A Look Back at What Happened in Chiswick in 2024

An eventful year packed full of interesting stories ends

A montage of key events in Chiswick during 2024

December 30, 2024

There has been no standout incident in Chiswick during 2024 for which the year is likely to be remembered but it has certainly not been a dull 12 months.

The year has been marked by some outstanding achievements by residents of the area as well as spectacular falls from grace, but also political change, a huge range of comings and goings for local shops and restaurants, some distressing and bizarre crimes, controversy over parking and transport issues and a regular feast of A-list celebrities spotted in the W4 post code area.

The most read story on the site was the bus crash on Sutton Court Road this August but the other popular items reflect a diverse range of types of news.

The bus crash on Sutton Court Road in August

Some things change in Chiswick, some things stay the same, but it is never boring.

January

2024 got off to a busy start with the Street Food market attracting a huge amount of support (and a significant amount of opposition) for its application for a licence to expand its operations on the High Road. At the same time the developer of the police station made progress with its plan to develop flats for retired people with council planners giving it the thumbs up.

A new canvas was placed on the W4th Plinth at the Turnham Green Terrace Piazza with Giovanna Iorio’s “Sonic Serenity: Chiswick Bridge & the Infinite” replacing Cristina Schek’s “The Ceiling in the Sky”.

Giovanna Iorio’s “Sonic Serenity: Chiswick Bridge & the Infinite”

There was bad news for the Hot House Café as it lost its licence due to being caught employing people not entitled to work in this country.

February

The month saw the Birchgrove planning application for the police station approved by councillors. A spate of closures of local restaurants including Crepe Affaire, Mitsuryu and the pizza and wine bar launched by The Italians prompted concerns for the state of the sector in the W4 area but Sam Harrison revealed plans for a new brunch-based concept on Turnham Green Terrace showing the picture wasn’t all bleak.

Plans were being made for a 'mystery restaurant'

March

The first report on this site about former St. Mary’s RC school girl Georgia Bell appeared as we previewed her bid to become world indoor 1500m champion (more on her later).

An historic return to Chiswick was announced with wallpaper designer Sanderson’s confirming plans to move back to Voysey House but there was also a departure with The Crown shutting suddenly on the High Road.

There was shock over the aftermath of a break in by children at Gunnersbury Park which led to the death of many animals and Cllr Joanna Biddolph had the Conservative party whip removed from her on Hounslow Council after disagreements with colleagues. There was also bad news for local property developer Kam Baebee who was declared bankrupt after failing to sell his house in Stamford Brook.

Residents of North Chiswick were dismayed at approval being given for an 18-storey tower block near their homes and Hounslow Council announced plans to convert parking bays for the exclusive use of EVs while charging.

The University Boat Race saw protests taking place on Chiswick Bridge and a 15-year-old boy was stabbed on Edensor Road.

Two arrested on Chiswick Bridge at the University Boat Race

April

There was a kind of rough justice when a man accused of helping dismember the body of former Chiswick School pupil, Blaise Algar, was shot dead. It was announced that performances at the Watermans Arts Centre were to end but at the time it was envisaged that this might just be temporary.

We reported on the local property market after figures were published which one agent described as ‘the worst ever’ with sales volumes failing to recover after the pandemic. However, there was better news from the restaurant sector with the announcement of a new venture on the former premises of The Crown.

Strand on the Green said farewell to Mrs Joshi and plans were revealed for 400 co-living apartments in Chiswick Tower above Gunnersbury station.

Mrs Joshi with her son outside the Post Office. Picture: Milan Joshi

May

Chiswick voted in the Mayoral elections with Gareth Roberts taking the local South West constituency for the Liberal Democrats.

Local were amazed to get a clear view of the Northern Lights from across W4 due to unusual weather conditions and Ant McPartlin’s former wife, Lisa Armstrong, put her fire damaged house on the market.

It was revealed that ambitious plans to rebuild the Chiswick Boathouse near Dukes Meadows had been ditched and regulars at the Queen’s Head were up in arms after the freeholder ousted the existing management.

June

The police released dramatic footage of a foiled break in at a High Road optician and it was revealed that a group of footballers were using a Chiswick storage unit as part of a £200million cocaine operation.
 

Julia Roberts walking by the riverside in Chiswick. Picture: Facebook

A licence application was made for a ‘mystery’ restaurant on the former site of Michelin-starred Hedone while plans were revealed for one of the first ever Pasta Evangelists openings. At the same time Greek restaurant, Kalamari announced it was to close after three decades on the High Road.

