Forum Topic

Local pubs closing down?

Easing southerly down Ealing Road the other day..towards those dreadful eyesores blocking out the Thames views..I'm sure I noticed that the Bricklayers Arms was closed down.  Is that so?Then on the Twickenham Road..passing the Hospital on the left side..was the Chequers Pub (old name) closed too. Was that permanently?Then further down the Twickenham Road..one could clearly see that the dear ole Jolly Gardeners was in a sorry state..all boarded up.Then there are two pubs in Heston that have closed down during recent times.I'm sure I've seen "TO LET" or "FOR SALE" boards pinned to the walls of other Brentford Pubs.What's happening to the English boozer in TW7 and TW8?  Which pubs are just hanging on?

Jim Lawes ● 6940d16 Comments

Jim it is true that the Jolly Gardeners is closed they are now going to turn the land over to building a block of flats or houses can't remember what. I bet the old governor Mick Coller who had it for donkeys years and ran a brilliant boozer is turning in his grave!

Edward Fitzgerald ● 6939d

The Jolly Gardeners or Triple Crown as some bright spark decided to rename it a few years ago had gone rapidly down hill over the last 10 years or so and from what was quite a decent local turned into a drugs filled violent childrens playground.I notice that the last owners left in such a hurry they never turned the lights off!The Chequers or Waiting Rooms as it is now called!! is I believe to be reopened shortly after yet another refit.I was in recently and they sell the most fantastic Indian food and bar snacks and they informed me that they intend opening a form of Indian Tapas bar and restaurant which sounds exciting.

Paul Fisher ● 6939d

You can also add the Pottery Arms in Brentford to your list Jim, which recently closed down.

Kevin Farnan ● 6939d

The closure of the Jolly Gardener's (as was) is a very sore point where this local is concerned.  I kept it going for about ten years or so but one can only do so much.Mick Collar was literally born at the pub and stayed there until he was 71.  Tragically, he died at the wheel of his car only a few months after retiring.One doesn't get that kind of stability in the pub game any more.He was succeeded by Thomas "T.J." Connell and his wife Christine, who also ran a very good show.  Sadly the brewery in its infinite wisdom decided to double their rent overnight and they were forced to leave, and the pub never really recovered.A damning indictment if ever there was one of the mentality which puts profit over community.

Phil Andrews ● 6939d

Has The Pottery Arms shut too Kevin? Did you use The Pottery? I think nowdays a lot of pubs have got too greedy price wise.You can buy one pint of beer in one pub at £2.80, and the same pint in another pub would cost £3.30.Can you recommend any resonable priced pubs in Brentford Kevin?

Mark Welland ● 6939d

I suggest we all get together and start drinking gallons of beer so the brewery's have to open more pubs to accommodate us I'll just have to stop paying the rent and council tax to pay my way!

Mick OBrien ● 6939d

The Flying Swan pub in the Brentford Trilogy was apparently modelled on the Bricklayers Arms. I wonder whether Robert Rankin is aware of its demise?

James de Vivenot ● 6939d

Is the smoking ban the last straw, I ask myself? With transport costs going through the proverbial roof, I guess a few more may end up the same way.

Colin Vaughan ● 6939d

As far as the Jolly Gardener's was concerned, the pub was shut down before the introduction of the smoking ban.  Besides it only applied to cigarettes, and nicotine was not the substance of preference for most of that establishment's more recent customers.

Phil Andrews ● 6939d

Ironic that Phil.

Colin Vaughan ● 6939d

Thanks for all those informative replies. This is the place to get the low-down!Sorry to hear about the Pottery Arms..than was a historic institution. It would have been situated in the middle of a heavily populated area in the old days. I had friends living in Distillery Road in the 50's and it was filled with a real community.Any observations about the fall/closure of the Bricklayers Arms?  The BA did look sad in recent times..but once again..in the old days..it looked very popular and attracive as one passed by upstairs on the 65 bus.

Jim Lawes ● 6939d

Mark, out of all the Fullers pubs in Brentford I have found the Beehive to be the cheapest as opposed to the likes of the Griffin, Globe & Brewery Tap where the price difference on a pint of Stella for instance can be as much as 30-35 pence!!It's a lot better in there now since the smoking ban has come into force & that it has been decorated.Another worth a look is the Magpie & Crown which is run by Steve Bolton.Great pub if you like your real ales & foreign beers which are all reasonably priced & they also do Thai food lunchtimes & evenings.

Kevin Farnan ● 6938d

Thanks for that Kevin,I for one certainly embraced the smoking ban in pubs.I really dont think it has affected business as some landlords thought it would.My arguement was that they didnt know how many people stayed out of pubs because of the smoke.I have been in The Beehive a couple of times when smoking was allowed and since the ban.I must say it used to be  pretty bad in there for smoke,however since the ban the pub has been decorated and the whole atmosphere has changed.And as you say Kevin, the beer is good and reasonably priced...WELL DONE LANDLORDS JOHN & TIRINA !!!

Mark Welland ● 6938d

The Bricklayers was one pub I wouldn't go into. It was once the home of the BFC hard nuts, they moved on and no one else went in. It always had a reputation for being unfriendly, although one story that has been doing the rounds re the BA is that you could get certain sexual favours for as little as 5 pounds a pop. So not that unfriendlyThe two pubs I go into when back home are the Brewery Tap (not cheap) and the Magpie (reasonable)

Neil Chippendale ● 6938d

"£5 a pop"? really?We've never discussed those sort of Brentford issues on the Forum before. But, it's a Sunday now.. so best not to elaborate just now!

Jim Lawes ● 6936d

JimI'll tell you the full story when I'm over in Feb.

Neil Chippendale ● 6936d