Series 8 Episode 7 – A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In Shepherd’s Bush |
Filming Locations
ROADSIDE CAFE – THEN & NOW
At 04m20s, Ray & Billy stop off here for a bite to eat – known more recently as ‘Old Orleans’ and the ‘Imperial China’ Restaurant.
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HOTEL RESTAURANT/ARTHUR HAS A MEAL – THEN & NOW
THE THISTLE HYDE PARK HOTEL (BAYSWATER ROAD SIDE), 90-92 LANCASTER GATE, LONDON, W2 3NR
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.
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RING O BELLS PUB – THEN & NOW
18 BOLTON ROAD, BRADFORD, WEST YORKSHIRE BD14DA
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.
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This location has been known more recently as ‘Bolton House’.
RAY & DONNA GO FOR A MEAL – THEN & NOW
PESCATORI RESTAURANT, 57 CHARLOTTE ST, W1
At 10m16s, Ray & Donna are seen here together for the first time, all filmed in London. Here Donna explains the Widowhood system to Ray.
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PIGEON LOFTS – THEN & NOW
REAR OF CHARVILLE LANE, HAYES, UB4
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.
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ESTABLISHING SHOT OF BRADFORD – THEN & NOW
LOWER KIRKGATE, BRADFORD, BD1
At 12m07s, there is an aerial shot of Lower Kirkgate looking towards Kirkgate.
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LEAVING BRADFORD FOR LONDON – THEN & NOW
BRADFORD FORSTER SQUARE STATION, BRADFORD
At 12m40s, Billy accompanies Ray to the platform where the pigeons are to be taken back to London.
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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.
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ARTHUR COLLECTS RAY & DONNA IN LONDON – THEN & NOW
At 16m15s, Arthur is at Kings Cross station waiting for Ray & Donna to arrive – but they don’t!
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At 31m33s, Ray & Arthur return to King’s Cross heading north to find a replacement pigeon.
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ARTHUR DECIDES TO RELEASE THE PIGEONS & CALL BILLY – THEN & NOW
PRIMROSE HILL NR CAMDEN, NW1
At 18m09s, Arthur walks to the top of Primrose Hill and calls Billy to tell him he can release the pigeons.
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The same location features in #2.5 Don’t Tell Them Willie Boy Was Here and #6.7 Minder On The Orient Express.
MACKINTOSHES/ARTHUR LOOKS FOR RAY 1 – THEN & NOW
REAR OF RANK BINGO HALL (MORE RECENTLY DORSETT SHEPHERD’S BUSH HOTEL), 58 SHEPHERD’S BUSH GREEN, W12 8QE
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.
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MACKINTOSHES (INTERNAL)/ARTHUR LOOKS FOR RAY 2 – THEN & NOW
MIDDLESEX & HERTS COUNTRY CLUB (NOW ‘PORTMAN HALL’), OLD REDDING, HARROW WEALD, MIDDLESEX, HA3 6SH
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.
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This location also features in #7.2 Days Of Fines & Closures.
RAY SHOWS DONNA A VIEW OF LONDON/PIGEON LIBERATION – THEN & NOW
BRAMLEY ROAD/VIEW FROM MARKLAND HOUSE/DIXON HOUSE, DARFIELD WAY, W10
At 21m17s, Ray shows Donna a view of London from Markland House on Darfield Way.
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At 44m33s, Arthur, Ray & Donna all return to the rooftop of this location to liberate the pigeons.
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