Squatters took over the Watermans building and Georgia Bell’s progress continued with a silver in the European Championships.

July

Chiswick went to the polls and Andy Slaughter became MP for the new Chiswick and Hammersmith constituency with Rupa Huq holding Ealing Central and Acton.

Transport for London announced its plans to close Church Street and add an extra lane to the A4 near Hogarth Roundabout.

TfL has proposed closing off Church Street by Hogarth Roundabout

The surprising development of a Country and Western Bar opening in Barley Mow Passage was revealed and Julia Roberts was spotted on a film set near Dukes Meadows.

A suspect in a murder investigation in which bodies had been discovered in suitcases was pictured in the Crown and Anchor and Network Rail released footage of a crash involving cyclists at the Grove Park Level crossing.

Georgia Bell out ran Laura Muir to secure the national title and a place at the Olympics and there was a row following a Rocks Lane Padel Tournament after a transgender woman defeated two 14-year-old girls in a doubles match.

Georgia Bell realises what has just happened. Picture: BBC

Sega announced it was moving its European headquarters to Chiswick Business Park and ‘modern day coaching inn’ The Hound opened at the former premises of The Crown.

August

Georgia Bell capped an astonishing year by taking a stunning bronze at the Paris Olympics.

An E3 bus left the road and ploughed into a tree on Sutton Court Road, fortunately nobody was seriously injured.

Kate Beckinsale had a shopping day on the High Road with her mum including a visit to Nando’s but the outing was marred when they got a parking ticket.

Kate Beckinsale returns to Chiswick

One of the killers of Damilola Taylor avoided jail despite being involved in a high-speed chase which ended with him jumping over a river wall onto the Chiswick foreshore.

A report was accidentally released by Hounslow Council which revealed that it intended to decommission the ‘not fit for purpose’ Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre.

September

Senior Hounslow councillor Katherine Dunne reported that she had been sexually harassed with the unnamed alleged offenders including fellow councillors.

A Persian restaurant on the High Road was gutted by a major fire and the month saw the announcement of the closure of Chiswick Pets and Woolsey Cycles. At the same time, a Turkish pastry café announced its intention to open and Greggs opened a larger branch.

The Persian restaurant on the High Road was badly damaged in the fire

Sally Gatie's 'Sky', a picture of an upside down woman, was unveiled as new artwork on Turnham Green Terrace

October

The month saw more openings and closures with a celebrity chef backed restaurant announcing plans for Hartington Road and a Japanese souffle pancake specialist revealing a new branch on the High Road. Little Dobbie’s short residence in the area ended as part of a wider consolidation by the company. The Riverside Studios was bought out of administration by a billionaire.

Footage was revealed of fugitive Iranian spy Danel Khalife buying a newspaper in a Grove Park store and Sussex police issued an appeal to find a man from Oxford Road who failed to turn up for his trial.

Image released of Daniel Khalife buying newspaper in Chiswick

Chiswick Business Park announced that it would not be holding a fireworks display this year or in the future.

November

The council’s plans to introduce Sunday parking restrictions to some residential streets near the High Road were revealed which many locals believe will be the first step to ending free parking on that day.

Hammersmith & Fulham Council gave Chiswick Lane as the diversion route following its new access restriction on Rivercourt Road.

The identity of the ‘mystery’ High Road restaurant was finally revealed as The Living Room at The Chiswick, an upmarket bar and cocktail lounge.

Richard Osman named ChiswickW4.com as his go-to local news source in The Rest is Entertainment podcast and Georgia Bell ended a special year by getting married.

Richard and Marina talk local news. Picture: Rest is Entertainment

December

Chiswick was forced to batten down the hatches with the arrival of Storm Darragh.

Hounslow Council published plans for spending cuts and service charge increases which included ending the policy of replacing felled trees.

A dealer of Chinese cars announced that was taking over the landmark show room formerly occupied by Telsa and the Chiswick RNLI lifeboat crew had its last ever Christmas Day shift.

The former Telsa garage will soon be selling Chinese cars

Deaths

This year saw the deaths of Felicity Barwood, former Chiswick Riverside councillor, Frank Field, the Labour minister who spent his formative years in the area, two former leaders of Hounslow Council, Steve Curran and Dave Wetzell and Bedford Park-based film and TV director Alvin Rakoff. If we have missed anyone off this list, please let us know.

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