Eastenders Max Branning opens Catford’s Torridon post office

Jake Wood, also known as Eastender’s Max Branning, made an appearance at the grand opening on Saturday (November 12), supporting the Patels as the shop and post office based in Catford unveiled some new changes.

The business is run by postmaster Desai Patel, his brother Indriden, his cousin Trusha and his nephew Kaual, whom the family have credited for coming up with many of the creative ideas for the renovation.

The Patel family with Eastenders star Jake Wood at the Torridon Post Office and Store reopening (Image: The Patel family with Eastenders star Jake Wood at the Torridon Post Office and Store reopening)

One of the family’s proudest changes made to the shop is the vault which is an air-conditioned walk-in wine and beer room.

While keeping the drinks chilled, the vault is also more energy efficient and allows for more storage than individual fridges.

A spokesperson for the post office and store said: “Jake’s first acting role was in the 1984 television series The Gentle Touch, the same year that the Patel family took on their store at Torridon Road, Catford.

Jake Wood with the postmaster, Desai Patel. (Image: Photo by Post Office press team.)

“The 10-week refit saw the whole shop taken back to brickwork and the forecourt completely redone to ensure smooth surfaces.

“The family’s pride and joy is a new innovative walk-in wine and beer vault, where a former office had been, greatly increasing retail space.

“The post office, which the Patels took on in 2006, has had a facelift and re-decorated with Italian red tiles.

“The official opening event of this Nisa store gave customers the opportunity to meet Jake, who has starred in many television programmes and films and was a celebrity in Strictly Come Dancing."

Partner Kaual Patel said: “Customers knew that we were having a refit, but we wanted to give them a big surprise.

“I let a friend have a look and he was really impressed with the whole refurbishment. It has the wow factor.

“The vault approach worked out cheaper than buying lots of fridges.

The Vault at Torridon Road Post Office and Store (Image: Photo by Post Office press team.)

“It provided more storage space, including slabs of beer. It is cheaper to keep everything cool.

“We are ready for the FIFA World Cup Football finals.

“People can come and buy beer, stored at the right temperature to drink, which even supermarkets can’t do.

“I am sure that people will travel to us as we are very well-stocked and the vault looks so different.”

Cristina Scaramella, Post Office Area Manager, said: “This is such a huge transformation of the whole store.

“It looks very different now – a lot was achieved in 10 weeks.

“A great deal of thought and creativity went into this refit and the Patel family should be congratulated.”