angels & urchins - the indispensable parents' magazine - area profiles

BRACKENBURY VILLAGE ...

corner of brackenbury road

Estate agents are always keen to rebrand an area a "village" - it makes it sound as though it has a heart - a sure selling point, even if it doesn't live up to its reputation. Although Brackenbury Village is entirely the creation of estate agents, for once it is an appropriate label. First, there is a fairly precise area that most would recognise as Brackenbury Village. Bordered by Ravenscourt Park to the west, Hammersmith Grove to the east, the Goldhawk Road to the north and Glenthorne Road to the south, it is a
network of pretty artesian cottages and larger family houses. Second, it has a sense of community that is rare in most parts of London.

A hundred and fifty years ago, with the exception of Wingate Road and part of Hammersmith Grove, the area was made up of market gardens and brickfields (to supply the burgeoning building trade). However, by 1890 what is recognisably Brackenbury village had been built. By the end of the war the area was very down at heel. Cardross Street, one of the prettiest of the picture postcard streets narrowly avoided demolition and replacement by council housing in the 50's, such was the squalor of the slums. The area was regenerated in the 60's and 70's, and in the 80's the yuppies began to rub shoulders with the protected tenants - over the last five years, the increase in the number of families has been marked and once again the houses are filling up with children.

The cluster of shops at the junction of Brackenbury Road and Aldensley Road has a community feel. The butcher, hardware store and grocer have been around for as long as most residents can remember; there is a post office, early closing on Thursdays, a Residents' Association, even a Christmas fete showcasing the talents of local artists while raising money for charity. What is more, there are great facilities for children - an abundance of playgroups, Ravenscourt Park on the doorstep and excellent schools in both the state and primary sector.

Shopping
Restaurants, bars & pubs
Health & beauty
Kids
Day nurseries
Nurseries & schools
Property
Estate agents

Shopping

inside the deli It is the sort of place where the shop keeper and the person next in the queue probably knows your name and the fact that you had a bit of a cold last week.

Brackenbury Road
Sisi
Old fashioned hardware store. If it’s not there, they are happy to order things in but the chances are it will be somewhere

Hepsibah
Truly wonderful hats, made to order, to buy or for hire

Aldensley Road
Buchanans
Organic deli and coffee shop. Relative newcomer. Owned and run by local resident and his daughter. Range of organic baby foods. You can read the papers provided while sipping very good coffee

Stenton - family butcher
An institution. Go in for some home made chipolatas and you will be there for 20 minutes. All meat traced, generally to small family run farms. Largely organic.

Iffley Road
Tool Chest
DIY - shovels to sanders. Friendly staff

Brackenbury Village Dry cleaners

Hammersmith Grove
Jo Plant
Chic flowers, beautiful bouquets

Sightline
This is serious dressing up. Stocks over 15,000 outfits. If they don’t have it, they will make it. Prices from £20 to £200

Maquis Delicatessen
Next to Maquis restaurant. Very good cheese, daily specials. Breakfast. Flatbread from restaurant and meat store
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Restaurants, bars & pubs

anglesea arms pub

The Brackenbury
129-131 Brackenbury Road
tel: 020 8748 0107
Long established, modern British cooking. Now owned by Roly Leigh (Kensington/Launceston Place). Great omelettes

Maquis
111 Hammersmith Grove
tel: 020 8846 3850
Newly opened. Mr Sam Clark (Moro) in the kitchen. An inventive twist on French provincial cooking. Child-friendly, charming staff - gets better and better. read our review

The Grove
83 Hammersmith Grove
tel: 020 8748 2966
Very popular, glorified wine bar: scrubbed wooden floors, tables outside.

The Anglesea Arms
35 Wingate Road
tel: 020 8749 1291
Consistently recommended as serving some of the best pub food in London. Blackboard menu, good wine by the glass. Open fire. Can be very slow

The Stonemasons Arms
54 Cambridge Grove
tel: 020 8748 1397
Laid back set up in unpromising location - good hearty food - friendly staff

The Thatched House
115 Dalling Road
tel: 020 8748 6174
Open fire; big tables, Sunday papers - food can be a bit hit and miss; child friendly

The Andover Arms
57 Aldensley Road
tel: 020 8741 9744
Proper pub owned by Fullers. Charming landlord/lady. One side is given over to Thai food in the evenings; quiz nights on Sundays
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Health and Beauty
Holmes Place
Galena House
Galena Road
tel: 020 8741 8536

Buty
85 Hammersmith Grove
tel: 020 8748 1247

Pilates West
53 Aldensley Road
tel: 020 8748 3323

Brackenbury Natural Health Clinic
30 Brackenbury Road
tel: 020 8741 9264

Craven Clinic
54 Cambridge Grove
tel: 020 8563 8133

Doctors Surgery:
Richford Gate Medical Practice
Richford Street,
tel: 020 8846 7555
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Kids

ravenscourt park
Ravenscourt Park
One of the best parks in London is on your doorstep. Feed the ducks, picnic in the dog free zone, stop for a drink in the cafe. For the more energetically minded arrange some tennis or, more sedately, take in a bit of bowls - playing or watching! As the weather gets warmer, enjoy the enormous sandpit and the lido

Ceramics Café
Just at the bottom of Dalling Road, on King Street is the Ceramics Café. Children as young as two will love making bowls, plates, mugs. Great presents.

Playgroups
Salvation Army
23 Dalling Road
tel: 020 8748 9332
Playgroup on Mon, Wed & Fri am from 10-12 Extremely popular - get there early. £1

Grove Neighbourhood Centre
tel: 020 8741 3321
Toddler groups (0-5) Mon, Tues, Thurs 10-12, Wed 12.45-2.45. £1.75. Outside yard. The room is also available to hire for kids' parties

One O’clock Club
Ravenscourt Park Playhut
1–3pm, free
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Day Nurseries
Ladybird
277 and 287 Goldhawk Road
tel: 020 8741 3399
One nursery 6 months to 2 years (18 children), one 2-5 yrs (26 children). Prices start at £35 per day

Bringing Up Baby
Richford Gate
tel: 020 7738 0160
58 place nursery takes children from 3 months to 5 yrs. 23 children under 2, 35 children over 2. Payable daily or by the term. From £44 per day

Happy Times
Stamford Hospital
Ravenscourt Park
3 months-2 yrs, 2-3 yrs and 3-5 yrs. Wonderful garden. From £200pw. Sibling discount
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Nurseries & Schools
Nurseries
Howard House
58 Ravenscourt Road
tel: 020 8741 5147
Principal Mrs J Howard

Jordans
Holy Innocents Church
Paddenswick Road
tel: 020 8741 3230
Principal Mrs Sue Jordan

Primary Schools
State Sector:
John Betts
Paddenswick Rd
tel: 020 8748 2465

Brackenbury
Dalling Rd
tel: 020 8743 3074

Flora Gardens
Dalling Rd
tel: 020 8748 2566

Private:
Ravenscourt Park Prep
16 Ravenscourt Ave
tel: 020 8846 9143
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Buying property
What you can expect to pay for a ...
Two-bedroom flat: £225–£300,000
Three-bedroom house: £450–£550,000
Five-bedroom house: £700–£900,000
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Estate Agents
Roystons, tel: 020 8563 7100
Barnard Marcus, tel: 020 8748 4256
Bushells, tel: 020 8563 0123
Kinleigh, tel: 020 8563 9633
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First published in angels and urchins, Spring 2002