Nathan’s Gone but not forgotten

Nathans Pie and Eels Shop in Barking Road, East Ham closed its doors for the last time at 6 pm on Saturday evening ending 80 years of East end tradition. Founded in 1938 by the Nathan family who were Dutch immigrants it became a West Ham fan favourite eatery on match days close when the Boleyn Ground stood proudly just yards away. The current shop has been open at the same location since 1974.

Richard and Christine Nathan were the fourth generation of the family to run the Barking road shop. Richard will start life as a handyman this Monday after working 12 hour days five days a week in the shop most of his working life.

Richard Nathan has explained: “There were lots of factors that have led the family shutting the shop – the closure of  Upton Park football ground, the imposition of strict new parking regulations so our customers cannot park, the new business rates and a threatened 100% rent increase. Rent is a hard fought battle these days. It used to be like a gentlemen’s agreement that every five years it would increase by perhaps a thousand, but all of a sudden a new regime came in. The council is the landlord but they appointed a property management company. It took me four years of court battles to bring their proposed rent of £22,000 per annum down to reasonable £14, 500, from an original rent of £11,000. Meanwhile the business rates have increased and increased. The rent and rates here are over £25,000 a year but I cannot put the prices of my pies to match these increases.”