The Sun Pub, which closed down as the first gusts of recession swept across the Bush, was not really missed by most. The haunt of thick set men with gold sovereign rings and even thicker necks, it sat opposite the second hand furniture emporium, above which was a drug dealers den. In that den, one of several on Askew Road, a young man called Jaabe Roberts was murdered in June 2010.
Nowadays neither the drug den, nor the furniture store are there anymore and the sovereign ring wearers have gone somewhere else, but speculation has remained about the fate of the Sun Pub which was widely rumoured to be turning into a Waitrose store. I reported this after it was confirmed locally by a Councillor but it seems they were getting ahead of the game. Meanwhile. however, the Askew Road has been seriously on the up winning rave reviews for the new businesses on the road and driven by the Askew Business Network.
A forlorn sign still sits in the window, perhaps penned by the departing landlord - saying "This Bup is Closed". It kind of said it all really.
Now however, there appears to be a new show in town, a fresh application to rip down the facade and turn it into something better, another step on the way up for the Askew Road away from the dingy days of the past. The old application still exists which states the following:
Erection of an additional floor at roof level; erection of a part single storey part 3 storey rear extension in connection with a change of use from public house to retail on ground floor (Class A1) and 8 residential units on upper floor together with associated cycle and refuse storage; erection of a 3 storey side extension housing staircase to upper floors.(revisions comprising external modifications to the design of the front elevation)
Now a new one has been submitted in support of this, which states:
Demolition works to the main building to facilitate the proposed re-development of the site in conjunction with planning application 2011/02630/FUL.
Cllr Lisa Homan has told the local reader that has sent me this heads-up that she is still not sure whether or not it is likely to be a Waitrose. So what could it be, this "retail" unit with new flats on top? Whatever it is, I feel confident it will be an improvement on The Sun.
The sign said "THE BUP IS CLOSE". Much more eloquent...
ReplyDeleteThe most interesting - and terrible - fact about the Sun pub is that 60 people were killed when a German bomb fell on it during WWII.
ReplyDeleteFor posterity
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/bushboy1976/6794646305/
superb photo and I stand corrected on the sign!
ReplyDeleteOf course it was a dodgy old pub - and I suppose the departure of the thick set men, etc, is a good thing. But for those of us who grew up on the Askew Rd, there is just a faint whiff of nostalgia. The old Travellers Rest is now a Tesco, the Petrol Station a Sainsburys, and now there's a clamouring for a Waitrose to arrive. What was wrong woith the Co-Op? Don't answer that!Remember Coopers, the fruit and veg shop - thats long gone too. At least we now have the wonderful Ginger Pig with organic this and hand reared that. The Eagle was a great old pub, with a saloon and lounge and a pool table, straight out of Minder - now you go there on a Saturday and it's like a creche with yummy mummy's and metrosexul daddy's! I remember when the middle classes used to lock their doors speeding through the Askew Rd - now they're pulling up and doing their shopping - nothing like a bit of change.
ReplyDeleteI'd argue, and I'm sure there'll be lots of people who disagree with this, that the cause of Askew Road's recent revival is the arrival of Tesco and Sainsbury's. Far from driving local shops out, they have encouraged greater 'footfall' on the road, to the advantage of all the shops there.
ReplyDeleteAll we need now is a fishmonger to take the place of Don Ross's old shop...
Quite possibly - but who is this so called revival benefiting? I assure you it is not the smaller independent shops who have toiled there for years - increasing footfal is great - but not if all those feet are stomping past your local shop and going to the multi-national for their bread and milk instead . . . I'm still not convinced HMV are going to take over the old record shop next to the cab station though!!
ReplyDeleteThe point is that people aren't just walking past the local shop and going to the multinationals. They're using all the shops more. People use different shops at different times depending on what they're shopping for, how much of a rush they're in and how much money they have in their pocket.
DeleteYes, Tesco and Sainsbury's make money but so do the other shops... as long as they adapt to their customers' needs.
Ask Askew Wine or the Lavelli Bakery if trade has got better or worse in recent months.
Fair enough - but the point i was making is that shops selling chianti and fresh loaves are not always serving the less well off community - as soon as the 'revival' occurs and big chains come in, the small independent shops get squeezed. The shops catering for the new wealthy residents moving in from more central locations are catered for with shops like the Ginger Pig but that doesn't help those of us who are skint! I don't want to be the token inverted snob bemoaning the gentrification of Askew Rd, but it does unsettle me that everything that used to be here was rubbish - the old boozer etc - and now that there's a flash butchers and a few chic shops - it's suddenly a little village, a desireable alternative to Notting Hill, and even got it's own business network! It's all just a bit patronising to those of us who have lived here our whole lives and always felt it was a great place to live - even with the bejewelled well built blokes in the Sun and before you paid over a fiver for a bag of bangers. . That said, I relaise these things are cyclical and most people will embrace the changing tides - it's just my own opinion.
