Chandler in London

[HenrikH]

Hi

I will be passing through London this weekend. Are there any chandlers left in the city? Last time I was visiting, there was a good one under one of the Thamsen bridges,

 

[oilybilge]

If you're thinking of Ocean Leisure near Embankment, it went under a couple of years ago. I don't think there are any chandlers in London now

 

[johnalison]

Those were the days. Captain Watts in the West End and I think it was the London Yacht Centre near Liverpool St station. There was a chart agent (Kelvin Hughes?) in the Minories too.

 

[laika]

On the bright side, everything in Ocean Leisure was always full RRP but it *was* handy if you needed something *right now* before getting on a plane. I too am unaware of any extant chandlers in central-ish London.

There was a chart agent (Kelvin Hughes?) in the Minories too.

If it's books/pilots/charts HenrikH is looking for I *thought* Standfords on Long Acre had closed down but it seems that they've just moved to that weird little square on "Mercer Walk", the cut through from Mercer St to Langley street (where, incidentally, there is also a decent ice cream shop...)

 

[st599]

Stanford's is still going strong. They sold their big store and now run 2 shops, one in Mercer's walk, one in Battersea Power Station.

Arthur Beale and Ocean Leisure both closed their physical stores. Nearest to the city may now be Chas Newens.

 

[HenrikH]

On the bright side, everything in Ocean Leisure was always full RRP but it *was* handy if you needed something *right now* before getting on a plane. I too am unaware of any extant chandlers in central-ish London.


If it's books/pilots/charts HenrikH is looking for I *thought* Standfords on Long Acre had closed down but it seems that they've just moved to that weird little square on "Mercer Walk", the cut through from Mercer St to Langley street (where, incidentally, there is also a decent ice cream shop...)

Thanks Laika and st599!

Used to find books I did not know I needed in Ocean Leisure. Will stop by Stanfords

 

[applebadger]

There's The Boat Shop in Teddington which has a pretty decent selection of things, I think they have a visitor pontoon too.

Otherwise, further inland there's plenty of canal based chandlerys which may or may not have what you're after. Vaguely near central London there's Uxbridge Boat Centre, High Line Yachting (branches in West Drayton and Alperton), Denham Yacht Station and then out east you've got Springfield Marina, Stansted Abbots and a couple more up that way I can't remember!

Uxbridge Boat Centre is probably the best out of all the canal-ish ones though.

 

[laika]

Having just visited Stanfords on Mercer Walk, I can report that while the place has most of the basement devoted to travel and maps, it is far smaller than the old place. The nautical section (including inland waterways) is a fathom or less wide. They had copies of Reeds and various imray charts although none of the folios. The do have a big printer and apparently can print admiralty charts.

 

[wonkywinch]

Stanfords is really a map/chart shop, not a chandlery. I first visited them in late 80's when I bought a handful of ONC (Operational Navigation Charts) of Borneo and SE Asia for my turboprop flying out there since the large publishers (Aerad and Jeppesen at the time) had scant coverage of the area.

They did have lots of bits we flew over labelled "Relief Data Incomplete" or "Maximum Elevation Figures Believed Not to Exceed xx".

 

[phlip]

Stanford's is still going strong. They sold their big store and now run 2 shops, one in Mercer's walk, one in Battersea Power Station.

Arthur Beale and Ocean Leisure both closed their physical stores. Nearest to the city may now be Chas Newens.

Chas Newens has gone online only for chandlery. I found out the hard way.

 

[fredrussell]

Welsh Harp Boat Centre? Kilburn way I think.

 

[dslittle]

There is a Swinderly (Lindon Lewis) at Shepperton Marina but I WOULD NOT recommend it unless you buy on line.

I recently bought 500ml of Vactan from them on their recommendation. After they had recommended it I did a bit of research and decided that it seemed to be a good product.

On their ‘on line’ shop it was £22.95 with the option to collect in store free or with postage at £3.95 (total £26.90). After a phonecall about coverage rates, I arranged to go in and buy 500ml as I was passing by.

Went in, bought 500ml contactless - didn’t check receipt as I ‘knew’ the price and went home.

Later checked the receipt which showed £29.95!!!

I rang them and was told to email in stating the above, which I did.

Their reply was that the store prices were different to their ‘on line’ prices and that there was no mistake with the price that I was charged!!! I pointed out that had I pressed buy it now on line, I could have just as easily walked in and picked it up SAVING myself £7. I was offered a £5 voucher to spend against my next purchase - needless to say, there will not be a next purchase…

Caveat emptor and all that but hopefully this will save anyone else being caught out by their bizarre exploitation of others without internet capabilities!!!

As an aside, and interestingly, I have just had another look at their website that shows 100% 5* reviews - mine was not 5* nor is it shown!!!