Forum Topic

Good news for the Watermans

Their Arts Council funding is being kept up. Congratulations to a little cinema (yes, I know they do other things) punching above its weight in Brentford.

Susan Kelly ● 4049d26 Comments

I agree Diana, both with what you say about plans and about the state of play in the Watermans.Ideally I would like it part of a new vibrant Brentford town centre, better plugged in to both the town and the river but I don't anticipate that happening until about 2073.The rumour about it being moved to Hounslow was firmly denied by councillors a couple of years ago.

Guy Lambert ● 4044d

A new Watermans venue is on the plan for the area south of the High Street but as planning permission is being delayed goodness knows when things will move on. There are no plans to move it out of Brentford. The cinema is not subsidised and pays for itself. It is often busy and in my opinion shows a good range of films, inc live NT & Glyndbourne; always sold out. The children's theatre is also very busy. Sadly the restaurant and bar are sub let so unless the owners buck their ideas up there is no incentive for things to improve. They did have more staff on the bar during last week's showing of Don Giovanni! Pls use it don't abuse it then it may develop.

Diana Oppe ● 4044d

I am not aware of any such decision having been made. Chapter and verse please.

Susan Kelly ● 4044d

You are way too late Trudie.As far as I know the fate of Waterman's on the present site has been decided, as in close and move somewhere else. Would you be happier if it moved to Hounslow or Chiswick?

Keith Iddon ● 4044d

I like Waterman's where it is - I'd bet a huge number of their patrons come on the 65 bus, or by car if travelling from east Riverside, Chiswick as there is no bus to Brentford from there.  Quite agree with Susan, if it ain't broke etc.Keith I don't want anymore great looming high rises in Brentford (or Chiswick) nor any concrete piles blocking up river views - any and all new development in Brentford should leave open spaces so the river can been seen from the High Street, what an asset.  I don't want Waterman's moved either, where it is is perfect and I like the open space to the east. It could be up-dated a bit to further enhance the views across to Kew.  And those Ait's opposite Waterman's are the perfect place for the "Gloriana" boathouse - Lot's Ait would be the best as the footbridge is already there, I am pretty sure "Gloriana" was built by the shipbuilding company on the Ait so it would be a fitting 'homecoming'.

Trudie Fuller ● 4045d

I like Waterman's where it is - I'd bet a huge number of their patrons come on the 65 bus, or by car if travelling from east Riverside, Chiswick as there is no bus to Brentford from there.  Quite agree with Susan, if it ain't broke etc.Keith I don't want anymore great looming high rises in Brentford (or Chiswick) nor any concrete piles blocking up river views - any and all new development in Brentford should leave open spaces so the river can been seen from the High Street, what an asset.  I don't want Waterman's moved either, where it is is perfect and I like the open space to the east. It could be up-dated a bit to further enhance the views across to Kew.  And those Ait's opposite Waterman's are the perfect place for the "Gloriana" boathouse - Lot's Ait would be the best as the footbridge is already there.

Trudie Fuller ● 4045d

Well I don't use Watermans much but I know a lot of people who are 'regulars'

Steve Taylor ● 4045d

Ah, there speaks a man who, unlike me, doesn't have to pay his own bus fares, perhaps?The Waterman's is fine where it is. It ain't broke so don't try to fix it.

Susan Kelly ● 4047d

OK - short walk for 65ers from E Broadway, South Ealing, Kew, Richmond, KingstonShort walk avoided for E2, E8, 195, 235 from Sunbury, Feltham, Hanwell, SOuthall, Hayes, W Ealing, Greenford.Sounds like a good trade to me (and you can always hop on a 237 or 267 Susan)

Guy Lambert ● 4047d

Do you know there will be a new development of the high st Trudie? Some would like to see it sooner rather than later and don't mind if it's too big and overbearing and others, myself included, would rather see it less so.It is proposed that Waterman's will move into the centre of it. It has been delayed due to objections raised and the news that Waterman's has in the mean time received funding is great news imo.

Keith Iddon ● 4048d

I was using 'Ealing' is a rather wider sense than slap bang in the middle of the town centre. I live nowhere near either the E8 or E2 bus stops.

Susan Kelly ● 4048d

Where would the local pubs and restaurant be once Waterman's moves?  Are they there now and just waiting to be "up-graded" or they already vibrant and thriving?  I can't think of any.

