A cyclists rides passed a closed petrol station in Fitzrovia, London.
Back to the future. A woman on her morning commute cycles past the closed Clipstone Service Station in Fitzrovia.

One of London’s last remaining petrol stations within the congestion-charge zone has shut for the last time. This week the Jet service station and Mace shop at Clipstone Street in Fitzrovia closed after what is believed to be more than 40 years of trading. The service station was used by a lot of taxi drivers. Local people remarked that the staff were very friendly and the late night opening of the shop was handy for charging pre-paid power meters and getting groceries.

The freeholder of the site is Westminster City Council who told Fitzrovia News that a new lease has been granted for the former service station: “We have granted a 35 year headlease to Soho Data Holdings, who have the option of development”.

Soho Data Holdings are registered at 91-93 Cleveland Street, immediately adjacent to the service station, a building occupied by several media companies.

A spokesperson for Jet told Fitzrovia News: “The Jet petrol station at 30 Clipstone Street, London W1 operated under a supply agreement with Jet but  was independently owned.  Jet can confirm that the supply of fuel and branding  to the service station ceased in September 2013. This does not reflect a strategic approach by Jet to withdraw from central London.”

The Bloomsbury Service Station at Store Street shut several years ago. There are also plans to shut the NCP car park below the St Giles Hotel. Fitzrovia and Bloomsbury have the lowest level of car ownership in the UK but continues to have a large amount of through traffic. Cycling in London has nearly trebled over the last 10 years.

Demolition site before building of Holcroft Court.
Picture taken in the early 1960s looking north after the demolition of houses either side of the northern section of Hanson Street between Clipstone Street and Carburton Street. Photo: The Fitzrovia Archive.

The service station, together with a row of shops, offices and pub were part of the Holcroft Court development which was created when Georgian and Victorian buildings either side of the northern part of Hanson Street were demolished in the mid-1960s. In the process the northern section of Hanson Street was obliterated and a new road Clipstone Mews was created.

The site also includes an artwork by the artist Banksy.

This article was corrected on 8 January. A sentence originally read: “Jet can confirm that the supply of fuel and branding  to the service station ceased in September 2012.” The date should be September 2013.

W1W 5DQ