Anthony Joshua throws weight behind local Golders Green businesses in Google ad

Boxing superstar Anthony Joshua has thrown his weight behind an ad campaign vouching for local businesses in Golders Green and Temple fortune.

The owners of Cohens Jewellers, long-time friends and customers of the heavyweight fighter, said they were “honoured” to have appeared in the short Google clip released on Monday.

Watford-born Joshua is pictured in Temple fortune, where he used to live, visiting shops and meeting local retailers, including a business with a sign reading “Good 4 Shabbat”, outside.

During the coronavirus pandemic, many firms have struggled financially as people have been encouraged to stay at home as much as possible.

Taking to Twitter, Joshua, known as AJ, urged his 3 million followers to support shops on the high street, saying: “Local places up and down the country need our help right now, so show some love”, encouraging people to leave positive reviews for firms through the search engine.

After rebranding from ‘D&M Cohen’ to Cohens Jewellers to mark the shop’s half-century anniversary, its co-owner Robert Cohen said: “We were honoured to be chosen by AJ to feature in the advert, especially as this year we celebrate fifty years since my father and grandfather opened the shop in Temple Fortune.”

Filming this advert created so much excitement on the high street – that’s a huge bonus to us, as the exposure hopefully encourages people to shop locally with businesses like ours.”

Natalie Werter, co-owner said it was “a huge achievement for any independent business nowadays” to remain open for 50 years.

She added: “Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 and a three month closure, things haven’t gone quite as planned, but we hope to be able to celebrate towards the end of the year and reward our loyal customers for their patronage over the years.”

You can watch the clip here: