Forum Topic

All change on Churchfield Road

I notice that the flower shop on Churchfield Road is moving -- does anybody know where it's moving to?I also notice that the Spar shop down the Market end of Churchfield Road has its lease up for sale.  What a blow that will be to Acton! (Sarcasm doesn't really work on forums, does it?).

Adam Kimmel ● 5636d44 Comments

Heart & Soul is moving to the empty shop on the corner, about four doors along. It has just been painted black. It'll double the window display space for them.

Vivienne Duggan ● 5636d

Jeremy's shop - the corner one is just a whole lot bigger...heart & soul use it at busy periods anyhow to spillover. I wonder what will go intot the "old" heart & Soul...What do we need/(i would never have thought a bicycle repair shop would be the answer but look how well that is doing!)

Sara Nathan ● 5636d

I've heard rumours of a Sainsbury's local (on the estate agent grapevine) but not sure where exactly it'd go.

L Edwards ● 5636d

Not htere - not big enough - but there is Berrico's available or we could start our own rumour about the ground floor of the Albion.

Sara Nathan ● 5636d

There's a new Sainsubury's local opened up just before Ealing Common Station on the site of the old Harvester pub. Maybe that's the one they mean.

Ellie Rose ● 5636d

Flowershop move apparently delayed by dilatory tiling of new premises...Now how do I know that?

Sara Nathan ● 5632d

But...but...where will Harry Enfield film now?

Adam Kimmel ● 5631d

Berrico? Totally empty and could do with some livening up.

Sara Nathan ● 5630d

Hmmm hi sara, it the friendly postie here, not sure if you know, but on the corner of alfred rd, opposite where heart & soul is moving to... 61/63 churchfield rd, i'm told is going to be a block of flats, in speaking with the people at 59 ( colophon), they have told me, that in the next couple of months, they could be moving, due to the landlord, he's probably receieved a good offer.. which would then free up Berrico, colophon at 59, as well as 61/63 churchfield rd.... watch this space as they say :)

robert nicholas ● 5629d

I wonder if planning permission has been sought yet - maybe it's just a conversions.I expect Doris will know.

Sara Nathan ● 5628d

I also heard yesterday that the pub next door to the graveyard (can't recall the name) will cease trading tomorrow night and the site will be developed into a block of flats......Not sure if this info is legit so don't quote me on it..........

Ellie Rose ● 5628d

Foley's?Don't hold a candle for it myself but the character of Churchfield Road will change profoundly if two big blocks are built - a la Poets Place which is a design disaster.I don't know if the pub is listed - a conversion job would be rather a good idea I would think.What do others think?

Sara Nathan ● 5628d

Yes sara, i totally agree with you, the poets place flats are a disaster, who'd like to live in them, something out of the space age... from going back to the early 90's, & i used to deliver the old Saab kensington cars, to this mockery!! shame on them.... let's hope it's all talk, but i fear for the lovely feel of churchfield rd.

robert nicholas ● 5628d

Yes, Sara. Foleys, but we have always known it as 'The Diggers' (gravediggers) Just spoke to our gardener who said he will be having his last pint in there tonight. I would have thought this pub to be one of the oldest in Acton..I drove down Churchfield Road today on my way to Lavellis and noticed so many shops up for sale.On another note, wait for it...........A 'Pound Plus' shop is opening up opposite the vets in Horn lane next to Acton main Line station. Seemed to have sprung up overnight....On another note

Ellie Rose ● 5628d

Of course you could always look at it from the point of view that if there are going to be more flats that means more punters for the remaining businesses in Churchfield Rd.  Some of the businesses evidently struggle to keep going as there does seem to be a high turnover every few years.

Jen Morty ● 5628d

or the pessimists might say: greater strain on public services; trnasport; NHS and schools but of course no greater provision.I'm more worried about the feel of the road - it's suppose dto be mixed use and two great big blocks would tilt the balance - and might - or might not - provide more customers for local businesses.The bike shop looks to be thriving - the most recent addition.

Sara Nathan ● 5628d

Dear Adam, with regards to the 'Spar' shop I don't know how long you've lived in the area but some news for you, this is a populist area! There has always been a mix of cultures and 'classes' here from the highly privileged to the extremely underprivileged. I know local people from all sides but one thing I have rarely found here is callous snobbery. Some people here may not be up to your 'standards' but they still have a right to a livelihood and a job!!! How ironic would it be if you lost your job, couldn't pay your bills or feed your kids. You chose to live in a populist area - either deal with it, leave or keep your callous, bigoted nature to yourself. In a tolerant community such as this we really don't need archaic, class-discriminatory attitudes like that thank you very much!!!! There is no place for blatant snobbery in this community. And this is coming to you from an 'ex-Public Schoolboy'.For the adults of you out there, the Foley's emplacement has been a pub for over 147 years which does make it one of the oldest - the last night is Sunday I believe. It has been sold mainly for the flats above and the new owner is not interested in re-opening a pub - it will most likely be a café or restaurant.

haigh kassabian ● 5627d

I'm relieved it's not been sold to be knocked down - that would be a real shame. I wonder if there are customers for another cafe or even restaurant but can quite see why running a pub there - when there are so many  in walking disatance - might seem a poor prospect.You have to be so multi-skilled to be a successful publican nowadays: barman, caterer, entrepreneur, showman, venue letter, and more. Must be jolly hard work.Pity its going after so long though.

