West Ham’s 112-year association with the iconic Boleyn Ground came to an end in May 2016 with a memorable 3-2 victory over Manchester United. There were many great things about Upton Park, a huge part of which was the community and the local businesses it was at the heart of.
A multicultural community, the area houses many lifelong East End families and Hammers fans together, with people from other backgrounds who have come to call it their home over the years.
At the time of West Ham leaving Upton Park, a question that would have been on the minds of supporters, as well as those who had businesses in the area frequented by the Hammers fan base – how much would the club’s move to Stratford affect the Upton Park community?
Match Day Mainstays
Recently I contacted local business, Ercan’s Fish Bar, to try to understand more about the impact of the stadium move. Speaking to the owner, Mr Ali, and his sister Gul who works alongside him in the shop, we discussed what effect West Ham’s move has had on business.
There were many establishments in the area which became iconic and synonymous with a matchday experience. Names such as: Ercan’s Fish Bar, Nathan’s Pie and Mash, and Ken’s Cafe are remembered fondly by the Hammers faithful.
Nathan’s Pie and Mash, which had been on Barking Road for more than 40 years, has unfortunately gone out of business since the stadium move, closing its doors in 2018.
“Nathan’s Pie and Mash was a popular meeting place for the older generation in particular. There are not many eateries in the area which offer eat-in service apart from our own business. There are limited places for the older demographic to meet,” Gul told me.
Left Stranded
In a 2018 article by the Voice of London, one of the places mentioned was the famous Boleyn Tavern, a pub within a stone’s throw of the ground. Member of staff, Nicky, described how The Boleyn never received contact from the club.
“They left us, we would’ve liked some sort of communication,” she said.
Gul explained how on match days, before and after a game, there would be a lot of footfall in the area, with supporters looking for somewhere to eat. With those 30,000 plus now having a new ground to head to she explained:
“There has been a large loss of revenue for many eateries in the area.”
Mr Ali reiterated:
“It has affected every business in the area, some have even shut down.”
Damaged Relations
Gul went on to discuss how the effect on relation with the club and the PR impact.
“The general perception of the owners [is] poor amongst most West Ham supporters, throughout their tenure.
“After leaving Upton Park they also attempted to relocate the iconic Bobby Moore World Cup statue to Stratford, which really didn’t go down well with the local community and further damaged their public relations.”
I asked if the club had offered any support to local businesses when leaving the old ground. Gul’s response was short but very telling.
“No, there has been little consideration from West Ham to support the local businesses they left behind.”
Lasting Effects
The area surrounding Upton Park was not only home to West Ham fans but people who had come to call it their home over the years and who had grown a fond connection with the club.
The stadium meant a great deal to people and it really became the lifeblood of the area. As members of the local community who run a shop which benefited from the business of West Ham supporters, I asked how Mr Ali and Gul felt about losing such an iconic landmark.
“The local community were all very disappointed at losing such a traditional and iconic stadium which was the life and economic hub of one of the poorest boroughs in London,” Gul explained.
“Lost a Landmark”
When speaking to Mr Ali I also discussed the feeling the community had. He told me how hard it was.
“The community certainly lost a landmark and also a big chunk of business was lost.”
It seems the end of something so attached to its community certainly left a void to be filled and a sadness amongst locals when it was gone.
Productive Developments
Although both Gul and Mr Ali admitted business had slowed down since the stadium move, Gul told me that the emergence of delivery services such as Just Eat and Deliveroo, have aided business since and allowed local eateries in the area to supplement their income.
The new developments which replaced Upton Park have not yet been completed. However, many new homes have already been built and new residents have moved into the area which Gul perceived as positive for local businesses because of the influx of new residents as.
“There will be a greater foot flow in the area and a larger customer base.”
The local community was left disappointed at the loss of such an iconic landmark but while the move certainly impacted local businesses, the arrival of new residents and the way businesses have utilised food delivery services, will give them hope that they can continue to succeed in the future.
