"SheBu Walkie" Finally Closes its Doors
Iconic pub on Shepherd's Bush Green sold to hotel next door
Shepherd's Bush Walkabout, the pub on Shepherd's Bush Green fondly nicknamed SheBu Walkie by London's Australia, New Zealand and South African communities, finally closed its doors on Sunday October 6, after owners Intertain sold the site to Dorsett Hospitality International for an undisclosed sum.
The Asian based Dorsett Hospitality International is already developing the site next door, the former Shepherd's Bush Pavilion, to create a 242 room hotel with two restaurants and leisure facilities including a gym and conference centre.
In June Davis Coffer Lyons, a property agent specialising in the leisure field was appointed by Intertain to market the pub, with Intertain chief executive John Leslie saying that he expected to have a range of offers following a high level of interest in the site.
Paul Tallentyre, Director at DCL also said in June: " This is an excellent property in a fantastic location.
"As well as bar and pub operators we also expect to receive a great deal of interest from property developers who are looking to take advantage of the sites proximity to Westfield London."
Intertain is currently in the process of refurbishing its 35 outlets, and the spokesman added that proceeds from the sale would fund refurbishments and new acquisitions.
Originally constructed as a cinema in 1910, the venue was converted to a pub/bar and opened its doors to the London Australian community and friends as a Walkabout in the mid-1990s.
The pub was crammed during its final weekend with regular customers enjoying a series of special events, including live rugby screenings and a farewell party.
Dorsett Hospitality International meanwhile has applied to Hammersmith and Fulham Council for approval of amendment its original plans for the 11 storey hotel, which it plans to call the Dorsett Regency.
According to the application, these amendments include: relocating spa and gym from the basement to 7th floor; amendments to plant areas at roof level and inclusion of external ladder; internal alterations including the amendment of ground floor offices to private dining space and the proposed relocation of offices to basement level; addition of high level clerestory windows along the southern elevation of the hotel restaurant at ground floor level; alterations to loading bay design; extension of ground floor grillage for basement ventilation; minor elevational alterations including alterations to front entrance door.
In April this year, work on the hotel was said to be "well underway" and on schedule to be completed in 2014. John Connoly, Head of UK Development for Dorsett Hospitality International, said: " This hotel will be the first that we’re going to be operating in the West, it’s going to be our flagship hotel in the region and will hopefully allow us to build going forward with other ventures in the area.
" The idea behind the build was keep the external facade with a new build behind. This was because the previous use of the building was a theatre and so we had to demolish this to make the space useful. We have however tried to replicate the design as much as possible because of the Grade II Listing."
October 7, 2013
October 7, 2013
