The owner of a Bermondsey skatepark says he is 'in shock' and losing sleep after bailiffs changed the locks in an 'aggressive' dispute over rent arrears. Hop Kingdom currently owes around £62,000 to landlord The Arch Company, a sum largely accrued while repaying loans taken out during a year-long Covid closure.
Ben Hopkinson claims his repeated attempts to arrange a sustainable repayment plan went unanswered for six weeks before learning his lease on Druid Street had been forfeited last Monday. The 35-year-old told MyLondon: 'Some guy I'd never spoken to initially asked us to pay £31,000 with 24 hours' notice and at that point I said right, I'll need to give you back the keys then.'
'Then it was £8,000 a week, then our original credit controller told us to just keep paying ongoing rent. We paid that three weeks ago so coming to work and finding the shutters locked felt really unfair. We wanted to find a solution and they want us out.'
'I wasn't even allowed to enter the business and retrieve my staff and I's personal belongings. Arch Co has backed me into a very horrible position and done it with zero communication.'
The Arch Company maintains that a revised repayment plan had been agreed on prior to the lease forfeiture.
Ben and his team have since managed to regain entry to the property and are attempting to trade as normal. They believe the forfeiture action is unlawful and are now challenging it, but have introduced 24/7 manned security in the meantime.
First opened in 2018, Hop Kingdom provides an indoor space for skaters to practice skills, join lessons and work with Skate GB coaches. The not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) also boasts a taproom and bike workshop, and frequently holds music and poetry nights, charity events, and resident-led gatherings.
'We've done a lot over the last eight years and feel very proud of it,' Ben explained. 'This is a safe space, a family. Everyone here knows each other and fist bump and say hello.'
'It's just so devoid of any human touch for Arch Co to say we have to go just like that after all this time. I've not been able to plan for it all. It's terrifying levels of having no empathy.'
Ben knows first-hand just how important finding community is, having struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts in his twenties. This was one of his main motivations to keep Hop Kingdom going for almost a decade against rising costs and 'extortionate' rent rates.
'I was kind of terrified by how it happened to me and then I realised it could happen to anyone,' Ben said. 'People can come here and be accepted with no judgement and relax - that's what is important to me.'
'Multiple people have told me this place has saved their life. I just want to keep the capital happy, healthy and connected but those things are not on Arch Co's agenda unfortunately.'
Ben also believes the skatepark-cum-bar makes the area around London Bridge station safer and more pleasant for those living nearby. The concept is also one of the few indoor skateparks left in the city.
'It's an absolute travesty to me that places like this won't exist soon because money is the only motivation,' Ben sighed. 'I just don't understand why Arch Co has taken this step now.'
Though lined with mechanics, restaurants and breweries, a number of adjacent units on Druid Street are lying empty. The rent on Hop Kingdom alone is £8,200 a month.
Ben added: 'We don't know if they want to re-let the space but there's loads of available arches down here. We really want to stay and if the only breach is money then let us pay it. We want to work together.'
Hop Kingdom has launched an online fundraiser to help settle the arrears and pay off any future legal fees, and hopes to apply for grant funding made available via their newly-acquired CIC status. Supporters have already raised £10,000 in a matter of days.
'It seems the world is intentionally making it harder for independent businesses,' Ben said. 'Everything is going up and is just made harder by having to jump through all these hoops.'
'London will soon be filled with chains and nothing else. We're seeing big companies take more and more and there's less love, less community. It's terrifying.'
When approached for comment, The Arch Company said it was willing to engage with Hop Kingdom about continuing their business relationship. A spokesperson said: 'We never like to lose a customer and engaged extensively with Hop King over an extended period, agreeing multiple payment plans to address outstanding rent. When the payments it had committed to stopped, and in line with the agreed terms, we took the difficult decision to forfeit the lease as a last resort.'
'We are willing to have a constructive discussion about the rent owed and the possibility of Hop King continuing to operate from this arch.'
