Breakspear Arms

Breakspear Arms,
Breakspear Road South, Harefield, Uxbridge UB9 6LT
Telephone 01895 632239

This pub changed hands in February 2012
and all information cannot be relied on to be correct

A bit of background.....

First and foremost although regarded as a pub in Ruislip it actually has a UB postcode and therefore is technically in Harefield, nevertheless it is included here as it is but a cock-stride from Ruislip and a two mile hike from Harefield village.

The pub is situated in a very complicated place, but easy to locate, read on! It is on the corner of Breakspear Road on the cusp between Breakspear Road North and Breakspear Road South, so it is no surprise that this pub is called "The Breakspear something or other", yet over the years it has had an identity crisis.

The original Breakspear Arms was a "conventional" pub standing at the same spot, only nearer to the road (see below).

This was knocked down some years ago (around 1974) and this modern building built to replace it.

Initially this new pub did well, but a change in management and it began to decline. Since its opening heydays it has had trodden a somewhat interesting path.

At one point the interior was made to look a bit like a night club, indeed it even had a dance floor, but the success of that was short lived, mainly because it was refused a late licence. It was at this time that it suffered it's biggest identity crisis. But unlike other pubs locally that have changed their name only to change them back again (see The George) this pub kept its name but changed its names' roots!

The whole "Breakspear" thing in this area (well mainly Harefield) surrounds Nicholas Breakspear who, in 1154 found himself elected as Pope (the only Englishman ever to be so elected). As Pope he took the name Adrian IV. His short pontificate (he died on September 1st 1159, aged 59) is the reason for the roads named after him locally as he was thought to have been born in Harefield. (If you are reading this and live in Abbots Langley then I really know he was born there, at Bedmond Farm to be precise, as that is what you told me!!!).

So the Breakspear Arms was was named after England's only Pope, but not while it was a "nightclub", at this time the sign that hung outside showed a spear broken in half, yet it retained its name when really it should have been the Break Spear Arms.

Having been changed back from a night club in to a pub again it has passed through a few breweries and once formed part of the Hungry Horse chain. Most recently (June 2004) it has changed in to a tenancy under "private" ownership, under the stewardship of Darren and June. However, in February 2012 they left and the rumours are it is to be refurbished and is to become a carvery.

On the outskirts of Ruislip. From the centre of Ruislip follow signs to Harefield/Rickmansworth (or Breakspear Crematorium). These will take you on to Bury Street. Leaving Ruislip High Street the road climbs a small hill then descends in to a dip, there are houses on both sides and you will pass The Plough on your right. In the dip to your left is a petrol station (not to be confused with what was a petrol station on your right) and just before it a mini roundabout with a left turn. This is Breakspear Road, turn left here. Pass the crematorium on your right and follow this road to the end, passing The Woodman. The pub is on the right at the junction, turn right and right again to access the car park.

The Breakspear Arms is very close to Breakspear Crematorium and therefore an ideal venue for a gathering after a service there. To get to the pub from the Crematorium exit to the right and proceed to the end of this road. The pub may be seen at the end on the right, where the car park may be accessed by turning right at this T junction and right again.

If you are walking to the pub from the Crematorium it will take about 10 minutes, walk up on the left hand side of the road where there is a pavement.

The pub put on a special menu for such gatherings, where they should be called in advance to make arrangements. The menu is as follows: -

Cocktail Sausages
Sausage Rolls
Quiche
Roast Potatoes
Chicken Wings
Selection of Sandwiches
Selection of Cake

Not great. H13 from Ruislip tube to the stop just before Ruislip Lido on Bury Street and then walk up Breakspear Road from there following the signs for the crematorium, continue past it and past The Woodman, and keep going to the end of the road, total walk about 3/4 mile. Or take the 331 and alight from the stop at the end of Ladygate Lane more or less where it meets Breakspear Road, turn left at the latter (the bus goes right). This second option brings you nearer to the pub. There is now a continuous pavement on this road.

Not bad, but a bit out on a limb. Best bet is to start here, walk back towards Ruislip down Breakspear Road to The Woodman, (where the recent addition of a pavement along this stretch is most welcome) back to Bury Street and left up to the Six Bells, then down Reservoir Road (almost opposite the Six Bells) to the Waters Edge and if time allows return from the Waters Edge to Bury Street and turn left up to The Plough. Total walk between pubs a little over one mile and you finish this crawl very close to where the H13 dropped you off! Alternatively it stops right outside the Waters Edge.

My first local I started drinking in this pub when I was only 17, but looked 12. It used to be a great place, a real local, notwithstanding the trendy appeal of the building. Up until May 2004 part of the Hungry Horse chain and offering meals of gargantuan proportions the interior has been changed almost beyond recognition. As a "restaurant" it has been sectioned off and off into more intimate areas, which is fine as a restaurant, but if the architect could see it... Now (June 2004) a tenancy owned by Darren and June a genial young Irish couple, formerly managers of The Woodman down the road, released by Hungry Horse as, presumably, the nosebag was full.

The restaurant side remains much as it was when it was more a restaurant than a pub (if that makes sense!), there is a pool table, more than one TV for sporting events (including a large(ish) screen) and a selection of beers including the usual offering from Greene King. There is a children's area though I would suspect that children are also permitted in the bar area, as well as a playground outside with a swings etc.

The new owners promise much for the pub, whilst food will still be on the menu, (indeed, the menu will be little changed from that offered by the Hungry Horse chain), they intend to try to bring back some of the former glory to the bar side of the pub, and get it back to the local it once was. Plans include live bands and perhaps "race" meetings. There is certainly a huge potential for this pub given the size of the building alone. The place looks much cleaner than it did and thankfully all the signs that littered the place and made it feel like a Blackpool sea front cafe have gone. When I called in on a sunny Saturday afternoon the place was very quiet, so if it is a quiet pint you want go there now, but maybe this is all set to change......

The pub offers refreshments to parties who seek somewhere to gather after a service at the crematorium

At present the pub does not accept credit cards, so cash or cheque (with card) are the only options for settling your bill. If you overlook this they will hold your family hostage while you nip out to the ATM, but an ATM in the bar area is planned.

I am advised that bikers are welcome, indeed two of them parked their bikes against the bar recently and were thus featured in MCN, see if you can spot the photograph of the event in the bar.....

We booked the Breakspear Arms to hold a buffet lunch following a service at the crematorium along the road. We have only positive things to say about the staff and the food. Staff were helpful and polite, and helped us set up our own music and had facilities to show a slide show. The food was a good variety for all our guests, and they quickly rustled up extra food when we ran out (only because we had more guests than we anticipated)! The pub was clean and friendly and we would happily recommend it to other folk planning similar functions. Thanks to the Breakspear Arms from Phyl, Kate and Suzy.

Well the building itself is unusual, for one thing inside is a mass of, mainly, right angles and it has various split levels, but under one very high ceiling inside (well sort of) and interesting lighting effects with windows in unexpected places. When it was new it was quite something. "Improvements" over the years have rather spoilt the effect the architect was striving to achieve and now the spacious light and airy feel that was present has been lost, with a lowered ceiling and doors sectioning off areas. When little cubby holes are what were sought this building did just that, but in a really clever way. However, the design had a serious flaw, no garden. A small one has now been tacked in at the front behind a "distinctive" green fence (see picture) but with the available space around this pub this was a serious flaw in the design, and it could have been done so easily when it was built, and put away from the road which would have been much better. There is a fenced children's play area by the car park.

See Our Food Menu	See our buffet menu (ideal for a gathering after a service at the local crematorium. Booking essential)