Forum Topic

Betty wins street trading licence

Good to see that Betty has been given permission to put tables out in Barley Mow Passage in the evenings during the hours that the street is pedestrianised. Should be a nice spot to enjoy some summer evenings. https://democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=124181The usual vexatious complainants tried to stop it of course. Strangely they wanted to drive vehicles into a no vehicle zone. The car obsession of a noisy minority seems to have helped with the Panel granting the licence in this instance:"With regards to the tables and chairs being an obstruction for vehicles, this should not be an issue because no vehicles were allowed to use and/or access the road during the hours the Applicant would have tables and chairs on the road. During the hearing the Panel felt that much of the objectors’ concerns were in fact in relation to access to the road for vehicles."I'm sure Betty will become a popular spot for local cyclists now.

Paul Campbell ● 1573d33 Comments

Another of your deliberately provocative posts! It's not difficult to guess the object of your vindictiveness. Promote cycle interests as much as you like, but try to avoid personal antagonism. I'm sure your more courteous cycling colleagues will be embarrassed by your personal polemics.Re Betty, I wish them well, but a gloomy passage wouldn't be my choice for alfresco dining.

Robert Fish ● 1573d

"cycling colleagues" - ha ha. What's them then?You are right that I am keeping an eye on the antics of this small group of people who claim to be pro-business but go to great lengths to object to any and every effort by independent businesses in this area to improve their lot. Their stated wish to drive their vehicles into a pedestrianised zone is the cherry on the cake in this instance and an open goal that you could hardly expect me to avoid converting.

Paul Campbell ● 1573d

Residents of flats above the shops between Sandersons Lane and Bleak House Lane must necessarily be prepared to put up with traffic noise on CHR, but may have a reasonable expectation of peace and quiet at the back of the premises. Alfresco dining, and more particularly drinking, in Barley Mow Passage could change all that. But that would doubtless give you great satisfaction, given that one of the residents is a regular critic of cyclists and the cycle lane. Ill-will seems to be your stock-in-trade.

Robert Fish ● 1573d

Must be the very last place in chiswick where id want to stand with a drink let alone sit at a table.

Julian Pavey ● 1573d

"one of the residents is a regular critic of cyclists and the cycle lane".That is one of the serial complainants. True. But she is directly exposed to the regular noise from the patio of The Lamb already and there are many more covers there than Steve has proposed and been given a licence for outside his premises. One of the other serial complainants lives in Grove Park but uses the stock template email provided by the organiser to complain about noise. And the staff of The Lamb likely have other motivations for their objections. Why Winkworth feel the need to complain about access to their parking space given the hours for the licence are outside of their regular trading hours and they wouldn't be allowed to drive in there anyway is beyond my powers of reasoning. Sam Harrison fought for and won a licence to do the same as the owner of Betty's so precedent had been set already. There is a lot more to this little mini-series than meets the eye and it has little to do with cycle lanes. The fact that the same people complain about cycle lanes as complain about everything else is not surprising.

Paul Campbell ● 1573d

Agreed, Julian. Noise may not be a problem for nearby residents, if few people fancy eating and drinking in a rather unattractive space.

Robert Fish ● 1573d

Although you are clearly being petty minded the broader principle that people who live near commercial centres should be prepared to tolerate a bit of noise into the early evening should apply.I can't imagine that there would be too much for residents to worry about anyway given what Betty charges for beer. The Lamb has a nicer outdoor area and is a relative bargain even though they are hardly giving it away by any normal standard. There may be a market in Chiswick for standing in a dark alley quaffing over-priced drinks, but I doubt it is a big one.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1573d

"Sam Harrison fought for and won a licence to do the same" But know person ever sat outside so not sure its a problem in the first place. Not sure many are sitting inside either given everytime i pass. I stand to be corrected on that one

Julian Pavey ● 1573d

Worth noting that the blank 'No Vehicles' sign here also applies to cyclists, unless they are pushing their cycle.

Peter Evans ● 1573d

Cyclists are a danger here. They often come flying out of the narrow end of the passage, completely unsighted between the church and the wall on the other side, and ride straight across the pavement and then across Duke's Avenue into Bourne Place. There used to be a barrier to slow them down, but it was removed a long time ago.

Robert Fish ● 1572d

There is useful marketing info here for the owner of Betty’s and they now know that Robert Fish, Julian Pavey and Jeremy Parkinson are not the target customers.I wish him success with customers from outside this demographic.

Michael Robinson ● 1572d

Indeed Jeremy. I can think of better views while being stiffed for drinks.

