Forum Topic

Oh dear Not good news locally

Front page The Roebuck and the Steam Packet not returning after crisis over

Julian Pavey ● 2413d45 Comments

Not good - just posted on this myself

Matthew Acton ● 2413d

i liked the pub and can go back many years for that plot in many disguises. It was allways a great place for all to meet up as a family or a wider group. And to think i was looking forward to the new garden in the summer months.

Julian Pavey ● 2413d

That's a shame. I was very fond of the Roebuck.

Carl Wynne ● 2413d

Yes, nice pub nice garden.It used to be called the Birdcage at one time.Probably something else before that.

Will Watson ● 2413d

Slug and Lettuce or Rat and Parrot — whichever it was dire. Before that it was strangely enough The Roebuck but very run down.

Carl Wynne ● 2413d

The site article mentions the Antelope which could have been the name but I have a feeling that it was also called the Roebuck before. Con Kelly was the landlord who then went on to run Jack Stamps for a while. Sadly I think these closures are the first of many and I'd be surprised if we had half the amount of pubs at the end of this when we did when we started. It all our faults for not drinking enough.

Paul Corcoran ● 2413d

Wait the Roebuck that used to have a stream running through it as a water feature? I am talking about 35-40 years ago.

Keith Iddon ● 2413d

Sorry typing in semi darkness..'Was it the Roebuck..'

Keith Iddon ● 2413d

Keith I think you mean the one on the opposite side of the road near the CIU Trades clubCannot remember the name of it but do recall washing up liquid being slipped in it a couple of times

Paul Fisher ● 2413d

I can't believe this place will not be returning,  the place has been refurbished to such a high standard and they will not even get to enjoy the summer trade which would have been great with the lovely big balcony overlooking the river.Really feel sorry for the staff.

Matthew Swain ● 2413d

Chiswick Eyot , Roebuck , Rat and Parrot , Bird Cage , Roebuck again.Coach and Horses

Julian Pavey ● 2413d

Yep,i agree. I think its a good purchase given the setup and the new garden with outside summer BAR (TIKI) time.Someone with a healthy book will purchase it i would have thought,even in these bad times.

Julian Pavey ● 2413d

Coach and Horses - nice pub and quaint pub hotel off Kew Green.

Matthew Swain ● 2413d

YepI was refering to the pub with the water feature where the lighting shop is that was a restuarant with night club downstairs. Opposite was the HOGSHEAD at the time. Sure it was Coach and HorsesInbetween Hogshead and Roebuck in past times was the JJ Moons which became the PARAGON.

Julian Pavey ● 2413d

JP > "Sure it was Coach and Horses"I agree, it was.

John Whitworth ● 2413d

JW > "I agree, it was."Confirmation:https://brentfordandchiswicklhs.org.uk/search-discover/chiswick-history-homepage/pubs/

John Whitworth ● 2413d

Thats a list John"THE FEATHERS""This pub in Hogarth Lane was licensed by at least 1722 and belonged to Sich & Co of the Lamb Brewery in Church Street. Rebuilt during the Victorian era, the pub was demolished in the late 1950s to make way for the A4 and the Hogarth Roundabout. It was replaced with a pub of the same name on the north side of the roundabout in 1960. This, in turn, has been demolished" Now Paul mentioned Con Kelly. He re-opened the feathers for a short time i think. Either before or after Jack Stamps. Not sure what way around,my brains not in full gear

Julian Pavey ● 2413d

I am sure that a company will pick up the Steam Packet in due course.  The refurbishment was good and it is a great location. But after a good start, things went down hill quite quickly - food and service.  Good management can make a success of this place.

David Lovegrove ● 2413d

Agree but no one will rush in the meantime until they see how the land lies.  We must resist the inevitable commercial/residential developer bids.

Claire Moran ● 2413d

Before my time but since I have been here (more than 20 years) so much fun and lovely stuff has gone.  Anyone remember Tarts Cafe or a pub that I think was called the Boltons which was on the other side of the road from me when I lived in Duke Road (my first ever owned property, tiny one bed but lovely Victorian conversion that I loved to bits)

Claire Moran ● 2413d

JP > "He re-opened the feathers for a short time i think."Was that when it got painted bright pink?We lived on Devonshire Road at the time (mid to late 80s) and got a 'teaser' postcard through the door with the question: "But why is it pink?"

