Brentford Boat Club Says Goodbye to Ferry Quays
Parent volunteers now seeking new base for rowing for children
A largely empty Ferry Quays following the departure of the club. Picture: Brentford Boat Club
January 30, 2026
Brentford Boat Club, the parent-led charity that has introduced dozens of local children to rowing, says it has been forced to leave its long-standing base at Ferry Quays.
The move is the latest development in the dispute with Team Keane Ltd and the Brentford Community Boat House, the charity that manages the site.
The club, which supports around 90 young rowers—most of them pupils at local state schools—has trained at Ferry Quays for years, using the calm, sheltered waters of this part of the Thames to introduce children safely to the sport. Despite the site’s basic facilities, including shipping-container storage, a slippery pontoon and portable toilets, families say it has been a happy and formative home for the young athletes.
Although Brentford Boat Club says that it is up to date with rent payments, has a contract requiring three months’ notice and the trustees of Brentford Community Boat House have not issued formal notice to quit. However, the club says it has been gradually pushed out through the removal of equipment and access.
Between Christmas and New Year most of the boats used by the club were taken away. Then, on 16 January, the pontoon was removed preventing any remaining boats from being launched. Rowing machines were also taken from the nearby Pump Alley gym, halting land-based training. A week later all the remaining equipment was taken from the site, including according to Brentford Boat Club, the children’s wellies. Confrontations that took place while some of these removals were occurring required the police to be called to keep the peace. On 25 January, the trustees of the Brentford Community Boat House emailed the club asking it to vacate the Pump Alley gym by this Saturday (1 February).
Young rowers at the Ferry Quays before Christmas. Picture: Brentford Boat Club
The club says it intends to remain in the gym until it receives formal notice, while urgently seeking alternative indoor training space close to local schools.
Despite the upheaval, kayaking sessions for children continue to run from Ferry Quays, delivered by a separate organisation. Parents say they are relieved that at least some youth water-sports activity remains available on this part of the river, even as rowing provision has been disrupted.
Parent volunteers say they are determined to keep Brentford Boat Club alive, emphasising the social, physical and mental-health benefits rowing provides for teenagers.
For many of the young rowers, Ferry Quays has been a second home. They trained four days a week in the gym after school and spent weekends on the water. The Club describes its departure as “a great sadness”, stressing that the children did not want to leave but can no longer row safely or consistently from the site.
The Club is now in discussions with Hounslow Council to secure a temporary alternative location. Its long-term hope is to return to a site in Brentford so that local children can continue to access rowing close to home.
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