Sara Nathan ● 5627d

there was activity in Berrico's on Churchfield road this morning...anyone know what gives?

Sara Nathan ● 5624d

Dear Mr Kassabian,That's quite a flow of invective you've levelled at me on a public forum.  Perhaps you'd like to elucidate your claims?  Let's start with "bigoted".  That's quite a weighty accusation:  would you care to justify this?

Adam Kimmel ● 5624d

maybe it was a typo and he meant to call you a big ted?

Paul Grady ● 5624d

Ah, if only it were so, Paul.  Thanks for a much needed laugh.It seems, however, that Mr Kassabian's public school motto was "Discretion is the Better Part of Valour" (or whatever the Latin might be for that -- I never had the Latin, you know).I am surprised and not a little dismayed that there is no way of weeding out such abusive trolls from this board.

Adam Kimmel ● 5622d

Abusive not the same as troll though is it?he may well be a (very angry) legitimate person who doesn't post very often.Just a shame he got quite so cross over not a lot.

Sara Nathan ● 5622d

"Abusive" doesn't necessarily equal "troll", that's true, but trolls like to stir things up, and abuse can be ammunition for them.  If he is in any way legitimate, then let him explain himself.

Adam Kimmel ● 5622d

Sara I will check out when I get back from my visit to the Golan/Sea of Galilee - internet access from this area is very poor.  But as Chairman of the Churchfield Road Community Association I would have thought that you would have been informed about any planning applications on your 'patch'.

Dee Cook ● 5611d

There seems to be no practical requirement to let residents' community asociations know about planning applications. I have taken this up with the chair of the planning committee - Ray Wall - re the Shakespeare Road planning debacle - and he has never substantively replied.I don't know if there is a theoretical obligation...but it's not followed if so.Maybe you can chase it on your return. Wonderful area...are you visiting Sfat as well?

Sara Nathan ● 5611d

both the new Indian and Jeremy's home for Heart & Soul seem to be progressing quite slowly.Any date for either?

Sara Nathan ● 5609d

Historical note - Foleys was originally The Mechanics Arms

Sandy Stagg-Peterson ● 5608d

Ellie says - and she has spoken to some shop-fitters - that Sainsbury Local are moving into Berrico.Can this be true?

Sara Nathan ● 5602d

Who me?......Not this Ellie.

Ellie Rose ● 5602d

Ellie from Pro Hands...

Clare Gittins ● 5602d

I spoke to a representative of Sainsbury's press office yesterday who onfirmed that they are interested in opening up a 'local' store in Acton, but no decisions on sites have been made as yet. Watch this space as they say.

The Editor ● 5602d

If you have an address, perhaps we could all write saying 'yes please asap'........

Dee Cook ● 5602d

I wrote to the corporate website - not quite saying yes please asap as I am slightly worried about Londis - but asking for details.Meanwhile the Albion ground floor and basement has gone on the (letting) market for upwards of £35,000 a year - seems a lot to me for 1500 square feet but what do I know?

Sara Nathan ● 5602d

Would be good to see a sainsburys, seeing as they built that nice new one near ealing common station -much prefer to use that over Morrisons

Gordon Smith ● 5599d

I would have thought it unlikley in Churchfield Rd though as it's not a main road.  Would love to have one there though.

Jen Morty ● 5599d

Sainsbury's very unforthcoming and won't confirm or deny...Will try a less formal method!

Sara Nathan ● 5599d

I'd heard on the grapevine that Waitrose and Sainsbury's were fighting it out for a spot in W3. I for one would be keen to see Waitrose return to its roots (Original shop was in Acton I believe).

Cathy Johns ● 5597d

Which would we rather?I can't see Waitrose prices going down well here - not compared to Morrisons whose fruit and veg is better and about half the price

Sara Nathan ● 5597d

Whilst working in the market on Saturday, several people (one a Morrisons employee) told me that Tesco were going to move into the Town hall........

Ellie Rose ● 5597d

Those on the Town Hall Team were told ages ago that the big supermarkets only wanted a position on the high street - for a full size shop - if they could have a similar floor area to Morrisons - which wasn't feasible.Maybe things have changed or they are going for something smaller.

Sara Nathan ● 5597d

Afraid I vote for Waitrose, Sara  - I think their food is generally better quality and less junk-food orientated and I like the fact that they share their profits with their staff too.Let's hope we don't get Tesco.

Cathy Johns ● 5597d

and they deliver free

Dee Cook ● 5597d

I'm with you on Tesco. I find the one on the Uxbridge Road towards Shepherds Bush really oppressive - poor fruit and veg and a very troubled, aggressive feel. I avoid it almost always.Bar Hill superstore near Cambridge another matter and VERY poverty-inducing. I have even bought clothes there.

Sara Nathan ● 5594d