John Whitworth ● 2413d

Oooh,cant remember what colour it was.Aha,how about British Racing Green

Julian Pavey ● 2413d

Well, whatever the pubs were called, can we all, when victory is announced, go to as many pubs as we can? Perhaps we should wear a badge: Chiswick W4 supporter?

Vivienne Cox ● 2413d

One of the (few) upsides of all this has been people getting together. In our street the street Whatsapp is in overdrive with people trying to help one another and those who are not on it looked after. Of course when this is all over it won't happen to the same degree, but I do believe we will all stay much more in touch than before

Claire Moran ● 2413d

The feathers was painted bright pink for quite a time.The Bolton Hotel or Pub in Duke Road brings back some 1964 memory's. It was also a music hall, so made a great rehearsal room for a up and coming band "The Shades of Blue" they use the fist floor which had great acoustics.

Bernard Allen ● 2413d

Bernard, would really love to hear more about the Bolton Hotel. So many people tried to dissuade me from buying opposite as the flat I had put an offer in to was just across the road, but I loved the flat and the areA,a and as a night owl it didn't bother me at  if they finished late, which they never did. Wben I moved there it was a pretty beautiful looking pub rather than a hotel. Can we stay in touch if you have any more information?  Local history is a big interest for me. DM me if you would like to x

Claire Moran ● 2413d

Missed out on the refurbed Steam Packet have been showing an Australian friend around all the Chiswick area pubs of late.Tough one that.As for the Boltons did hire the hall above on two occasions one for a joint 21st.

Paul Jennings ● 2413d

Keith, the then Coach and Horses at the junction of Netheravon Rd and CHR had a stream and cascade running in it with intimate little alcoves around it.The classic Victorian exterior was clad in multi coloured plastic chevrons, very cool, well it was at the time!It was a burger place for a while and then the building was demolished. After a little monkey business over planning, the developers were obliged to rebuild a reproduction of the original.It is now Arrow Electric with flats above. NB I believe a brook, the Stamford brook runs below the building as they had problems in construction with it when they rebuilt and put in an underground car park.

Adrian Irving ● 2413d

The Coach and Horses has a special place in my memory.  In 1978 following  five years working abroad my wife and I were looking for somewhere to rent.  A flat agency on Holland Park Avenue directed us to a place in Netheravon Road.  It was okay, good enough, but what really sold it to us was the pub at the end of the road with a ‘river running through it’.  That was the start of our Chiswick residency.  The place went through various phases.  At one time it was a Mexican restaurant.

Alastair Banton ● 2413d

My memories of the Coach & Horses go back to when it had two full size snooker tables in the back room.  Having the dubious reputation of the worst beer in Chiswick it was always practically empty and thus snooker was usually available.In its reincarnation it had a stream which ran from the first floor via a waterfall to the ground floor and than to a basement pool. Entrance to the pub bars was via a small bridge over the stream. I am still in touch with the person who "foamed" the pub one night with industrial detergent, closing the pub when the bridge disappeared under foam.

Jeffrey Cope ● 2413d

It was alleged that Diana Dors use to regularly visit The Feathers Pub

Bernard Allen ● 2413d

She did.In a past time I was the foreman of a jury at the Old Bailey in a case involving two women who broke a pool cue over a man's head in the pub. I leave it to you to judge what sort of pub it was!

Jeffrey Cope ● 2413d

My memory of the coach and horses was with stream being a very busy pub at weekends. Predominately a young crowd late 60's early 70's gradually went down in favour of other pubs over time. No violence whenever I went there but have seen many acts of violence in other Chiswick pubs albeit in the distant past.Loved the scene in Chiswick at that time.

Paul Jennings ● 2413d

Re The Feathers, it was the first London pub that Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor called into after flying into Heathrow.Well, it would be. It was the first boozer they'd see on the journey into town, and apparently they both enjoyed a good blast in one.

Roger Talbot ● 2413d

Sadly both the Roebuck and the Steam Packet fell into the hands of the dreadful Restaurant Group,after Rocket and Fuel or whatever they were called,sold out for 18 million in 2018.Fullers have moved their head office next to the Steam Packet,and I think they own the site.Will be interesting to see what they do with it.

