The Queen Dowager pub closed it’s doors for the last time on Saturday after being sold to property developers.
A series of landlords in recent years had failed to bring in the income required by Youngs to make it viable and the most recent ones were only given 9 days notice that the pub was to close despite tripling turnover since taking it over.
Licensees Shaun & Kathryn (pictured below) kept on smiling and wanted to go out with a bang so held a closing party with live music. They are now off to run a pub in Somerset – even further away from their roots in Burnley, Lancashire.
Photo: George Gimber (CAMRA)
The pub sign and fixtures & fittings have already been removed and the new owners are believed be planning to turn the building residence(s), a move which will be opposed by The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) who regularly oppose the change of use of pubs to residential or other business types.
[Update] a short history/obituary for the pub courtesy of the Richmond & Hounslow branch of CAMRA: A small village beer house has stood in North Lane, Teddington since at least 1747. It was previously called the Two Lawyers or Jolly Lawyers and was subsequently leased by Young & Bainbridge in 1860. It was rebuilt in 1906-7 but, like the Abercorn Arms, remained a beer house until it was granted a full licence in 1950. The pub was refurbished and extended in 2003. The former public bar was opened up to the main bar. The name commemorates Queen Adelaide, the widow of William IV.
I now live in Canada but used to frequent the Dowager.My Mother used to do cleaning there at the outbreak of the war when she was pregnant with my elder brother.He has ,therefore,used the pub in 1940. This pub will be sadly missed
By: Clive Bishop on October 5, 2011
at 6:47 pm
So another traditional local pub bites the dust, very much like the White Hart in Hampton a few years ago. Sadly this has been coming for a while. The brewery seemed intent on making the Dowager as unwelcoming and unattractive as possible by means of a series of poor quality and out of character “renovations” which turned a classic retro interior into something completely vanilla and nondescript. Beer quality also seemed to take a turn for the worse around the same time, so it’s hardly surprising that turnover was poor.
By: John Clarke on October 5, 2011
at 10:36 pm
The PubCos see their estate as Buildings that can be sold at the best price and have no interest in running a pub unless it generates more income than a sale. Some developer will make a fortune on this, whilst the people of Teddington lose an amenity. This needs to be fought when any planning consent is sought.
By: Phil on October 6, 2011
at 1:12 am
An application has been received by the Council to demolish the building and put up a terrace of houses in a characterless worst-of-the-old-worst-of-the-new ‘blending in’ style. See:
http://idoxwam.richmond.gov.uk/WAM/showCaseFile.do?&appNumber=11/4041/FUL
By: Hudson on January 1, 2012
at 8:58 pm
My granddad celebrated his 90th birthday at the pub .He had been a regular since moving down South during the depression in the1930s! Youngs sent the dray and horses to mark the occasion .I have numerous photos of family times spent at the pub………..
By: Angela Whittingham on January 16, 2012
at 6:44 pm
Thanks for the memories Angela – it’s fair to say that the pub has seen better days and locals seem to be torn between happy that the run-down building could be replaced and those who knew its better days.
Fantastic that Youngs help celebrate the occasion! The only time I can think there was a dray and horses in Teddington in recent years was after the recent Abercorn Arms had a refurbishment.
By: tteditor on January 17, 2012
at 12:25 am
Sad news. I used to drink there at lunchtime in the 70′s with friends I worked with at NPL. We drank there because of its character and the beer, not because it was the nearest – even then we thought it was a more human pub than others in the area. Another great pub bites the dust.
By: Ken Collins on July 20, 2012
at 8:16 am
There is a planning committee meeting at the Council Offices, York House, Twickenham on Thursday 29th November at 7pm to disucss the demolition of the Queen Dowager and the erection of four four bedroom houses on the site. This will have an enormous impact on the local residents with the already limited parking, and over-stretched schools and community services. If you’d like to speak out about this at the meeting, please call 0845 612 2600 before noon on Wednesday 28th to register.
By: Abi on November 25, 2012
at 5:11 pm
Nostalgia is nice, but my objection to the proposed destruction of the QD pub building is that it fits into the existing neighbourhood environment and the new development is too big for the location. Why not convert the pub into flats and preserve some of Teddington’s wonderful history and ambiance.
By: Jayne Chace on December 2, 2012
at 12:47 pm
Hi Jayne, the demolition & rebuild has now been given the go-ahead after a council meeting decided this on Thursday. 2 semi-detached houses will replace the current building (with some pre-requisites about overlooking windows for neighbours).
By: tteditor on December 2, 2012
at 1:01 pm