The Middlesex Arms

		Around 1500 visits a day
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The time now in Ruislip

30's built pub in Long Drive, South Ruislip. Actually if asked most locals might say that this pub is in Station Approach. Confusingly the name of the road changes from this to Long Drive at the railway bridge close to the pub and not at the traffic lights a few yards the other way.

Formerly the Deane Arms (sp?) this pub was an establishment frequented by Ruislip's less desirables. In order to force them to drink somewhere else some bright spark decided that if the name of the pub were to change then they would move on to pastures new.

OK, so not only was the name changed but the image of the pub also, from a "local boozer" to what it is now, a family pub. At the back there is a large, well run, "play area" with nets, slides, ball pond etc and you can book a children's private party for the rear bar with food etc. Apart from the very large ball-pond the pub is otherwise unremarkable.

However, only as recently as August 2002 a local "bent" policeman was set up in this pub to supply undercover police with a cocaine in the car park opposite, so whilst the change of image may have helped its success was less than 100%! Maybe it should be the Middlesex (long) arms.

The nearest landmarks are Sainsburys in South Ruislip or South Ruislip Tube station. If you can find the tube station this pub is just the other side of the (low) railway bridge. Actually in Long Drive (see above) it will be considered by many to be in Station Approach. "Station Approach" runs between West End Road and, more or less, the traffic lights at Victoria Road, South Ruislip (by Sainsburys), where this pub is at the Victoria Road end. There is a small car park to the rear, pay and display opposite and some street parking outside the shops.

Good. South Ruislip tube is 100 yards away and the 114 bus runs from Victoria Road which may be found by turning left out of the pub, and running left to right at the traffic lights. Mind out for the pigeon poo under the bridge on your way to the station..

Not good. You could get the tube one stop to Ruislip Gardens and go to The Bell or walk to Victoria Road (see above), turn left and walk for 20 or so minutes to the Black Bull.

I popped in for an hour ahead of a trip up to London on the (very nearby) tube. The pint of Fullers London Pride I had was very acceptable and the filling meal was also good value, pub-grub is the fare, and it is fair to be sure! The large children's ball pond type area in the back has now gone. The pub tends to attract an honest set, they were certainly honest enough in voicing their opinions at the large screens showing the football!

I have also popped in to answer the call of nature (only) a couple of times (following long train trips out of London - why don't stations have loos any more??) and they did not seem to mind - hence why I went back and spent more than a penny.....

I fondly remember the Deane Arms as it was back in the mid 60s. I was about 13 or 14 at the time, A family by the name of Matthews used to run the pub, I used to hang around with the son Raymond and visited the pub most days with Ray after school. We used to get up to all sorts of things in the back shed we also used to watch TV a few nights a week. I used to work there after school every afternoon stacking the shelves with beer.

The Pub was a rough place but that didn't bother us as we were too young to go into the bar when the Pub was open anyway. We just used to look at the Motor bikes lined up in the car park and dreamed that one day we would have one.

I used to play guitar and when I was about 17, the band I used to play with used to play at weddings in the back function room. We had some good times back then and I've always wondered what happened to Ray and his family.

Changed its name and there is a hotel being put up next door. Did have a bad reputation, it is MUCH better than it was, indeed it hardly gets a mention these days in the local papers.....

One of the finest singers England ever had, who tragically died at aged 31 after a fall, had a residency there. This singer, who sang on Led Zepplin IV with Robert Plant, found fame in many types of music, but mainly folk, she WAS "The Voice of an Angel" Miss Sandy Denny

(From a site visitor) In the 1960's the pub was visited one evening by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton who were in the area for Richard's niece's wedding. Much to the surprise of all the locals. (And it is possible that on the same evening they also visited The Black Bull ROL)