Forum Topic

Goddard's furniture store

The high street is still looking a bit worse for wear and it would be so good to see things move on and for the development to start. Is it me or do other people think that Goddard's shop looks rather jaded and dull. The same plants have been up above looking exceedingly dead. It looks quite depressing. Could Goddard's have a look at their window displays and make some changes? I do appreciate that Goddard's is a long standing business which provides employment in the area but I still think they need to see their shop windows from the locals' perspectives. It would also encourage more custom, I'm sure.

Carrie Lennard ● 4332d19 Comments

Its a timely gift - from the front page:"Shopkeepers in Hounslow and Brentford have the chance to bid for grants to give their stores a facelift. Shops on Brentford High Street, Half Acre and Boston Manor Road from Brentford Lock up to the A4 are eligible."They can all get their bids in. Even Martin's the depressing newsagents.

Alan Clark ● 4314d

I too think it's an eyesore, and the whole high street is rather depressing, I often walk past Goddards thinking who on earth goes in there to buy anything, most seems overpriced and outdated furniture. I always thought it must be supported by a huge amount of rental income they get, and thats the store room. There is even a growing stalagmite on the pavement from the constant years of dripping from the shops overhanging concrete.

Alan Branch ● 4319d

I wasn't suggesting we get rid of the shop, only that it be dressed better and the dead plants up above removed. I think the whole thing would take a couple of days.

Carrie Lennard ● 4319d

Be careful what you wish for.  You'll miss it when it is gone!

Philippa Bond ● 4319d

Spot on sarah - even Oxfam stores look better and are better laid out !  Nothing wrong with pre-loved. Everything wrong with messy and shabby. (My fav are the sofas on the welded steel frame sat outside the store - hard to tell if they are for sale or for council collection.)

Alan Clark ● 4320d

I did not mean that there is anything wrong with second hand furniture just that the stuff outside Goddards is displayed badly.

Sarah Porter ● 4320d

i actually think the building is an eye sore as for the Goddard family, the last 4 generations of my family have furnished their homes from them. The Goddard family are part of Brentford as much as the library or the football ground. I think you'd be hard pushed to find any true Brentford people whos family, past or present, haven't had dealings with them in one way or another.... but the building is still crap!

Sarah Thomas ● 4321d

I bought a good heavy duty double mattress, thick and well made,for £165 (£10 discount for cash,delivery included ) there a few years ago when we had some guests staying and you could pay double that elsewhere imo. Still as good as new and it gets used regularly.

Keith Iddon ● 4321d

I went in there a few years ago to buy a large mirror and a small chest of drawers and without me asking or hinting in any way at all the laDy serving me knocked £30 of the total price straight awayI did not complain of course and was very pleased as I was prepared and happy to pay the origional asking price but it still seemed a very strange thing to do

Paul Fisher ● 4321d

Bully for you if you can afford new furniture Sarah but some people are not so fortunate. As Goddards have been serving the people of Brentford since 1815 they may just have a better idea of what some local people want and can afford than you,I or anyone else on this forum. They are very probably the oldest business in Brentford and the building they are in is probably liked and disliked in equal measure. I do not believe in fixing something if it ain't broke and Goddards clearly isn't. I think with proposed new development the north side of the high street will be let much as it is, so debate about it is futile.

Keith Iddon ● 4321d

It always cheers me up when I walk past with its messy window displays and terrible second hand sofas.

Sarah Porter ● 4321d

Goddards monstrosity or Ballymore monstrosity?At least the Ballymore one will be modern, up to date and useful.

Nigel Richard Meakin ● 4324d

The exterior of the building is a matter of taste.How sad that " Mary Queen of Shops" is no longer focussing upon such premises.Perhaps the employees need to work on an incentive scheme, encouraging them to move from their chosen places and actually volunteer assistance.Failing that the volunteers at the British Heart Foundation furniture charity shop in West Ealing could model good customer service. I wonder to what extent the removals business actually subsidises retail sales since it is such an unappealing interior for many residents?

David R Rowlands ● 4325d

That's as harsh as it is daft...would you prefer a Ballymore monstrosity?

Keith Iddon ● 4325d

I've said this before and I will say it again, the Goddards furniture store building is just horrendous both inside and outside. Perhaps this is where the demolition of the high street can begin.For those that like the building I strongly recommend Specsavers!Nigel meakin

Nigel Richard Meakin ● 4326d

I agree with Michael at least in the 50s the buildings had some character (remember Rattenburys the pawn shop?).  It looked totally Dickensian now there are just soulless buildings selling very little that I may ever want to buy!

Bernadette Paul ● 4326d

In my opinion the whole of Brentford high street is depressing and has never looked any better than it was in the fifties,in fact it was better in some respects, the whole length of the high street needs to be redeveloped, not just in one or two places.

Michael John Eyers ● 4326d

I think the building has merit and just needs a lick of paint here and there and a clean up etc. It is functionalist and minimal without being brutal. It has great window space. I can't see what is wrong with it.

Keith Iddon ● 4332d

Goddards is a typical building of it's era, They have always kept it well and very much in the time warp of it's era.It could do with a spruce up as it has started to look a little unkempt . But it is supposed to be a minimalist design which conflicts a bit with the clutter that is inevitable with a furniture store. BUt well presented, this site can still look clean and bright as long as the spirit of it's original design and style are adhered to.

Raymond Havelock ● 4332d