 50 to 70 per cent, which has forced many residents to migrate out of the area and for restaurants to shut shop,' he said. 'Their long-term future has become questionable, and it might not be long before Brick Lane is no longer regarded as the curry capital of Bangladeshi food.'

Rashid said the area had changed hugely in the past year, becoming more affluent and modern. 'But this masks the problems being faced by restaurateurs and traditional residents resulting from increasing property prices and rates which are crippling the Bangladeshi restaurant industry.'