Peter Cozens ● 2413d

Now it looks like the Grosvenor in Hanwell is going the same way.Food and Fuel did a really good job refurbishing the pub in 2014 , after it had plumbed the depths. Hugh, the manager did an excellent job but once he left it seemed to go wrong.The Black Dog in Brentford shows how the right people can make a success of a former run down pub.

David Burke ● 2413d

Indeed David,they have closed all the former Rocket and Fuel pubs.Seems like a bit of financial opportunism to me,surely you don’t close the whole lot without consideration for individual performance.The Restaurant Group represents all that is wrong with the casual restaurant sector.They are mainly into fast food like Frankie and Benny’s,and Wagamama.They have just closed Chiquitos with the loss of 1500 jobs.The are run by venture capitalists and accountants,with no love for food,and almost exclusively staffed by cheap immigrant labour.Pity the former owners of Rocket and Fuel did not have a bit more of a conscience.A lot more of these chains will take the opportunity to exit at this time,Carluccios have just called in the administrators.Generally no loss at all,and hopefully after the fallout more genuine,caring establishments will emerge.

Peter Cozens ● 2413d

The Coach and Horses was once the Bernie Inn in the 60s and 70s. A cosy place for prawn cocktail, steak and chips and a sugary dessert! With a that German wine wine too! It was novel at the time.

Jim Lawes ● 2412d

I lived in Devonshire Road in the 80's too but never went to the Feathers, only the George and Devonshire occasionally.  And Key West, the Wine Bar in Devonshire Road that is now part of La Trompette.

Fiona Bell ● 2412d

RB and ET were regulars at the Mylett Arms on the A40.

Jeffrey Cope ● 2412d

Perhaps that stretch of the A40 was a bit less grubby back then. Seems an air pollution hotspot now.

Vivienne Cox ● 2412d

The guy who owns the Express Tavern might add it to his portfolio (there are several incl one in Windsor) when life gets back to normal (if) - once the Stadium is open they will need an overflow pub and One Over the Air has been pretty poor in my experience. The Express is a great pub, really well run with excellent staff.

Ruth Mayorcas ● 2412d

Posted similar comments on the other Roebuck thread in Forum, but the Food & Fuel Group of London pubs sold to The Restaurant Group 18 months ago has only been put into Administration (not liquidation like the Chiquito Group they also own with loss of 1,500 jobs). This means it can easily be packaged and sold off once the pandemic is over and they are able to open again for business. Given the Roebuck's location near the new Chiswick Cinema and the money spent on the Steam Packet renovation, one suspects people with spare cash (whether prior owner or new team) will be on the hunt for such bargains at knockdown prices once the current shutdown is over.The Restaurant Group was in dire straits before the virus hit the UK (share price down over 50%) and as a quoted group is under pressure to raise cash after their disastrous purchase of Wagamama chain at too expensive a price.

Joe Conneely ● 2412d

'Easily be repackaged' is perhaps over-optimistic. In fact is hard to see this ending any other way than liquidation given the dire position of the parent company and they have acknowledged this by making the statement about permanent closure which isn't something that you do if there is any residual hope. Interesting to note in that regard the familiar name of Andy Hornby cropping up — he really should have bought that heather off the old lady that called at his door! The administrators will have a very weak hand when dealing with the creditors and I'm not sure the pubs will be able to make the argument that it could trade on as a going concern at this point. It seems almost certain that the keys will be handed back to the freeholder or the bank. Of course there is no reason that the next tenants couldn't stick with the original names particularly with the Steam Packet after its extensive refit.

Andrew OSullivan ● 2412d

I'm not sure I can muster that level of optimism. When we do emerge from this nightmare it will be not be back to as it was before. Most of us will be much poorer, the government will be clawing back everything it is currently giving away in tax and many will be much more cautious about going out. Hopes for a revival of these two pubs look hopelessly optimistic probably even under new ownership. Most pub groups are holding out for more government support, rates and tax holidays and maybe a change in duties to get them back on their feet so Food and Fuel throwing in the towel now probably means their position was already dire.The interesting thing from a Chiswick perspective is the position of Fullers who, by a remarkable stroke of luck found themselves sitting on a big pile of cash as this crisis hit. The chances of them owning more than half of the pubs left in w4 this time next year seems very high. If Peter Cozens is right and they own the Steam Packet site they might choose not to reopen a pub there because the Bell and Crown is so close.

Francis Rowe ● 2411d