Defector's Weld Set for Major Upgrade in 2023
Brewery to make ‘large investment' in improving popular Uxbridge Road pub
The Defector's Weld
December 5, 2022
The Defector's Weld, one of Shepherd's Bush's most popular pubs, is set for a major upgrade in 2023.
Planning applications to make improvements to the Uxbridge Road pub, including the expansion of its outdoor space, have been submitted to Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
Architect Samson Associates, acting for Young and Co's Brewery, has drawn up plans to extend the currently rather dismal courtyard, and alter the outbuilding at the back of the pub.
The main proposal in full is:
Partial demolition of the outbuilding to facilitate the expansion of the existing customer courtyard area and erection of new first floor extension at the rear of the property together with new sky lanterns above the roof of the existing ground floor extension; installation of new fencing panels at first floor level to the rear elevation; installation of bi-folding doors at ground floor level to the rear elevation; installation of new windows to replace the existing door and window, installation of new doors with window above to replace the existing doors to western elevation at ground floor level; associated external alterations.
The application says,“There are currently a number of un and under-used spaces on site and a customer demand for more external drinking and dining space. The proposal will provide this additional space by way of part-demolishing outbuildings on site and extending an existing courtyard space. the newly created space will be part covered to reduce visual and noise impact on the neighbouring properties.
“ The applicant is making a large investment in development of the property to provide extended and improved external customer space. There is currently a small existing customer courtyard/smoking area to the rear of the pub at ground floor level. Due to the Covid pandemic and customer demand for high quality external seating areas, it is proposed to extend the existing customer courtyard into the footprint of the outbuilding at ground floor level.
“ It is proposed to demolish the southern facade of the existing outbuilding entirely at ground floor and partially at first floor, this will create a covered external space - an extension of the existing customer courtyard. Part of the extended courtyard will be within an undercroft area beneath the new customer toilets at first floor and the other part will sit beneath a new roof and rooflight.”
An aerial view of the site covered by the application at the rear of the pub
A description of the new courtyard says that the majority is to be raised to the floor level of the pub, and finished with reclaimed granite paving setts, with high level planters containing trailing plants and mirror panels beneath outbuilding roof.
The plans will also improve the pub's accessibility, with a new fully accessible toilet available within the redesigned outbuilding.
Two further applications have been submitted, to add new signs with the name of the pub at roof level on both the southern and western elevations, plus new brass plaque signs and menu boxes, and new floodlights and brass lanterns.
The roof level of the building to be upgraded
The third application also seeks planning permission for new green tiling to the ground floor elevations on Uxbridge Road and Wood Lane, saying: “ The existing decorated plywood columns are to be replaced with glazed brick slip Victorian Green tiles. Photographs from the 1930s show that the pub was previously tiled at ground floor and the re-introduction of this traditional pub feature will enhance the visual appearance of the pub, street scene and conservation area as a whole.”
A previous application submitted last year, envisaging open air customer terraces and semi-internal customer areas within the outbuilding was approved by the council, but restrictions on the terrace's opening hours and requirement for the other areas to be fully internal meant that the scheme was considered unviable by the brewery.
Now, the application says, these “significantly revised and reduced” proposals “have been designed to ensure the pub site continues to preserve and enhance the character and appearance, and identified significance, of the terrace and this part of the Shepherd's Bush Conservation Area.”
A spokesman for Young & Co's Brewery said: “ We recently submitted a revised planning application to extend our existing outside courtyard area. This will allow us to provide improved outdoor space for our customers.
“The Defector's Weld is a valued part of the Shepherd's Bush community and we're looking forward to making these improvements should planning consent be granted.”
The current courtyard area of the Defector's Weld
These applications, now being considered by council planners, can be found on H&F Council's website by searching either for Defector's Weld or its address, 170 Uxbridge Road. All are currently open for comments.
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