Walkabout Demolished

Walkabout demolished

The old Walkabout pub which, prior to its conversion into an Aussie watering hole, was a historic movie theatre, has been almost completely demolished.

All that is left is a part of the front facade; even the side elevation advertising seats for "1/-6d & 3d" has gone.

It was, of course, a condition of the planning permission granted by LBHF back in April 2017 that the side elevation would be retained. So what happened?

Shepherd's Bush resident Virginia Harriet got in touch with the developers to find out what is going on.  Below is the reply she got:

Walkabout side elevation - now demolished

"Prior to demolition we carried out extensive surveys of the signage with full measurements and casts completed. The surveys were very clear in that the render and its base was brittle which once removed would not stay intact. That said we did attempt to carefully remove the rendering however as expected it did break apart. We will be replacing the render with an exact replica which will be installed once the elevation is erected."

So, good news then - that developers do intend to restore the historic facade, very much a part of the architectural history of Shepherd's Bush.

Dorsett plans for the old Walkabout pub

Cinematograph Theatre, 1910
The original theatre was one of the oldest in the country, first built in 1910.

The demolition and re-development is being led by Dorsett Hospitality International, the group who renovated the old Shepherd's Bush Pavilion and have turned it into a successful hotel.

The proposed building, which includes a new tower built into the old facade, took into account extensive community feedback, and aimed to make the new building fit better into the context of the existing Dorsett facade. 

The images above and below show what the new building will look like.

Viewed from the south side of Shepherd's Bush Green

Viewed from the east side of Shepherd's Bush Green

Viewed from Pennard Rd

The Hammersmith Society, guardians of good architecture in our neighbourhood, had this to say about the new Walkabout plans: "The scheme is being developed along lines which we can support. The overall bulk and internal organisation of the proposal remains much as we had seen previously. The front elevation onto Shepherd’s Bush Green is now much improved with the form of the cinema being returned to how it was in the mid 1920s, based upon new photographic evidence."

Residents in Pennard Road, located behind the new building, are less impressed, as their previously private gardens will now be overlooked.

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