Description
The Guinness company purchased the Park Royal site in 1933 and in addition to the brewery buildings, designed by Giles Gilbert Scott, there were gardens, sports fields and facilities such as bowling and tennis for the workers. By 1949 it had become the largest brewery in the country, employing 1,100 workers. Development of the west part of the site containing the playing fields was granted planning permission in 1999 for a mixed use development, which required 3 hectares to be landscaped open space. This development, known as First Central, has to date built 2 office buildings, one being the headquarters of Diageo, set in landscaped grounds that include a 4.05-hectare central park with a series of lakes and cascades, and a 9.1-hectare nature reserve. Future plans include residential and hotel accommodation as well as additional office space. Brewing ceased in 2005 and development of the eastern part of the site is not yet determined.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Park Royal Brewery; First Central |
|---|---|
| Site location | Coronation Road/Twyford Abbey Road, Park Royal |
| Postcode | NW10 7RR |
| What3Words | ///vines.cheer.shrimp |
| Type of Site | Private Open Land |
| Borough | Brent |
| Open to Public | Partially |
| Opening Times | to check public access |
| Public Transport | Tube: Park Royal (Piccadilly), Hanger Lane (Central). Bus: PR1. |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Before the redevelopment of the west part of the site as the First Central office park, the boundary with Coronation Road consisted of privet hedge and wire mesh, beyond which were the playing fields and an undistinguished pavilion, beyond which to the east were the bulk of the brewery buildings, in use until 2005. Behind the clubhouse on Twyford Abbey Road was a more ornamental layout of walks, bowling greens, with flower beds and specimen trees, and there was once some planting of shrubs and trees at the entrance on Coronation Road.
In 1999 planning permission was granted to Guinness Ltd and London & Regional Properties Ltd that gave full permission for a new access road from the A40 and outline permission for a mixed-use development on the western part of the site where the playing fields and other recreational facilities were located. The new office park comprises office buildings, residential units, an underground station including ancillary retail, a hotel, indoor leisure facilities and open space, with associated access/servicing, landscaping and parking, and it necessitated demolition of existing brewery and leisure buildings such as the club house. In 2012 further planning permission was granted to First Central for 3 office buildings and 4 residential blocks to be built on the western site, with associated landscaping and provision to include 2 play areas and a multi use games area. Residential provision will include affordable housing by Catalyst Housing.
The master plan for the First Central site was undertaken by architects Sheppard Robson, with landscape architects Grontmij forming part of the team. The masterplan created a contemporary parkland setting for the business park orientated around the retention of a mature belt of specimen trees. A new 5-acre public park was created with a 4.5 acre landscape buffer and wildlife corridor between the new link road and railway land. The park was based on the concept of a valley with new lakes emulating the progress of a river from source to mouth. A series of weirs animate the water as it travels down stream, growing increasingly calmer until it reaches a contemplative pool in the wooded valley floor. Grontmij has retained a constant connection with the project and is currently commissioned as landscape architects for a new lakeside residential development in the park.
In 1999 planning permission was granted to Guinness Ltd and London & Regional Properties Ltd that gave full permission for a new access road from the A40 and outline permission for a mixed-use development on the western part of the site where the playing fields and other recreational facilities were located. The new office park comprises office buildings, residential units, an underground station including ancillary retail, a hotel, indoor leisure facilities and open space, with associated access/servicing, landscaping and parking, and it necessitated demolition of existing brewery and leisure buildings such as the club house. In 2012 further planning permission was granted to First Central for 3 office buildings and 4 residential blocks to be built on the western site, with associated landscaping and provision to include 2 play areas and a multi use games area. Residential provision will include affordable housing by Catalyst Housing.
The master plan for the First Central site was undertaken by architects Sheppard Robson, with landscape architects Grontmij forming part of the team. The masterplan created a contemporary parkland setting for the business park orientated around the retention of a mature belt of specimen trees. A new 5-acre public park was created with a 4.5 acre landscape buffer and wildlife corridor between the new link road and railway land. The park was based on the concept of a valley with new lakes emulating the progress of a river from source to mouth. A series of weirs animate the water as it travels down stream, growing increasingly calmer until it reaches a contemplative pool in the wooded valley floor. Grontmij has retained a constant connection with the project and is currently commissioned as landscape architects for a new lakeside residential development in the park.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ191826 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | Guinness Limited, leased to First Central Management Company Limited (west of site) |
| Site Management | First Central Management Company Limited (west of site) |
| Dates | 1933; 1999-ongoing |
| Designers | 2000s: landscape architect for First Central: Grontmij |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Brent |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | Yes |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
Twyford Abbey is an historic landscape setting encompassing a listed house and garden walls. Between 1807 and 1809, owner Thomas Willan engaged architect, botanist and geologist William Atkinson to build a mansion in a romantic castellated gothic style, incorporating an earlier moated manor house. To this were added an impressively walled garden of approximately 0.5 hectares, a picturesque pleasure garden and park, and nearby St Mary's Church was remodelled in gothic style. During the C20th various extensions and alterations were made to the house, which the Alexian Brothers, an order of monks, ran as a nursing home. The property has been vacant since 1988.
Twyford is an ancient parish, which in the C17th and C18th consisted of little more than a manor house and church. The C16th church was rebuilt in the C17th and an early C19th chapel by William Atkinson was later incorporated when the church was enlarged in 1958. There is a small area to the south of the church with a memorial stone set in the grass and a couple of large tombs including a chest tomb. In front of the church is grass, a few trees, flagpole and modern gates. Beyond the churchyard,was the old burial ground of the Alexian Brothers within the lands of Twyford Abbey, a rectangular paved area with two rows of headstones and an altar with wooden cross.
Hanger Hill Park came into being as a result of negotiations between Ealing Borough Council and the owner of the land here, who sought permission for drainage works in advance of developing the land for housing. In 1905 the Council agreed to undertake these works in return for conveyance of a piece of land for a recreation ground. By 1907 the new park had railings and entrance gates and was laid out with paths, seats and shrubbery borders. One of the highest points in Ealing, the park has dramatic views and includes a fragment of oak woodland to the west. A pitch and putt course was set up on lower land to the north. To the west of the park across Fox Lane is now a Nature Reserve, a remnant of ancient woodland that was later part of the site of Fox Reservoir. The reservoir opened in 1888 and was eventually drained in 1943; in 1949 the land was purchased for public open space.