Albany Fish Bar Customers Mourn Loss of 'Brentford Institution'

Popular takeaway closes to be turned into flat

The Albany Fish Bar on Albany Parade. Photo taken from planning documents

February 20, 2026

The Albany Fish Bar in Brentford has closed its doors following a sudden announcement earlier this month, marking the end of its long-standing presence on Albany Road.

A notice placed in the shop window informed customers that the business had ceased trading due to unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances, while the proprietor expressed gratitude for the local support received over many years. This departure follows a trend in the immediate vicinity, as several other former retail units on the same terrace have transitioned to residential use in recent years.

There has been dismay from regular customers some of whom mourn the loss of a ‘Brentford institution’. One contacted us to say, “It was part of my post-match ritual at Griffin Park and even though it is now out of my way returning from the Gtech I still make the effort to go there. I’m not going to say finding it closed after the Arsenal game soured my mood but it was a disappointing end to a great evening.

We weren’t able to confirm exactly when the Albany Fish Bar opened but some customers claim to remember it from the eighties and the ‘0181’ number on the sign over the door dates it to the last century.

A full planning application has been submitted to the London Borough of Hounslow by Opal Group Ltd to convert the premises at 8 Market Terrace into a single self-contained dwelling. The proposal outlines plans to transform the current hot food takeaway and its ancillary upper-floor accommodation into a three-bedroom house designed for five occupants. The application, dated early January 2026, details changes to the front of the building to bring it in line with the established residential character of the street.

The property is a late Victorian, two-storey end-of-terrace building constructed of brick with rendered elevations. It is situated within the St Paul’s, Brentford Conservation Area, a pocket of the town recognised for its late nineteenth and early twentieth-century architectural interest. Historically, the building is typical of the Brentford New Town character area, and its rear ground floor has previously been extended to infill much of the original garden space. A notable local curiosity associated with the site’s location is an old water pipe situated near the shop, which is believed to date back to the days of water carts.

Documentation supporting the planning application notes that the property currently appears tired and in need of physical improvement compared to its neighbours. The proposed conversion follows successful precedents at numbers five, six, and seven Market Terrace, where former retail units have already been approved for residential use. While the Albany Fish Bar is no longer serving the community, local residents can still find traditional takeaway options nearby at the Best Kebab and Fish Bar, which remains open at 2 Market Terrace.