Basil Finnis ● 1572d

HAWe visit many places in chiswick for either food or drinks or both but in our circle we dont know anyone who goes to Betty's so in my thinking the application for seating is to try and boost footfall. I wish him success allso but i am pretty sure the location is a pretty dam poor one to run such establishment. And your likely need to know its there rather than otside footfall who are likely to see subway. Sam had many loyal customers and was mentioned many times on here but even he could not keep it running but glad he is doing well in hammersmith and hope the latest to open on TGT works well. Maybe its all down to what you are offering,pricing and quality comes very much into it.

Julian Pavey ● 1572d

I'd be interested to know what is the demographic for a £7 pint in a shady alleyway.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1572d

Let’s hope along with the seating they provide a nice big NO CYCLING sign. Cyclists Ned to have it spelled out I think

Maggie Dodge ● 1572d

"Go to great lengths to object to any and every effort by independent businesses in this area to improve their lot"Said the man who beseeched everyone to boycott said independents when they dared to ask questions.Nice to see Paul blathering from both sides of his mouth again.

David Lesniak ● 1572d

I've been there on a couple of occasions; decent food, good wine selection and friendly service. And its location doesn't strike me as scruffy or ugly. Shame this thread has turned into a 'who in their right mind would go there?' kicking. Not your sort of place? Stay away. Plenty of other establishments, including two Wetherspoons within chip-throwing distance, to choose from.

Gordon McDonald ● 1572d

Just to be clear it wasn't my intention to discourage people from using Betty's. I've been there once and would agree with your first sentence with the caveat that it is quite pricey. My point was that I thought it was unlikely that an outdoor late licence would attract enough customers to cause much of a disturbance to local residents. I'm pleased they got the licence and wish them every success.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1572d

Got out of bed the wrong side, Gordon? No-one gave Betty a 'kicking'. The comments were all made in the context of alfresco dining at a place which catches minimal sun - nothing about the restaurant itself. And what's all this about Wetherspoons and chip-throwing? A hint of bourgeois snobbery?

Robert Fish ● 1572d

Me neither, just saying I find the outside location miserable and dull looking and can't see many people wanting to sit outside. They did not last time around Not sure why someone can't say why one would not go there to sit outside or question the location and not know anyone who goes. And my observation is always pretty empty when passing. But not questioning the inside and what it offers. If we had a big Wetherspoons in Chiswick it seems possibly ok to have a view or a perceived thought. ?

Julian Pavey ● 1572d

On the subject of Wetherspoons... a joke played by builders at Betty's last year triggered the usual suspects when it comes to complaining in Chiswick.https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/a-weatherspoons-in-chiswick/

Michael Robinson ● 1571d

  "triggered the usual" Well in all honesty that includes both sides. Its been going on for years

Julian Pavey ● 1571d

Indeed, Julian. Even a licensing application is used as an excuse for another skirmish in the never-ending road wars. Anyone who's not a partisan fanatic must be heartily sick of it all by now.

Robert Fish ● 1571d

I've been there 3 or 4 times with work. It's crap. Grumpiest staff ever and crap music. Better of in the Lamb.

Greg Gold ● 1569d

Well I’m happy to leave it to the cyclists then. Paul CampbellIt’s all yours. I assume you don’t drink and cycle?

Maggie Dodge ● 1569d

In Oxford I saw a street where part of it had been closed to traffic so that tables and chairs could be placed on the road.  So good to see cyvlists getting off their bikes and walking them along the pavement instead trying to ride weaving in and out the pedestrisns or through the closed to cycles and motor traffic road.

Philippa Bond ● 1569d

Oh yes let’s give them a big pat on the back!

Maggie Dodge ● 1569d

Don't need to go that far Maggie, it's sufficient to realise and acknowledge that not all cyclists are the same the country over and they can co-exist with non-cyclists without the antagonism that exists between different groups here in Chiswick.Just as not all motorists fall into the camp of those that flash their lights behind you impatiently if you have the audacity to be in front of them while adhering to the speed limit, or even worse, are stupid enough to stop so that an emergency vehicle can pass through unhindered.

Andrew Jones ● 1569d

This will really annoy a certain person on here 🤣

Rowland Ellam-Bell ● 1569d

Can we all assume you don't drink and walk? It might be more difficult to discern whether you drink and talk.

Anne England ● 1568d

I don’t really drink as it happens. Not teetotal but can’t remember the last time I was squiffy. Now tea is another matter. I might actually be addicted 😉

Maggie Dodge ● 1568d

Paul you really are a nasty fixated rude individual

Peter Mizzi ● 1567d

I was working off the praise from Philippa, clearly she thought it was unusual and worthy mentioning , made me smile Andrew 👍

Maggie Dodge ● 1566d