Old Packhorse
Old Packhorse is a historic Grade II listed public house at the junction of Chiswick High Road and Acton Lane in London.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Old Packhorse is a historic public house in Chiswick, west London, occupying a prominent corner site at the intersection of Chiswick High Road and Acton Lane. The establishment traces its licensed pub history to 1759, when a premises known as the West Country Packhorse operated on the site. It was renamed the Lower Pack Horse in 1790 and later shortened to Pack Horse before 1811. Fuller, Smith & Turner acquired the pub in 1808, linking it to the local brewing company that later commissioned the building that stands today. The present structure was erected in 1910 to designs by Nowell Parr, Fuller, Smith & Turner's house architect. It is a three-storey red-brick building distinguished by decorative terracotta work, coloured tiles and bowed ground-floor windows. The building has remained substantially unaltered since its construction. Its architectural character has made it an important example of the early twentieth-century London public house, rather than merely a local drinking establishment. Historic architectural commentary has highlighted its exuberant terracotta detailing, while the English Heritage listing identifies it as the best-preserved example of a public house designed by Fuller, Smith & Turner's in-house architect. The pub's identity combines long local continuity, traditional public-house architecture and a prominent urban setting. Its successive historical names reflect the development of the site from the eighteenth century into the nineteenth century, while the surviving 1910 building provides the strongest visual expression of the Old Packhorse identity. The property is Grade II listed, placing the building within England's designated heritage framework and limiting the extent to which its historic fabric can be altered. The Old Packhorse also became relevant to local planning debates. In 2015, the Friends of Turnham Green cited the pub's position and heritage character in a successful objection to a proposed development affecting the adjoining section of Chiswick High Road and the area behind it. This episode illustrates the pub's role as a landmark in the wider Chiswick streetscape. In 2024, the premises underwent an extensive refurbishment and reopened on 4 April. The supplied sources do not establish the current owner, operating company, menu, financial performance or any broader chain affiliation. The available evidence supports describing Old Packhorse primarily as a historic, single-site public-house brand and heritage property in Chiswick.
History
The Old Pack Horse occupies a site in Chiswick with a licensed public-house history extending back to the eighteenth century. The first recorded pub on the site was called the West Country Packhorse and received its licence in 1759. The name changed to the Lower Pack Horse in 1790 and subsequently became Pack Horse sometime before 1811. These changes indicate that the premises developed within the naming and trading traditions of historic British coaching and public houses, while retaining the packhorse theme that remains central to its modern identity. Fuller, Smith & Turner acquired the pub in 1808. The brewery was a major local presence in west London and later shaped the architectural appearance of the premises. The current building was constructed in 1910 by Nowell Parr, the brewery's house architect. Parr designed a three-storey red-brick public house with elaborate terracotta ornament, coloured tiles and curved ground-floor windows. Unlike many historic pubs that have undergone repeated structural alterations, the Old Packhorse has remained substantially unchanged since its construction. Its intact appearance is a significant part of its heritage value. Architectural historians have regarded the building as an especially notable example of the early twentieth-century public house. Nikolaus Pevsner drew attention to its lively terracotta decoration and bowed windows. English Heritage's listing describes it as the best-preserved public house produced by Fuller, Smith & Turner's house architect. The building's Grade II listing formally recognises its special architectural and historic interest and protects it from insensitive alteration. The pub's location at the corner of Chiswick High Road and Acton Lane has also given it a visible role in the local townscape. During a planning dispute in 2015, the Friends of Turnham Green included the pub's setting in a successful objection to development of the adjoining part of Chiswick High Road and the land behind it. This reflects the Old Packhorse's importance as a landmark within the historic streetscape, in addition to its function as a hospitality venue. In 2024, the pub underwent an extensive refurbishment and reopened on 4 April. The supplied reference material does not specify the refurbishment's design details, operator, ownership arrangements or commercial performance. It also does not document a broader network of locations. On the available evidence, Old Packhorse is best understood as a single historic Chiswick public house whose brand value derives from continuity of use, architectural preservation and local recognition.
- 2024
Reopened after refurbishment
[1]The pub reopened on 4 April after an extensive refurbishment.
- 2015
Heritage concerns cited in planning objection
[1]The Friends of Turnham Green successfully objected to nearby development, citing the pub's setting and prominence.
- 1910
Current building constructed
[1]Nowell Parr designed and built the present three-storey red-brick public house for Fuller, Smith & Turner.
- 1811
Recorded as the Pack Horse
[1]The pub was known as the Pack Horse by a date before 1811.
- 1808
Acquired by Fuller, Smith & Turner
[1]The local brewery Fuller, Smith & Turner acquired the pub.
- 1790
Renamed the Lower Pack Horse
[1]The premises adopted the name Lower Pack Horse.
- 1759
First licensed pub on the site
[1]A public house known as the West Country Packhorse was granted a licence on the site.
Products and positioning
A locally rooted London public house positioned around historic character, heritage architecture and traditional pub hospitality.
Hospitality
Pub beverages
The Old Packhorse operates as a public house and therefore provides beverage-led hospitality. The supplied sources do not identify specific beers, spirits, wines, soft drinks, suppliers or house-branded products.
Food service
Traditional pub food
Food service is part of the typical public-house format associated with the venue, but the supplied reference material does not provide a current menu or identify signature dishes.
Public house · 1759
Old Packhorse venue
The principal offering is the historic pub itself: a Grade II listed, three-storey building with red brick, terracotta ornament, coloured tiles and bowed ground-floor windows at a prominent Chiswick intersection.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2024
Refurbishment and reopeningStrategyBackground
The historic Chiswick pub underwent an extensive refurbishment while occupying a Grade II listed building.
Action taken
The premises were refurbished and reopened to the public on 4 April 2024.
Aftermath
The reopening returned the venue to active operation. The supplied sources do not specify the investment amount, design changes, operator or commercial results.
Recent events
- 2024
Old Packhorse reopens after extensive refurbishment[1]
Other
The Chiswick pub reopened on 4 April 2024 following an extensive refurbishment.
- 2015
Local heritage group objects to development near Old Packhorse[1]
Other
The Friends of Turnham Green referred to the Old Packhorse's prominent position and heritage setting in a successful objection to development affecting the adjacent part of Chiswick High Road and the area behind the pub.
Sources3 sources
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