Thieves raided an underground safe deposit facility in Hatton Garden, London, in early 2015. The gang, which was composed primarily of elderly men, drilled through a concrete wall into the vault during a bank holiday weekend and stole more than £GBP14 million ($AUD26.3 million) in cash, jewellery and precious metals.
Very little of what was stolen was ever recovered. The heist subsequently inspired several films, including King of Thieves (2018), which starred Michael Caine and Jim Broadbent.
Now, a proposal for a heist-themed wine bar in London's Hatton Garden faces opposition from local jewellers concerned it may negatively impact the iconic district.
The proposed venue features the original vault, the hole in the wall, and a damaged gate from the robbery and offers daytime public tours of the site. According to local media, jewellers and local residents have submitted more than 100 objections to Camden Council.
E Katz and Co, a family jewellery business led by George Katz that has operated in the district for 70 years, is among those affected.
“To my mind it is like when you have a car crash, and there are people slowing down to look at it and see if there are any bodies there. It is ghoulish and completely inappropriate,” he told the New Journal.
“A lot of people lost their livelihoods in the 2015 robbery. I believe one person actually took their own life because his whole business was ruined.”
Objectors caution that the proposal could weaken Hatton Garden’s jewellery trade and heritage by commercialising a robbery that caused serious financial and personal harm.
However, Hatton Garden Properties Ltd, the project’s applicant, argues that the proposal will highlight the building’s heritage, boost tourism, and encourage visitors and shoppers to spend more time in the area.
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