DeleteThat's a very understandable point of view.
DeleteBut the way Askew Road was going a couple of years ago was truly depressing. If it continued there'd have been nothing left but boarded up shops.
Let's hope it can maintain some balance. A Turnham Green / Westbourne Grove style revival would be a bit much.
in Response to AnonymousJan 31, 2012 02:23 PM
DeleteI have sympathy for some of what you say, I think the description of the customers of the Sun pub is more than uncharitable and furthers your argument somewhat. Anything belonging to white working class culture is worthless in many people eyes, not least the eyes of the white middle class. You do wonder if the author would be as uncharitable to the customers of the record shop on a Friday night.
All that Tesco's and Sainsbury's revive is clone shops and zombie shoppers!!
ReplyDeleteCall that a revival. Look under the skin of any shabby looking independent seller and you find a far truer life. Hi rent prices in Chiswick and Holland park. A more village feel in Askew road than in Shepherds Bush and companies such as Leiths School of Food and Wine, Askew wines, ginger pig are the reasons why more independent shop keepers are thinking of moving there. I know of one Hampstead cafe owner and a Twickenham restauranter both contemplating.
Yeah that's all well and good, and good luck to them, but don't forget there has always been a strong community around Askew Rd, and hasn't just become villagey because a few toffs have opened up boutiquey shops and extended ex council houses to gain more sqaure footage. The thought of a Hampstead cafe owner moving in fils me with dread frankly - unless of course they're going to be peddling a £2.99 fry up, with a discount for those on benefits?
DeleteWhich 'toffs' exactly have opened up boutique shops?
DeleteI totally agree. with anonymous no1. and thats what I was saying in my comments. its the existing local shops that are the gems..
DeleteBTW.. hamstead cafe owner is actually originally from the area. Does other business for profit. You would probably like it if she came.
Glad to hear that a cafe may be opening up. There really isn't a decent cafe on the street. Adam's is good for a fry up, but the others are shabby and the food isn't up to much.
ReplyDeleteIt needs to a cafe like Brooks on Brook Green to really see the street take off. We have a shiny new expensive pram and nowhere to take it at the moment.
The upper-middle-classification of Shepherd's Bush is bizarre.
ReplyDeleteWaitrose this, Ginger Pig that, record house prices la-la-la.
Meanwhile shootings, stabbings and drugs busts galore.
The monied are adding no value to the local community by their presence, and forcing Shepherd's Bush apart. Look at Coverdale Road, which is fast becoming two Britains divided by a school wall; this is all only going to end badly.
What sort of 'end' are you envisaging?
DeleteIt's not that bizarre. I grew up in Notting Hill in the 70s/80s - it changed out of all recognition. Mostly for the better, not always though.
DeleteDo the better-off really add nothing to the local community? That's a pretty sweeping and unthinking generalisation.
Tell us more about Coverdale Road. I go past every day - but can't say I know much about it.
DeleteDon't forget Long Live Vintage. Pretty little shop...
ReplyDeleteThank You from Long Live Vintage
DeleteAny updates on what the mystery new unit is going to be?
ReplyDeleteAs a 28 year old who has only lived off Askew road for a few years, I find this conversation really fascinating. Whilst being excited at the opening of long live vintage, ginger pig, etc , I also love the presence of the record shop, the independent florist, and the other independent shops. I was really sad when the 2nd hand furniture shop near the thai restaurant closed down. I like walking down askew road and saying hi to those guys.
ReplyDeleteHaving said all that, the sainsburys is the friendliest supermaret I have ever known!
I really hope the sun doesnt become a waitrose- it's so unnecessary- but what would be a good addition to askew road? We have enough cafes.. a fairly priced fishmonger? a resonably priced restaurant?
I also just found this which I think sounds really ineresting for askew road-http://www.change.org/petitions/bring-art-tourism-to-w12-improving-askew-road
thoughts?
Anyone know anything about the Travellers Rest pub which was in Askew Road and where my Dad worked as a Cellar man. Understand it is now a Co-operative supermarket.
ReplyDelete