I hear from a reliable source - the doyen of the Richmond town pub trade - that both the Marble Hill (Rising Sun as was) and the Old Anchor have been bought from Young’s by Sainsburys supermarket, with the intention, we must presume, of turning a one or both of them into mini supermarkets, perhaps of keeping the other out of the hands of a rival. No planning permission is required for this, I believe.
A mini supermarket is also part of the scheme for the Ryde House site (391 Richmond Road 12/1001/FUL ) with the rest as a budget hotel. Bad news for East Twickenham’s convenience stores, which are already too numerous for the custom to be had, but it may lead to a relaxation of the bar on opening restaurants in this ‘protected shopping frontage’, which is what many of the local proprietors have long yearned to do and are in fact already doing more or less covertly.
Let us hope that Richmond Road will be allowed to become a rival to Kew Road as a centre for Richmond’s restaurant trade: what could be pleasanter than to meet for a drink on the Riverside and then stroll across the bridge to dine in one of the newly fashionable East Twickenham eateries? We already have Acena acena.co.uk and Brula www.brula.co.uk : what we need is more of the same and soon, please.
Christopher J Squire
Comments
Lidl and Travelodge. Classy.
David bertram on 2012-04-30 13:37:38 +0000Anyone know what's proposed for the Crown pub on Richmond Road?
Simon Fullalove on 2012-05-03 19:23:15 +0000Simon: The sign on the door says it is closed for refurbishment until September.
Chris Squire on 2012-05-06 17:57:54 +0000and the sign on the lamppost says there's a planning application in for various demolitions and additions to ancillary buildings.
Can a repaint back to a normal colour be too much to hope for?
David on 2012-05-08 13:34:05 +0000The planning application shows a 150 seat restaurant, including conversion of the former hall and half the garden to dining areas. Good luck to them! No mention of colour...
Simon Fullalove on 2012-05-09 15:07:12 +0000I heard that the people who run the Duke in Richmond are the new owners....
Robin McAlpine on 2012-05-10 06:44:48 +0000The Marble Hill is now being run by a pub management company, until its new owner, thought to be Sainsburys, decide what to do with it. It is open normal hours and they will start doing food again next week.
Chris Squire on 2012-07-07 12:31:41 +0000The 'East Twickenham News' (a Council initiative) reports:
'The Marble Hill rises again! . . there are covenants on the freehold that mean it has to remain a pub . . So Sainsbury's immediately sold it on to the new landlord, Roger, who is busy making some changes. Right now, it's open 7 days a week from noon to 11 pm. They are offering food . . [it will] focus on craft beers . . [he] wants to change the name of the pub. He doesn't much like the Marble Hill, or even the Rising Sun. He's thinking of The Birch - a good solid name, referencing the wood that will fire the pizza oven . . ' easttwickenham.org/news/marble-hill-pub-under-new-owne
Chris Squire on 2012-08-09 17:03:44 +0000