 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The time now in Ruislip |
||
|
|
|
||
The Orchard
Another pub with an interesting history, though not one I am
fully conversant with - so offers of information gratefully received!
From 1933 to 1971 it was a restaurant run by the Ansells family, and from
1971 it was what it is now, part of the Beefeater chain.
At some time in the 1930's it was rumoured to be a brothel, and at another a
home for a mistress for one of the royal family....or is this the one in
Harefield? What is not in doubt is that it was used for accommodation
during the second world war for Polish airman and a wonderful statue in memory
of this was unveiled in the nineties in the front garden of a fighter plane on
two slender mounts, all in steel. So wonderful was it that somebody pinched it
one night, and it has never been seen since. They are now having an appeal to
collect money to put up there a full sized replica of a Spitfire, presumably too
big to pinch. (Something has now been put in place but I have yet to see
it)
Prior to being a Beefeater, when run by the Ansells, it was the
local restaurant, where ties were obligatory and a three piece band played in
the corner. Ruislip's very own version of the Savoy, with prices to match...well
nearly.
It was in the early 70's that it was "modernised" inside and
made in to more or less what it is today. Inside the spacious interior was made in to a "village", with a
"green", and lots of "houses" around it. Sounds very unusual
and in its day it was, it has since been copied as an idea, but possibly never
bettered. The green had a large table on it, the houses smaller ones, so when
you ate you had your own intimate room, (and has it been there before?). It did
make the whole place a little claustrophobic and so was opened out somewhat a
little later, but essentially it is still like this.
It attracts a wide age range and unlike most of this type of
pub/restaurant arrangement still manages to be a real pub and not just a
restaurant.
It is a place well worth a visit, on a revisit if you have
not been for a while. The small garden at the front is well kept, but not secure
for children to play in.
A memorial dedicated to the Polish Airman that served at RAF
Northolt was erected outside the pub in 2006, to see pictures of it go to the
Continues below picture....
Where it is, by road It is on Ickenham Road, which leaves Ruislip High Street at the
crossroads in the centre, towards Ickenham. The road turns a left hand bend at
its junction with Church Avenue and the entrance to the car park is just after
it on the right.. Alternatively, from the traffic lights in Ruislip, head up
Kingsend towards Ickenham and at the roundabout take the fourth exit (almost a
u-turn). You pass alongside a hedge in front of the pub and the car park is on
your left just after it and before Church Avenue. Info Telephone Number - 01895 633481 Web links that may interest you None Real ale Good selection Access via public transport Reasonable From the tube
station walk to the traffic lights and then head up Kingsend along side Quilters.
It is at the top of the hill by the roundabout. Total walk from the tube station
about 15 minutes away and the U1 bus stops very nearby, which runs from Ruislip
Station to Uxbridge and beyond - timetable link to follow(?). It is about the
same distance from West Ruislip station as Ruislip Station. Pub Crawl Potential OK. The White Bear is on the other side of the roundabout, so
you could spend an evening flitting between to two. In Ruislip High Street there
are four pubs, but you face a 15 minute walk to the nearest. Ruislip Online review Visited on the evening of 31/8/02 for a drink. The bar side was
not busy, indeed it was almost quiet, especially as this was Saturday night. All
the little "houses" built in the bar side have now gone. With its
wooden floors and table and benches it is quiet a well thought out and welcoming
place. Real ale was on offer and the piped music was not the latest stuff and
not loud, and all the more welcoming for that. The clientele in the bar was
mainly younger and there was a little "Johnnie Walker wisdom" about,
but the staff were all aware of what was going on and it never got more than
entertaining. However, the place is just beginning to look a tired....but I
would go again. Visitors views (click to
submit)
Karl
About a week ago I read in the pub" section about the old Orchard
Hotel before it was taken over by the Beefeater chain. This person was asking
for other people who had memories of the Orchard. My memory goes back to
about1937 when my mother sent me to a childrens' Christmas Party at the
Orchard. This was in the days when the hotel was owned by Ansel's. The front
of the hotel had a lovely orchard which had lighted trees all year round. The
Christmas parties were well attended. Upstairs we would leave our coats and
then go down to one of the main rooms where we would play organized games,
there would an entertainer followed by the usual childrens' tea in those days.
I also used to go to dinner parties there when I got older and my 21st
Birthday Party was held there which was a dinner dance. A lot of fun. After I
left England I did not go back to the Orchard Hotel until about l0 years ago
after the Beefeater takeover. I was very disappointed. Does anybody else have
any memories? Sheila Bartlett Brian Hester I visited The Orchard regularly during the 50s and 60s, mostly with my
parents, who were very friendly with the proprietors Leslie Ansell and Mr
John. Your comment about The Orchard being "Ruislip's own Savoy" is spot-on
as they had both learned their trade at the Savoy.
Anything special? The opening comments say it all. Externally a very handsome
building (though I am not sure about the "conservatories" added on the
front) it is really well worth a visit. Also check out the
old postcards section where there are many
of this pub
There are some pictures of the orchard in the postcards section 
The Orchard "Bungalow", as it was called originally, was founded by
Alice Elizabeth Raymont (nee Cross) with the assistance (financially) of one
of her brothers. She sold it sometime in the early 1920's.
Polish War Memorial page
We were there for dinner in early May 2004 while attending the Bourne School
reunion. It seems to have had a recent "makeover". Food
and service was very good. Price was reasonable too. The monument
to the Polish airmen on the lawn is lovely.
Like Sheila Bartlett. I have happy memories of The Orchard in former times.
In its present form I thought it very presentable even though much of the
old decor has gone. The meals and prices were very competitive and
attractively served. This experience was several years ago when I made a
quick trip out from London to meet an old friend. I arrived and left by way
of West Ruislip station, which is conveniently located. The place remains an
asset on the Ruislip scene.
In the style of the day, the menu was huge and varied, maybe twenty or
thirty starters, and the same number of main courses. The kitchen brigade
was ten or twelve people - imagine that now! I spent a week in the kitchen
during my own training in hotel management.
As part of my course I had to write a report on The Orchard. I remarked that
the only cloud on the horizon was their ageing clientele. And that proved to
be the case, excellent food and service, but an outdated concept.
Wonderful memories, though, of a warm welcome and a very professional
operation.
John Leak
Below are some old and very rare pictures from the Orchard - click to
enlarge
