Series 8 Episode 7 - A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherd's Bush

Filming Locations

ROADSIDE CAFE - THEN & NOW - Pictures by nry
WALLY'S CAFÉ, ELTON WAY, WATFORD, WD25

Location found by: nry

At 04m20s, Ray & Billy stop off here for a bite to eat - known more recently as 'Old Orleans' and the 'Imperial China' Restaurant.

Roadside Cafe in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush' Roadside Cafe in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush'

Location on Streetmap.co.uk or Google Street View (opens a new window)
Closest Station: Watford Junction

HOTEL RESTAURANT/ARTHUR HAS A MEAL - THEN & NOW - Pictures by nry
THE THISTLE HYDE PARK HOTEL (BAYSWATER ROAD SIDE), 90-92 LANCASTER GATE, LONDON, W2 3NR

Location found by: nry

At 05m47s, Arthur is dining here and tips the waiter to tell him all about the manager in order to get rid of some old school braces.

Hotel Restaurant in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush' Hotel Restaurant in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush'

Location on Streetmap.co.uk or Google Street View (opens a new window)
Closest Station: Lancaster Gate (Central Line)

RING O BELLS PUB - THEN & NOW - Pictures by nry
18 BOLTON ROAD, BRADFORD, WEST YORKSHIRE BD14DA

Location found by: nry

At 06m38s, we see an exterior shot of this pub where Billy takes Ray - frequented by Billy's fellow pigeon fanciers including rival Stan Sorrell.

Ring O Bells Pub in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush' Ring O Bells Pub in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush'

This location has been known more recently as 'Bolton House'.

Location on Streetmap.co.uk or Google Street View (opens a new window)
Closest Station: Bradford Forster Square

RAY & DONNA GO FOR A MEAL - THEN & NOW - Pictures by jno
PESCATORI RESTAURANT, 57 CHARLOTTE ST, W1

Location found by: MR

At 10m16s, Ray & Donna are seen here together for the first time, all filmed in London. Here Donna explains the Widowhood system to Ray.

Ray and Donna go for a meal in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush' Ray and Donna go for a meal in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush'

Location on Streetmap.co.uk or Google Street View (opens a new window)
Closest Station: Goodge Street (Northern Line - Charing Cross Branch)  

PIGEON LOFTS - THEN & NOW - Pictures by jno
REAR OF CHARVILLE LANE, HAYES, UB4

Location found by: MR

At 15m50s, Billy calls Arthur from outside his pigeon loft to instruct him to collect Ray & Donna as soon as they arrive at King's Cross station. At 18m08s we see a different loft, as Stan phones Billy at what appears to be somewhere completely different. In fact, all pigeon loft scenes were filmed at the rear of Charville Lane in Hayes. At the time, this location was run by renowned and much respected pigeon fancier, the late Mr Ken Hine.

Stan's Loft in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush' Stan's Loft in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush'

Location on Streetmap.co.uk (opens a new window)
Closest Station: Hillingdon (Metropolitan/Piccadilly Line)

ESTABLISHING SHOT OF BRADFORD - THEN & NOW - Pictures by nry
LOWER KIRKGATE, BRADFORD, BD1

Location found by: nry

At 12m07s, there is an aerial shot of Lower Kirkgate looking towards Kirkgate.

Lower Kirkgate in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush' Lower Kirkgate in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush'

Location on Streetmap.co.uk or Google Street View (opens a new window)
Closest Station: Bradford Forster Square

LEAVING BRADFORD FOR LONDON - THEN & NOW - Pictures by nry
BRADFORD FORSTER SQUARE STATION, BRADFORD

Location found by: nry

At 12m40s, Billy accompanies Ray to the platform where the pigeons are to be taken back to London.

Bradford Forster Square Station in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush' Bradford Forster Square Station in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush'

At 34m10s, Arthur & Ray return here to find a replacement pigeon. Only the wall is still visible from Saint Blaise Way in the more recent shot.

Bradford Forster Square Station in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush' Bradford Forster Square Station in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush'

Location on Streetmap.co.uk (opens a new window)
Closest Station: Bradford Forster Square

ARTHUR COLLECTS RAY & DONNA IN LONDON - THEN & NOW - Pictures by nry
KINGS CROSS STATION, LONDON

Location found by: nry

At 16m15s, Arthur is at Kings Cross station waiting for Ray & Donna to arrive - but they don't!

King's Cross Station in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush' King's Cross Station in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush'

At 31m33s, Ray & Arthur return to King's Cross heading north to find a replacement pigeon.

King's Cross Station in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush' King's Cross Station in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush'

Location on Streetmap.co.uk (opens a new window)
Closest Station: King's Cross

ARTHUR DECIDES TO RELEASE THE PIGEONS & CALL BILLY - THEN & NOW - Pictures by nry
PRIMROSE HILL NR CAMDEN, NW1

Location found by: nry

At 18m09s, Arthur walks to the top of Primrose Hill and calls Billy to tell him he can release the pigeons.

Primrose Hill in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush' in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush'

The same location features in #2.5 Don't Tell Them Willie Boy Was Here and #6.7 Minder On The Orient Express.

Location on Streetmap.co.uk or Google Street View (opens a new window)
Closest Station: Chalk Farm (Edgware Line branch of the Northern Line)

MACKINTOSHES/ARTHUR LOOKS FOR RAY 1 - THEN & NOW - Pictures by jno
REAR OF RANK BINGO HALL (MORE RECENTLY DORSETT SHEPHERD'S BUSH HOTEL), 58 SHEPHERD'S BUSH GREEN, W12 8QE

Location found by: MR

At 23m31s after a tip off from Bert & Doreen, Arthur is seen at the door of this club as he tries to find Ray. If you look closely to the right of Arthur in the episode you will see a matching column with the more recent shot.

Mackintoshes in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush' Mackintoshes in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush'

Location on Streetmap.co.uk or Google Street View (opens a new window)
Closest Station: Shepherds Bush (Hammersmith Line)

MACKINTOSHES (INTERNAL)/ARTHUR LOOKS FOR RAY 2 - THEN & NOW - Pictures by jno
MIDDLESEX & HERTS COUNTRY CLUB (NOW 'PORTMAN HALL'), OLD REDDING, HARROW WEALD, MIDDLESEX, HA3 6SH

Location found by: MR

After being refused entry at the door Arthur finally finds his way into this club. Sadly this location was torn down in the 1990s and replaced by what is now the Portman Hall apartments. The club was all on one level with the main dance floor sunk by about a metre. The only stairs went up to the mezzanine floor which had its own smaller dance floor, bar and a balcony. From here you could look down on the main part of the club and this was often used as a VIP area.

Mackintoshes in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush' Mackintoshes in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush' Mackintoshes in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush'

This location also features in #7.2 Days Of Fines & Closures.

Location on Streetmap.co.uk or Google Street View (opens a new window)
Closest Station: Hatch End (Overground)

RAY SHOWS DONNA A VIEW OF LONDON/PIGEON LIBERATION - THEN & NOW - Pictures by nry
BRAMLEY ROAD/VIEW FROM MARKLAND HOUSE/DIXON HOUSE, DARFIELD WAY, W10

Location found by: nry

At 21m17s, Ray shows Donna a view of London from Markland House on Darfield Way.

View of London in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush' View of London in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush'

At 44m33s, Arthur, Ray & Donna all return to the rooftop of this location to liberate the pigeons.

Liberation in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush' Liberation in 'A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherds Bush'

Location on Streetmap.co.uk (opens a new window)
Closest Station: Latimer Road (Hammersmith Line)

Last updated: 1st December 2019 by jno

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