Home > London > W12 > Brackenbury Arms Brackenbury Arms
Picture source: Darkstar
The Brackenbury Arms was situated at 163 Goldhawk Road. This pub opened in 1855 as The Wheatsheaf. It was renamed The Brackenbury Arms in the 2000s, closing in 2009.
I worked as an evening barmaid at this pub when it was called the Wheatsheaf, I think from about 1974 to 1976. The landlord was called George MacDonald, a tough Glaswegian.  They used to have a gay bar in the large back room which I always preferred to work in as the clientele were always polite, friendly and nicely dressed and offered to buy me drinks! Some week nights there'd be a drag artist cabaret and the place was packed out for that, staff were kept non-stop busy, but it was enjoyable. I remember selling Party 7's near closing time when people wanted to carry on drinking at home!
Sue (June 2016)
My great great great grandfather James Hollick Davis built this pub and was the first licensee.
Ann George (September 2019)
Both the interior and exterior of the pub were used for large parts of Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros video for their song Johnny Appleseed (2001) which now gives a very good historical record of what the pub was like in its later years, along with a few bemused regulars at the bar and pool table while Joe and the band were miming to their song! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IbMiqIdeME
Jim Dye (August 2020)
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Contacts
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Name Dates Comments Jeanette Georgiou (MacFarlane) 1976 I was the landlady of this pub during this period. The resident drag artist was Lee Paris. We did a lot for the pensioners, plus Easter bonnet parades, trips to the theatre and also a May queen competition every year. Look forward to any replies as it will bring back many special memories.
Other Photos
Stephen Doe, publican, with actress Hattie Jacques, 1960s	Picture source: Gordon Doe