Suri weighs relocation as Kings Heath rent strains family photo shop

Surpreet Suri is evaluating a move from his photography studio on Kings Heath High Street in Birmingham. The decision follows four decades of family ownership, a period in which the business expanded from a single location to four before contracting back to one. Suri cites the high cost of the current lease as the primary driver for the potential relocation.

The shop occupies a prime position that offers high visibility, but it carries a heavy financial burden. Suri stated that the family is seriously considering exiting the space to lower costs. He noted that while the customer base remains loyal, the financial margins have tightened to the point where the team is working their fingers to the bone.

Business rates, a property tax on commercial premises, form part of the pressure, but they are not the sole issue. Suri listed rent, VAT, wages, pensions, and energy costs as factors eroding profit. He noted that refilling one professional printer with ink costs approximately 2,000 pounds. Suri said he pays himself less than the minimum wage of 12.21 pounds per hour, describing his financial position as living month to month.

The high street environment presents additional hurdles. Online retailers now capture 28 percent of UK retail sales, intensifying price competition. Suri observed that customers seek the quality of his specialized service but expect prices comparable to online marketplaces. He said he cannot match those prices while maintaining his current operational standards.

The decline of independent retail is visible across Britain. Nearly 14 percent of high street retail units are estimated to be vacant. These empty spaces have often been replaced by pawnbrokers, betting shops, vape outlets, and charity stores. One Birmingham shopper noted that the area lacks the variety it once had, while another preferred the convenience of online shopping.

At a parliamentary inquiry earlier this month, Andrew Goodacre, chief executive of the British Independent Retailers Association, told lawmakers that recent business rate reforms had not delivered intended benefits. He reported that some independent shops face higher bills, while large supermarkets nearby pay significantly less. The inquiry also heard evidence that some central London souvenir shops use successive limited companies to evade taxes, allowing them to pay rents that compliant businesses cannot afford.

Suri believes a cut in business rates would be a welcome step but not a complete solution. He described the potential relief as a small step in the right direction, arguing that substantial change is needed for high streets to thrive. The family business now faces a critical test of whether it can afford another year in its current location.

Suri challenged the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer to spend a month or two running a real high street business to understand the pressures firsthand. He said that if the government makes it easier to run an independent business successfully, it would set off a positive effect that could help the country.