Corbyn’s favourite sock seller: I’m shutting my Nag’s Head underwear shop to become an Uber driver
Ali Rifat is closing his underwear stall at the Nag's Head Market after 25 years. Picture: Polly Hancock - Credit: Archant
The Gazette meets Ali Rifat – who also happens to be Jeremy Corbyn’s favourite underwear merchant – at the Nag’s Head Market on the eve of his final sale.
Ali Rifat is closing his underwear stall at the Nag's Head Market after 25 years. Picture: Polly Hancock - Credit: Archant
Jeremy Corbyn’s favourite sock seller is trading underwear for Uber as he closes his store in the Nag’s Head Market for the last time.
Ali Rifat, owner of B&H Quality Underwear and Socks, is shutting the shop he has held in the market for 25 years. It was the first permanent stall in the Holloway Road market, which until that point had only seen traders manning their pitches on a day-by-day basis.
“I’ve had enough – I’m ready to do something completely different,” said Mr Rifat, from Edmonton.
“I wanted a new challenge and Uber is a growing company within London.”
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B&H hit headlines last year after it emerged Mr Corbyn was a frequent shopper.
On the subject of loyal customer Mr Corbyn he had only praise, calling him the best Labour leader for many years.
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“He treats us like he would anyone else,” he said, adding Mr Corbyn is very popular among the traders on Holloway Road, which he has previously called the great shopping centre of the world.
Mr Rifat admitted he was beginning to consider what it would be like to close up shop for the last time.
“I will be sad to leave,” he said. “It’s only just starting to sink in to be honest.I’ll be back on Sunday to pick up the rest of the stock and then that’s it.”
B&H is being replaced by a restaurant, reflecting a wider trend within the market where cafes and sit-down restaurants have displaced some of the more traditional stalls over the past few years.
It is not clear where Mr Corbyn will buy his socks after the shop closes.
