I should remember it; I was on the gang that built it.The footings were being dug out around 1963 when we nearly lost a labour down a hidden well.Most of the work was carried out through in 1964 while the Gas works was also being pulled down, I wonder how much rubbish we all inhaled while that was going on? It was designed with a 1st floor restaurant and servery, which wasn’t really used, as it was turned into a makeshift bar the first night it open.The whole pub was designed to hold approximately 400 people, but it exceeded that on the first night and never looked back.In the end cameras were installed to view the stage and relay the acts back up to the televisions upstairsI think it won Pub of the year in 1971, I wonder if Fullers still have the plaque that was on the wall outside? Just a bit of useless info, I also fell off the scaffolding while riding up and down on the lift use by the brickies (as they did) “that hurt” no ealf un safty in them days :o)I also use to ride my motorbike around inside the ground floor shell for a bit of a laugh as well I think new Red Lion was built out of compensation for knocking down, The Bull, The Barge Aground, The feathers and the old Red Lion, which actually didn’t get demolished for years after.All this to make way for the dual carriage way that was planned to run from Kew Bridge through to Hounslow, which was abandoned, but not before the row of bow window frontage shops were pulled down.Developers need a gun put to there head or a public flogging when they screw up an area, Brentford has been screwed so many times since the 50’s.
Paul Allen ● 5733d