The Hush Collection has won a landmark court victory against its Mayfair landlord, Royal London Asset Management.
According to Hush founder Jamie Barber, the landlord took commercial advantage of Covid by terminating the operator’s option for a new lease because of a late payment during lockdown.
This was despite a rent concession being documented just days before.
Barber said: “Edward Standring [Hush CEO] and I are delighted and overwhelmingly relieved that Hush’s presence in Lancashire Court has been secured into the next decade and beyond. Geoffrey Moore and I founded Hush 22 years ago, and we have been an exemplary tenant throughout that time becoming an institution and creating an oasis in the middle of Mayfair.
Barber said no one from RLAM has communicated with the tenant about the case since COVID, adding “this process has felt faceless and in some ways quite sinister. But for us, it is a big deal!
“This is a victory for all UKHospitality restaurant, bar and retail operators still recovering from COVID scars, that have faced unconscionable practices by landlords.”
Hush was represented by Mark Reading and Ros Monk at Mishcon de Reya LLP, Falcon Chambers and Clare Barber.
