Gillette Clock Tower Keeping Time Again
Restoration takes place to coincide with Golden Mile Centenary
Cllr Tom Bruce addresses attendees at the unveiling of the restored clock tower
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August 4, 2025
One of West London’s most recognisable landmarks, the Gillette Clock Tower, is once again keeping time after a careful and complex restoration. The clock was officially relaunched at a community event on Thursday 31 July, marking a key moment in the Golden Mile Centenary (GM100) celebrations.
The tower, which crowns the historic Gillette Building on the Great West Road, had fallen into disrepair in recent years. Its revival was made possible through a partnership between the building’s leaseholder, the Vinyl Factory Ltd, and Hounslow Council. The restoration took more than seven months and involved sourcing specialist parts and enlisting skilled clockmakers to ensure historical accuracy. Several components had to be custom-made to match the original design.
Built nearly a century ago, the Gillette Clock Tower is not only a local landmark but also a significant piece of London’s industrial and wartime heritage. During the Second World War, it served as a lookout point to monitor incoming aircraft targeting the capital. Its Art Deco architecture and neon-lit clock face have long been defining features of the Golden Mile skyline.
The unveiling event brought together local residents, councillors, and representatives from the Vinyl Factory. Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of Hounslow Council, described the restoration as a symbol of the borough’s evolving identity. “The restoration of the Gillette Clock Tower is a powerful symbol of what the Golden Mile Centenary is all about—honouring our past, celebrating our identity, and looking confidently to the future,” he said.
Tim Robinson, Director at the Vinyl Factory Ltd, said the company was proud to support the restoration. “The Gillette Clock Tower is a symbol of West London’s history, and as the building continues its new life as a centre for creative industries, we are committed to preserving its heritage for future generations,” he said.
The Vinyl Factory funded the restoration as part of its wider investment in the site, which is undergoing transformation into a major hub for film and television production. With planning permission recently granted to expand from three to nine sound stages, the Gillette Building is becoming an important player in West London’s creative economy.
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