Brentford Winter Mooring

[Porcupine]

Hi all, 

I am thinking of winter mooring in Brentford this year. Area is quite cool. It has facilities nearby. But is it a safe mooring? I am aware of several break-ins in and around London at the moment. Would you guys recommend winter mooring in Brentford? Thanks very much, Matt 

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

I’m not much help. My experience of Brentwood was 12 years ago. But I remember there were good services and I think possibly two showers. The shops are a short walk away with a luandrette opposite a pub! Which gets my vote every time. If you like or need to be living in (or at least close to) a busy town then I expect it’s ok. 
Access to public transport and all that. 
 

Is this one of CRT’s winter moorings or another arrangement ? 

[Porcupine]

It is a CRT winter mooring. But if anyone knows a private mooring I’d be up for that too. 

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

Have you a map to show where the moorings are?

Someone with better knowledge than I will advise regards safety/security but I’d guess there’s everything you’ll need over the winter on your doorstep. 
Might be worth finding out if there’s a fuel boat that makes regular visits. 

[Tonka]

13 hours ago, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:

I’m not much help. My experience of Brentwood was 12 years ago. But I remember there were good services and I think possibly two showers. The shops are a short walk away with a luandrette opposite a pub! Which gets my vote every time. If you like or need to be living in (or at least close to) a busy town then I expect it’s ok. 
Access to public transport and all that. 
 

Is this one of CRT’s winter moorings or another arrangement ? 

Brentford he said, not Brentwood

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

Ah , yes and it was Brentford I meant too, whether that was my speller or not 🤷‍♀️

 

but Brentwood does have a motorway service on the M25 if that helps

 

[Paul C]

13 minutes ago, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:

but Brentwood does have a motorway service on the M25 if that helps

 

 

Do it doesn't

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

Oh yes it almost does 

[blackrose]

If it's in the Brentford basin safety would depend to a some extent whether the mooring is on the pontoons in the gated marina or more likely just on the towpath opposite. I moored on the pontoons in the marina for several years after it had just been built about 20 years ago and it's perfectly safe. The towpath is obviously less safe because you have people walking past, but since I left they've built blocks of flats on that side so your boat would be overlooked from both sides and there might even be cameras there now. I can't imagine anyone would think that was a good location to try to break into a boat, but that obviously depends on how easy it is to break into your boat.

[cheesegas]

On 17/08/2024 at 19:39, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:

I’m not much help. My experience of Brentwood was 12 years ago. But I remember there were good services and I think possibly two showers. The shops are a short walk away with a luandrette opposite a pub! Which gets my vote every time. If you like or need to be living in (or at least close to) a busy town then I expect it’s ok. 
Access to public transport and all that. 

Unfortunately the showers have been broken/vandalised for the past 2 years, and there's now a sign on the door saying they're permanently out of use. There is however a decently clean Elsan and water point, which I've found does sometimes double as a mooring spot for shiny boaters who have come off the Thames, too afraid to go 1/4 mile on where there's loads of room because 'there's no mooring anywhere in London!'.

 

However, the train line and A4 which cross the canal are both very loud, and if the winter moorings are near any of those, you'll be woken up by the first train or people racing bikes etc at night.

There's good services in Brentford town - Morrisons, launderette and various others, and there's a new footbridge being built from the canal straight to the train station.

 

As for break ins, I haven't heard of any happening in the time I've been on the water (unlike Enfield at the moment, weekly breakins!) but last year there was a spate of stuff getting nicked from the roofs of boats moored just below the lock by Boston Manor Park. Seems pretty safe on the whole!

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

Shame about the showers.  
I have a feeling the Winter Moorings are out on the otherside of the bridge. But kind find a map. In the past the CRT maps of the winter moorings have been easy to find but I’m obviously missing something , I can’t find them. 
 

[Porcupine]

Cheers guys, good to know. I think the winter moorings are past the bridge as you said. But I think sometimes the visitor moorings are winter moorings too, I’d like one of them.