The Duchess is To Become The Queen
Stamford Brook pub to get a makeover and a new name
The Duchess Pub is at 320 Goldhawk Road
August 8, 2026
An announcement has been made by the owners of a Stamford Brook pub about their plans for the venue. The sudden closure of The Duchess on Goldhawk Road caused concern for some regulars who feared that it might become permanent, but it has now been revealed that is the beginning of a new chapter.
The pub is to reopen later this year under its original name — The Queen — restoring a title first seen above the door in 1871 when the Queen of England began serving locals on what was then the edge of Hammersmith and Chiswick’s growing suburbs. The relaunch is expected to be in the autumn with no month specified at this stage.
The relaunch celebrates more than 150 years of hospitality on the site at 320 Goldhawk Road. Though the original Victorian building was replaced in 1928–29 by Watney Combe Reid, the present structure remains a fine example of interwar pub architecture: a confident brick corner house with generous windows and a layout designed for both conviviality and comfort.
Over the decades, the venue has mirrored the changing tastes of West London — trading as Charlotte’s, Café Med, Pacific Bar & Grill, The Brook, and briefly as The Duchess of Cambridge before settling on The Duchess in 2018. Now, with the freehold secured and refurbishment under way, the owners are returning to the name that started it all.
Stamford Brook Corner in the early part of the 20th century
The new Queen promises a refreshed interior and outdoor spaces, seasonal menus built around locally sourced produce, and a revived Sunday roast tradition. The design will draw on Victorian elegance — warm colours, polished wood, and detailing — while keeping the familiar split between the bar and the dining side.
A new team of chefs is developing a menu that reflects the pub’s heritage: modern British dishes served from brunch through dinner, with Sunday roasts continuing. The drinks list will expand to include a carefully chosen range of wines, cask ales, and premium spirits, alongside the regular favourites.
Weekly quiz nights and live music will also be maintained, joined by a refreshed programme of entertainment to mark the reopening.
“We genuinely love this pub and the community that already calls it home,” the team says. “We’re not changing the heart of the pub; we’re simply giving it a new lease of life. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back through the doors of The Queen later this autumn.”
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