Lydford Community Hall on Fernhead Road has reopened after a refit budgeted at £602,889. It holds 80 people and can be booked from £20 an hour, three working days ahead.

Lydford Community Hall in North Paddington reopened on Wednesday 23 September after a full refurbishment. Residents, community groups and ward councillors were invited to the reopening, Westminster City Council said.

The single-storey hall stands on the corner of Fernhead Road and Shirland Road, in Harrow Road ward. Its official address is 74 Fernhead Road, W9 3EW.

What the work cost

The council’s release gives no figure. Its published client brief for the project, reference AF109 and dated August 2024, does:

  • works value: £509,729.95
  • total project cost, including contingency: £602,889.30
  • recommended contractor: Axis Europe, under the council’s major works contract

These are the budgeted figures from 2024, not a final account. The brief said part of the cost came from the North Paddington budget and set the work for delivery in the 2024/25 financial year.

What was done

A condition survey found much of the building at the end of its life, the brief says. At the time, one of the hall’s two gas boilers was not working. The kitchen had no mechanical ventilation, and most windows were single-glazed timber.

The work covered:

  • a new roof, fascias and gutters
  • repaired or replaced doors and windows
  • brickwork and repointing
  • drainage, above and below ground
  • heating, ventilation and electrics, including LED lighting throughout
  • a new cooker extract in the kitchen
  • new flooring and redecoration inside
  • work to the outdoor garden space

The council says the kitchen is now larger, so the hall can host a wider range of events.

The refurbished lobby at Lydford Community Hall, with a community photo gallery wall on the left, new windows and a radiator
The refurbished lobby, with its community gallery wall. Photo: supplied by Westminster City Council

It started with residents

The refurbishment began when residents and hall users raised it at a local forum, according to the council. Housing Services and the North Paddington Programme then delivered it together.

The brief records that the residents’ association used to run the hall and “retain a strong interest” in it. Meetings with residents and potential users were held on 5 and 9 October 2024. “All residents were happy with the proposed scope of works,” the brief says.

Cllr David Harvey, the cabinet member for housing and regeneration, said the hall was “a vital local space where people can come together, access support and take part in community life.”

What it means for you

The hall can be hired through the council’s community hall booking site. The listing says:

  • capacity: up to 80 people
  • price: from £20 an hour, with discounts for residents
  • booking: at least three working days in advance
  • kitchen: fridge, microwave, electric cooker and kettle, plus tables and chairs

The nearest station is Queen’s Park on the Bakerloo line, a five to seven minute walk. Bus routes 18, 31 and 328 stop nearby. Parking is on-street and may be restricted, so check our guide to parking zones and hours in Westminster before you drive.

Also in the area: our report on the Queen’s Park family hub contract.