A historic Pinner pub is beginning a new chapter after reopening under Paul and Lisa Burton, who say they want to turn it into a place where different generations and communities can come together.
The Oddfellows Arms, on Waxwell Lane, has been part of Pinner for more than 170 years and reopened in August following refurbishment.
Harrow Online spoke to Paul and Lisa about why they chose Pinner, the challenges of taking on the pub and what they hope to create there.
They took on the pub through Star Pubs, with plans to retain its traditional local identity while introducing more regular entertainment, daytime activities and community events.
Paul has spent more than 37 years working around music, radio, entertainment and events, while he says Lisa brings a more people-focused side to the business.
Before taking on the Oddfellows, Paul spent around three months regularly sitting outside a coffee shop in Pinner, watching how people used the area and speaking to local residents.
He said: “I wanted to understand the area.
“I watched the different characters, families, older generations, people coming out of work, younger people and people from different backgrounds and cultures.
“The more I watched and listened, the more I started seeing possibilities.”
Why Pinner?
For Paul, the location was a major part of the attraction.
He said: “There is an amazing mix of people here. Young families, older generations, professionals, people who have lived here for decades, people who have recently arrived, hipsters, different nationalities and cultures.
“It’s a real mix.
“And I thought, why shouldn’t there be a venue that reflects that?”
The history of the Oddfellows also played a major part in their decision.
“The Oddfellows was the right building because it already had something you can’t buy — history,” Paul said.
“It’s been part of Pinner life for more than 170 years. We regularly hear stories about the old Oddfellows and previous characters who have been part of its history in one shape or another.
“People remember this place.
“So we don’t want to erase that. We want to build on it.”
A new direction for the pub
The Oddfellows has been through several changes in recent years, including periods when the pub was not trading.
Paul stressed that immediately before they took over, the venue had closed for refurbishment rather than because the business had failed.
He said the biggest challenge was not simply getting the doors open, but deciding what they wanted the new version of the Oddfellows to be.
“We didn’t want to open and simply say, ‘We’re back.’
“We wanted to say, ‘Something new is happening here.’
“There was a real opportunity to put the Oddfellows back on the map, but with a new concept that respected what had been here before while giving people a reason to discover it again.”
The couple say they have already started seeing a wider mix of customers coming through the doors.
Their aim is for the pub to work differently throughout the day, from a more traditional daytime setting to after-work sessions and entertainment during the evening.
The Oddfellows currently opens from midday until 11pm Monday to Thursday, midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and 10.30pm on Sundays.
Entertainment throughout the week
Paul and Lisa eventually want entertainment and social activity to take place every day from 2pm.
Plans include daytime social sessions, after-work events, DJs, live sport and what they call “Flash Entertainment”.
Paul explained: “The idea is simple: the floor is yours.
“It might be a singer, musician, magician, storyteller, drag performer or somebody who simply has something entertaining to give the room for five or ten minutes.
“It’s not a competition. It’s participation.”
They also have plans for the pub’s garden, which they believe could become a much bigger part of the venue throughout both summer and winter.
Paul added: “Ultimately, we want to put the Oddfellows back on the map.
“Not by trying to be the biggest or loudest venue in North West London, but by becoming one of those places people know they can come to and say: ‘Let’s go to the Oddfellows. Something will be happening.’
“We’ve got a 170-year-old venue, but we’re creating something for the next generation.”
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Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
Harrow Online reaches hundreds of thousands of readers each month and has a social media audience of more than 200,000 followers.
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