Jewellers in London’s Hatton Garden district have expressed strong opposition to a proposal to transform the site of the 2015 Hatton Garden burglary into a robbery-themed bar. The plan also involves the closure of a longstanding jewellery shop situated above the vault, which was founded by a Holocaust survivor and remains operated by his family.
E Katz & Co, established in 1946 by Emil Katz after he fled Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia with diamonds sewn into his clothing, has been a fixture in the area for nearly eight decades. Emil’s son George Katz, 86, who has been involved in the business for almost 70 years, described the conversion plan as “ghoulish and completely inappropriate.” He emphasized the impact the 2015 burglary had on many local businesses, noting that most victims had no insurance for their safe deposit boxes, which are traditionally considered highly secure. “People had such a setback,” George Katz said.
During Easter weekend in 2015, a group of six elderly burglars infiltrated the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit by descending a lift shaft and drilling through the vault wall, stealing an estimated £14 million in cash, jewellery, and valuables. The heist has since been dramatized in several media formats, including the film "King of Thieves," starring Michael Caine.
Landlord Pearl & Coutts submitted a planning application to Camden council in July proposing that the existing jewellery shop be replaced by a stairwell and lift providing access to the basement vault, where a new underground bar would be established. The bar would be decorated with original features from the robbery, such as the broken door gate, the drilled hole in the vault wall, and safe deposit boxes. The developers also plan to offer daytime public tours of the site. Although the Katz family business would close its current premises, the plans include efforts to maintain the shop’s exterior and interior appearance, preserving the retail frontage’s character. The Katz family has been offered relocation options.
Other jewellers in the area voiced concerns over the plan. Mark Pastor, a 40-year-old watch seller, described the concept as “in bad taste,” arguing that it glamorizes criminal activity and could be hurtful to those who suffered losses during the robbery. A jeweller with more than 50 years’ experience in Hatton Garden, who kept stock in the vault, also expressed discomfort with the idea, stating, “It’s a bit funny, but is it a nice story? I don’t think so.” Both Pastor and the veteran jeweller raised worries about potential antisocial behavior, referencing an increase in crime involving weapons in the area and lamenting that the district is not as safe as it used to be.
Camden council affirmed its commitment to protecting existing businesses in the area, highlighting Hatton Garden’s status as a historic jewellery hub dating back to the 19th century. The council stated it would work to secure new premises suitable for jewellery workshops and related trades through planning requirements. Pearl & Coutts did not provide a comment when approached.