Big plans for Chiswick Pier in 2026

Chiswick Pier in summer; photograph Anna Kunst

RNLI Chiswick station closes in May

The RNLI is leaving Chiswick this summer to take up residence in a purpose-built lifeboat station in Battersea, after operating from Chiswick Pier for 24 years. They will continue to answer calls along our stretch of the river, but they expect to be operational at their new base from Friday 1 May.

READ ALSO: Chiswick RNLI prepare last Christmas before 2025 move to Wandsworth

What will happen to Pier House, their current base at Corney Reach?

“Many people think the RNLI is all there is here”, David Rust told The Chiswick Calendar, “but there’s a lot more that goes on – it’s a community hub and it will continue to be that”.

David manages the Pier House and the pier for the Chiswick Pier Trust. The building is owned by Hounslow Council and rented out to various organisations, including the Thames Explorer Trust and the Sea Cadets, while the pier is home to a small community of boat dwellers and a canoe club, and has moorings available for visiting boats.

Pier House on a grey winter’s day, with the RNLI base on the first floor, facing the river

Plan to open up the ground floor for a cafe with outside seating

David has big plans for Chiswick Pier. He plans to open a cafe to attract more people to use it and spend more time there.

“Our charitable remit is to connect the community with the river. I plan to open a cafe downstairs and use the RNLI space upstairs as office space. We’ll get rid of the steps outside and have French doors opening out to the river front”.

He is keen to stress what he has in mind is not a replacement for the much lamented Pissarro’s. He is not thinking of opening a bistro with plated hot food, but a cafe with food more along the lines of paninis, though he is applying for an all year round alcohol licence.

“We are very mindful that we are in the middle of a residential area and we aren’t planning to open any later than we do now, nor do we have parking”.

The plan is also in its infancy – a gleam in the eye rather than a shovel ready scenario.

The outside steps would go, making room for outside seating

The Trust puts on a number of events throughout the year – a summer party and one on Boat Race day, talks, boat trips, walks along the shore and watercolour painting sessions.

For the past two and a half years there has been a coffee cart, Forge and Orchard, beside the steps up to the RNLI office. Haydn and Aiden, who run it, will run the cafe inside, freeing up a considerable amount of space for outdoor seating in summer.

They have built up a regular clientele, including quite a few dog walkers, and on a bitterly cold day like the one when I took this photo, I imagine they would be delighted to be inside.

Forge & Orchard

The number of scheduled river trips which stop at Chiswick Pier set to double

Bit by bit David is adding community-focused ideas. He brought in a beautiful 12 foot Christmas tree for the first time to the pier this year and has also introduced a quiz night, which proved very popular. Although it is a residential area, the nearest pub is quite a hike, so if residents are looking for communal activities Pier House is their best (and only) bet.

READ ALSO: Public invited to a ‘Christmas tree Gathering’ at Chiswick Pier

Chiswick Pier Trust’s Christmas Tree

The Thames Explorer Trust organise the talks, which so far have been mainly river related. They have invited Friends of the Thames for 24 February and Surfers vs Sewage for 24 March, both on environmental themes, and have a talk lined up for 28 April on Canaletto and the Thames.

All Chiswick Pier’s public events are listed on The Chiswick Calendar’s What’s On pages.

READ ALSO: Next talk at Chiswick Pier – Poetry readings and tales of river adventures, 20 January

David is thinking of expanding the subject area for the talks, so they are not only about life on the river. A former BBC documentary maker, he gave an illustrated talk on the history of the Griffin brewery himself, and is considering one on the story of the Brompton bike, both of which have featured in his films.

The canoe club at Chiswick Pier; photograph Anna Kunst

He would also like to hire out the hall to a wider catchment of people. He has a couple of actors who would like to use it for war-gaming and is toying with the idea of organising film nights.

For all of this they will need volunteers, and he would love to hear from anyone interested in helping out. Contact him on trust@chiswickpier.org.uk

Photograph of the day by Anna Kunst – annakunstphotography.com

Exploring the foreshore; photograph Anna Kunst

They especially want teachers to be aware that the field trips and boat trips Thames Explorer Trust organise are 90% funded. Chiswick Pier Trust made £19,050 available at the beginning of the academic year to subsidise trips for Hounslow schools and also offer to subsidise travel from the west of the borough.

One thing that will bring more people to Chiswick Pier is the expansion of the river boat service. Last year the regular service that runs from Kew Bridge to Westminster started making scheduled stops at Chiswick Pier. The Cockney Sparrow stopped there twice a day. This year a second boat, the Connaught, will too. She makes the trip from Westminster to Hampton Court twice a day.

READ ALSO: Passenger boat service to start at Chiswick Pier

With the opportunity of an ice-cream or a coffee before you board it’s a no-brainer. Why wouldn’t you want to come to Chiswick Pier?

Houseboats at Chiswick Pier; photograph Joanna Raikes

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar