Ralph Lauren appeal succeeds

27 June 2011

Fashion retailer Ralph Lauren London Ltd has obtained an interdict regulating the use of premises adjacent to its flagship store in Ingram Street, Glasgow. Ralph Lauren hold an undertaking from the landlords, a London pension fund, requiring that the premises not be let to retailers other than high quality fashion retailers. The landlords had proposed to let the premises to a hairdressers, to which Ralph Lauren objected.

Lord Glennie refused to grant interdict at first instance, holding that as a hairdresser is not a "retailer" the undertaking did not apply to them. However, on Wednesday 22 June 2011 the First Division, in an ex tempore judgment, overturned Lord Glennie's decision and itself pronounced interdict preventing the premises from being let to the hairdresser.

Roddy Dunlop QC of Axiom acted for Ralph Lauren London Ltd, while James Wolffe QC of Axiom acted for the defending pension fund.