Jewellers said the proposals made a mockery of the infamous heist where businesses lost their livelihoods
Jewellers have criticised a “bad taste” plan to transform the site of the infamous Hatton Garden burglary into a break-in-themed bar.
Plans submitted to Camden Council would also see the closure of a family-run jewellery shop above the vault that was targeted in the 2015 raid. E Katz & Co is the oldest established retail jewellery shop in Hatton Garden, and was established in 1946 after founder Emil Katz fled Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia.
The site became the centre of a media storm more than a decade ago after a gang of elderly burglars drilled through the wall of the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit, taking at least £14 million in cash, jewellery and valuables.
Seven men were jailed for what is known as the largest burglary in English legal history, with the raid also subject to dramatisations including King of Thieves starring Michael Caine.
The site is now up for a potential transformation into what has been dubbed a “heist-themed establishment”, with planning documents suggesting that, if approved, the bar would offer tours of the vault, which would be available to the public during the day.
But it has been subject to backlash by local residents and businesses in the area, who accused the bar of “glorifying” the site of the burglary.
Mark Pastor, 40, who runs a watch shop three doors down from Katz & Co, told The Times: “As jewellers and watch sellers, we don’t want to glorify robberies. It’s in bad taste. If you weren’t insured, you would have lost everything. If you’re still working in Hatton Garden and you’ve lost 30, 40, 50 grand and now there’s a bar glorifying it, it’s a bit of a kick in the balls.”
Another jeweller who has worked in Hatton Garden for more than fifty years, and had kept her stock in the vault, said: “Is it something to be proud of? It’s shameful. It’s a bit funny, but is it a nice story? I don’t think so. Of course it’s wrong.”
George Katz, Emil’s son who now runs Katz & Co, told the Islington Tribune, the local newspaper, that the plan was “ghoulish and completely inappropriate”.
In the planning applications, one resident wrote: “I oppose this proposal and I am very disappointed to hear that has even been suggested. The character of the area of Hatton Garden (famed for being the place to go for jewellers) would be eroded by this awful suggestion of a heist themed establishment! There should be a no reason to devalue the history of the area by moving away from its focus on jewellers.”
They added: “Furthermore I oppose the glorification of crime, a heist theme, given the history of this area it is awful. This is not victimless crime (it is not like Hussle/TV shows where only bad guys are targeted) no this is real life changing, family business ruining crime.
“To allow this proposal of a heist themed establishment would be mocking shop keepers and business owners who’ve dedicated their lives to the area and trivialises the long lasting impact on shopkeepers and families of business owners.”
A Camden Council spokesperson said: “The Council will always seek to protect Camden’s existing businesses. Hatton Garden has been an established centre for the jewellery industry since the nineteenth century, and we will seek to secure new premises suitable for jewellery workshops and related uses and protect them through planning obligations.
“The consultation for the application closed on the 30 August 2026. Our officers will assess this against the policies of our development plan, while also taking into account public feedback and comments.”
Pearl & Coutts has been contacted for comment.
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