Trudie Fuller ● 4048d

E8 and E2 ,both from Ealing stop on the high steet so no problem from Ealing.The 65 stops les than 5 minute walk away from the proposed site.Moving it into the centre of the town is logical, suits the residents of Brentford better and will be good for local pubs and restaurants.

Keith Iddon ● 4048d

I agree with Guy that the building is poorly designed and was made worse, not better, by the last lot of alterations, but I don't agree that it's in the wrong place. Buses stop on that corner from all points of the compass. If you move it into Brentford town centre then you lose easy access to the 65 and customers from Richmond and Ealing.

Susan Kelly ● 4049d

I forgot the absolutely brilliant Tamar Swade with her Pandemonium.I see that they are now doing the live Glyndebourne.They do a lot of workshops which are useful summer occupations for the kids.http://chiswickbuzz.net/urbanambush

Philippa Bond ● 4049d

I don't think it was ever designed to be accessible for those less mobile.Bits seemed to have to be tacked on to make it work.  I believe that they did put in hearing loops though.  We used to spend a lot of time there more than 20 years ago and have been less frequently to the cinema, the theatre, the odd art exhibition.  There was also good music but the last time I booked enthusiastically for a jazz concert - not enough people were interested and so they cancelled.  :(The Christmas pantomimes were legendary.

Philippa Bond ● 4049d

I think the problem for Watermans is that it is rather poorly designed (and much worse since it was remodelled what must be nearly 20 years ago) and in the wrong place.I sincerely hope that when Brentford town centre is remodelled (my current expectation remains 2073) they relocate and redesign.My impression is that the cinema is quite well supported - don't know about the theatre - but the bar/restaurant area is pretty dead. When my daughter was little - 20 years ago - we used to go practically every Sunday lunchtime. There was an eclectic mix of music with something different every week and all the kiddies dancing with each other and having heaps of fun. There were also a few oddballs who danced (I think quite innocently) with the kiddies and I suspect it was a real resource for lonely people. There were queues at the bar and standing room only.Perhaps something similar goes on but there's nothing on the website and I find the space so gloomy now I doubt it would work.

Guy Lambert ● 4049d

What gets me is some of these arty-farty types you see on the box. Did you see what that Tracy Emin unmade bed went for last week? When will someone say what a load of old rubbish some of this stuff is. Go to any house in the land and you can see unamde beds every day! I could weep when I see how much money goes on this tat.

Vanessa Smith ● 4049d

This is Arts Council funding though.  Everything is grab-a-grant nowadays...  You just have to keep on searching for grants and marketing ideas and solutions.  I can imagine it can be exhausting trying to keep up the enthusiasm.

Philippa Bond ● 4049d

I suppose they could use the money to keep the Isleworth community hall open.

Keith Iddon ● 4049d

Sorry Paul my reply was meant for you - of course there are better things to spend money on especially when libraries and facilities for the elderly are under threat. I wouldn't like to see Arts funding cut altogether but Watermans isn't that well supported and never has been, so it's a lot of money for relatively few people.

Vanessa Smith ● 4049d

The great thing about places like the Watermans is that they can change the sort of theatre performances and dance and films and such like that they show.  It is such a shame probably a tragedy that the building itself wasn't designed initially to make a better use of the wonderful waterside situation.  People when visiting gravitate towards the view of the water and wildlife.  That isn't the management's fault and attempts have been made to make it more visually attractive and noticeable as an arts centre.Good luck to them!

Philippa Bond ● 4049d

It just seems such an expensive luxury for so few actual users in my opinion and I honestly feel that what with some of our local residents having to resort to foodbanks for example the money constantly awarded year after year could be spent more wisely elsewhereOf course Brentford needs all the support it can get to be a thriving town centre but with all the cuts happening both locally and nationally it just seems strange that this funding is ringfenced time after time

Paul Fisher ● 4049d

Well, I think Keith has a point, Watermans has over the years has had so much money poured into it, it's been bailed out and kept afloat for a relatively small usage. To keep spending money on the basis Brentford hasn't got much going for it is barmy. It's like this Bell Sq. area in Hounslow High St. that is now an 'arts performance' area - what a load of tosh.

Vanessa Smith ● 4049d

Paul.You deserve to be slated...Brentford has little enough as it is and this is welcome news.

Keith Iddon ● 4049d

I am sure I will get slated but I am sure this money could have been spent on far better projects

Paul Fisher ● 4049d