Showroom Revival

The former car showroom next to the Odeon, empty for two years, is set to become The Showroom, a new wellness space. Sim Batth, head of property at Gilini Group, explains what that means for the community

On the corner of the High Road and George Lane, next to the Odeon, sits the old Harvey Hudson showroom with its glass stair tower and long frontage. Plenty will remember it as the Jaguar garage. Winston Churchill, then the local MP, opened the cinema next door in 1934, when it was called the Majestic, and the two buildings have shared that corner for most of a century.

Before I worked in property, I was a personal trainer. My clients taught me that most people aren’t chasing a number on the scales or a personal best. They want more energy for the rest of their lives. So, my approach was never just about exercise. It included nutrition, mental sharpness and proper rest and recovery because they all feed into one another. That’s the thinking behind The Showroom, and we want to bring that approach – and the sense of community that came with it – to South Woodford.

A building this central shouldn’t sit empty for as long as this one has, and that is what makes it such an opportunity. We all know how hard it is for anything to survive on the high street, let alone thrive.

When Acquired Woodford Ltd asked us to manage the site for them, we leapt at it. We wanted to give people one more reason to spend time on the High Road, and to keep the building’s historic features because they are what make it worth saving. That is why we’re creating The Showroom: a gym, spa, fitness studios and café, with an outdoor lounge and recovery space. It will be the same building. We’re not demolishing anything and the name nods to its past. We’re in the early stages, and we know how important it is to involve the local community. The people of South Woodford should shape this. For a place like this to succeed, and for the people who use it to be proud of it, we have to listen.

We are thinking carefully about how people will actually use The Showroom, from a quick session before work to a slower afternoon in the café or outdoor space, and we’ll set out what’s on offer as the plans take shape.

We think local businesses and organisations should help shape the site as well, not just be consulted. When we put work out to tender, we’ll invite them to bid.

The Showroom is being designed as a local facility: somewhere people walk, cycle or take the Tube to, with South Woodford station a few minutes away, and we’ll share more on access as the plans develop. We’d love to hear from you. We’ve been talking to some of you at the South Woodford market, but for those that haven’t met us yet, feel free to get in touch. This building has been part of South Woodford for decades and we’d like residents to help decide what comes next.