EXCLUSIVE: Netflix star Andoh backs appeal to save Brixton wholefood shop fundraiser which has collected £7,000 in a day

By Ryan Hogg

A star of Netflix’s Bridgerton has thrown her support behind a gofundme to save a Brixton wholefood shop.

Adjoa Andoh, who plays Lady Danbury, is supporting the GoFundMe for Brixton Wholefoods, which had raised almost £8,500 of its £20,000 target after a day of donations.

The shop, on Atlantic Road, has been serving customers under its current ownership since 1982, but has recently been hurt by rising rent costs and a drop in footfall after the pandemic.

Andoah, who also starred in Casualty for three years and played Francine Jones in Dr Who, has been a customer of Brixton Wholefoods since the 80s. She tweeted: “Our beloved Brixton Wholefoods needs our help to survive!

“This local iconic shop says everything about the righteous ethos of true Brixton.

“They have been sounding the warning [on climate change] and keeping generations well.”

Hilary Waterfield, 68, who owns Brixton Wholefoods with Tony Benest, 69, has been amazed by the generosity of donations.

Hilary, who describes her shop as old school, wants the money to restock her shelves, something she has been unable to do in the face of falling footfall and increasing rent prices.

She said: “We were okay for a couple of years but then it started to show, and we were struggling to pay the rent.

“This last year has been awful.”

She was encouraged to begin the crowdfunding by an unnamed celebrity, who promised to match donations up to a certain figure.

She said: “I’m just really overwhelmed by it, it’s amazing.

“It makes me feel quite emotional that so many people care so much.”

Rental costs close to £40,000, along with refurbishment costs, have prevented Hilary from refilling the shelves.

The shop also suffered a break-in last week, with repairs to the damaged roof costing more than £2,000.

More information about the crowdfunding for Brixton Wholefoods can be found on GoFundMe.