Strand on the Green pubs’ licences for outside seating renewed

The Bull’s Head

Tables and chairs yes, but no shelves on the railings and no chairs on the other side of the towpath

The three riverside pubs at Strand on the Green have all been granted licences by Hounslow Council for outside seating.

For decades local people and visitors have enjoyed eating and drinking by the river on a summer’s day, but there was an outcry a few weeks ago when two of the pubs were told they had to bring their tables and chairs in or face daily fines.

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When the Bull’s Head applied to renew its licence for tables and chairs beside the river, Green party councillor Rick Rowe asked Council officers to review all the pubs’ licences and they found neither The City Barge nor the Bell & Crown had one.

The City Barge

Now they do have the Council’s permission for tables and chairs directly outside, but none of the three pubs have permission to put chairs on the other side of the towpath, or to put beer shelves on the railings.

The Bull’s Head and The City Barge immediately took their shelves down. While the Bull’s Head has applied for a separate licence to put beer shelves on the railings, The City Barge has not bothered, having been told they would not get a licence for that.

The Bell & Crown has a low wall along the river’s edge rather than railings, and has been told to remove the colourful chairs so beloved of photographers. They have applied for a separate licence for them, and are storing them in the alleyway beside the pub meanwhile.

The Bell & Crown’s distinctive chairs; photograph Ljubima Woods

Tables with benches allowed, but not the chairs on the other side of the towpath