It is over three years since The Old Chemist business closed, and the windows were boarded up ten days ago. A legal notice has been stuck to the door, saying that the landlord has changed the locks and taken back possession. It gives the leaseholder fourteen days to apply to retrieve what is left inside, or their possessions will be sold or disposed of. The Abingdon Herald had more details of the history of The Old Chemist Gin Bar at https://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/24003683.abandoned-gin-bar-abingdon-repossessed/.
The clock ticks for the old leaseholder, but this will begin a new chapter for a building that once housed Abingdon Library and Smiths the Chemist. A prescription of business know-how and a dose of creativity will see the building up and about.
Avicenna, the chemist chain who took over Smiths, is the landlord.
In common with landlords up and down the country, this landlord can change the locks and reposess the property, why can’t the Council do the same with The Upper Reaches?
Because the leaseholders aren’t apparently in breach of the less-than-stringent old lease.
Because the owner has links to a powerful crossbench peer?
Look at the report from the mail and read the comments. Seems the ex landlord has a bit of a reputation.
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24003683.abandoned-gin-bar-abingdon-repossessed/