The Ballot Box Perivale is a name with an interesting connection to local history, Horsenden Hill and the wider Greenford and Perivale area. Although many people searching for Ballot Box may expect information about a pub, its current status is important: the venue on Horsenden Lane North is listed as long-term closed, with its future uncertain.
For people researching old pubs in Ealing, exploring Perivale’s history or looking for places around Horsenden Hill, the Ballot Box remains a notable local reference. Its name itself has an unusual story linked to elections and the area’s historic connection with the Grand Union Canal.
The building that became the Ballot Box was a large pub at the foot of Horsenden Hill. It operated for many years under the Hungry Horse brand, providing food, drinks, family facilities and outdoor space. Today, however, visitors should not assume that the former pub is open for dining or drinks.
Where Was the Ballot Box in Perivale?
The Ballot Box was located on Horsenden Lane North, Perivale, UB6 7QL, close to the foot of Horsenden Hill. The site sits within the wider landscape between Perivale and North Greenford, making it particularly relevant to people exploring the green spaces around Horsenden Hill.
Its location gave the pub a distinctive setting compared with many suburban pubs in west London. Rather than being positioned on a conventional high street, it stood beside an area of open countryside and walking routes.
The relationship with Horsenden Hill was one of its defining geographical features. People visiting the surrounding area for walking, local history or outdoor recreation could encounter the pub as part of the landscape.
For anyone planning a visit today, however, the most important practical point is that the former pub is currently recorded as long-term closed. Opening times are therefore unavailable, and it should not be treated as a current restaurant or pub recommendation.
Why Was It Called the Ballot Box?
The name is one of the most fascinating aspects of the site.
According to local pub history recorded by CAMRA, the original Ballot Box stood on the other side of Horsenden Hill near the canal from at least 1726. Its name is connected with nineteenth-century elections, when bargees could cast their votes at the pub.
This history explains why the name can appear in local historical material even when people are not specifically searching for politics or elections. The Ballot Box name became part of the area’s cultural and geographical identity.
Ealing Council’s local-history collection also includes a postcard showing the Old ‘Ballot Box’ from Horsenden Hill, dating from around 1930, demonstrating how the former establishment became part of the visual history of the Greenford and Perivale landscape.
This makes the Ballot Box particularly interesting to local-history enthusiasts. It is not simply a former pub; the name connects an old drinking establishment, the canal, nineteenth-century voting practices and the changing landscape of west London.
The Original Ballot Box and the Later Pub
It is useful to distinguish between the historic Ballot Box and the later building on Horsenden Lane North.
The present building dates from the 1930s and was originally associated with Benskins, according to CAMRA’s historical description. The pub was subsequently much renovated and became a large food-oriented venue under the Hungry Horse brand.
This means the building seen in more recent photographs should not automatically be assumed to be the same physical establishment that existed beside the canal centuries earlier.
Instead, the name carried forward. The historic name was preserved while the later pub developed into a larger suburban food-and-drink venue serving the surrounding community.
That distinction is useful for anyone researching Ballot Box Perivale history, old pubs in Ealing or the development of Horsenden Hill.
What Was the Ballot Box Like as a Pub?
Before its long-term closure, the Ballot Box was described as a large, renovated pub with a single bar. It operated under the Hungry Horse brand and had a strong food-oriented identity rather than functioning solely as a traditional drinking pub.
CAMRA’s records list facilities including lunchtime and evening meals, a garden, family facilities, children’s play facilities, parking, Wi-Fi and sports television. A large rear garden and front patio were also recorded.
This combination made it suitable for a variety of occasions.
A family could previously use the venue for a meal while children used the play facilities. Someone visiting Horsenden Hill could have considered the pub as a stopping point after a walk. Local residents could use it for casual food or drinks without travelling into central London.
The pub’s size was also significant. Historical descriptions refer to it as a large venue, which distinguished it from smaller traditional pubs elsewhere in the area.
Ballot Box and Horsenden Hill
The relationship between the Ballot Box and Horsenden Hill is central to understanding its location.
Horsenden Hill provides one of the more distinctive green landscapes around Ealing and Greenford. The hill and surrounding open spaces create a rural atmosphere within the suburban setting of west London.
The Ballot Box was positioned at the root of the hill, making it a recognisable landmark for people moving between the residential areas and open countryside. Historical descriptions of the area repeatedly associate the pub with Horsenden Hill.
This also explains why the location appeared in walking and local recreation references. Ealing Council’s walking information has historically identified the Ballot Box Public House as a place where refreshments and toilets were available for a local walking route around Berkeley Fields.
Because the pub is now closed, those older references should be understood as historical information rather than current visitor guidance.
Exploring Perivale and Greenford Around the Former Ballot Box
Although the Ballot Box itself is closed, the surrounding area remains relevant to visitors interested in outdoor spaces and local history.
Perivale is one of the districts within the London Borough of Ealing and is particularly notable for its combination of residential areas, open land, waterways and historic buildings. Nearby attractions and landscapes include Horsenden Hill, Perivale Wood and the River Brent area.
The wider Greenford landscape also has a strong connection with the history of west London’s suburban development. Ealing Council’s local-history material includes photographs and postcards covering Greenford, Horsenden Hill, Perivale and the Hoover factory, illustrating how quickly the area changed during the twentieth century.
For visitors interested in the history of London outside central areas, this combination of industrial heritage, village history, transport development and green space can make west Ealing particularly interesting.
Is Ballot Box Perivale Still Open?
This is one of the most important questions for anyone searching for the venue today.
No. The Ballot Box is currently listed as long-term closed. CAMRA records state that the pub closed in April 2026 and that its future is uncertain.
The London CAMRA listing also describes it as long-term closed.
Therefore, anyone looking for a place to eat or drink should not rely on older articles, directories or historic references that describe the Ballot Box as an operating Hungry Horse pub.
This is especially important because older online pages may still contain menus, facilities or opening-time information from when the business was operating.
Why Older Ballot Box Information Can Be Confusing
Local businesses often remain visible online after they close. This is particularly common with pubs that have operated for many years.
The Ballot Box is a good example. Older sources describe its food service, family facilities, garden and parking, while newer records identify it as closed.
Someone searching Google may therefore encounter two very different types of information.
One type describes what the pub used to offer. Another reflects its current status.
When researching a former pub, it is useful to look at the publication date and last-updated information rather than assuming every online listing is current.
This distinction matters for local SEO as well as ordinary travel planning. Searchers usually want to know what they can do today, while local-history researchers may be interested in what existed in previous decades.
Ballot Box as Part of Perivale’s Local Heritage
The Ballot Box has value beyond its former role as a place to eat and drink. Its history provides a small example of how London’s local identities develop over centuries.
The name connects the pub with nineteenth-century elections, canal traffic, Horsenden Hill and the changing settlement pattern of Greenford and Perivale. CAMRA records the story of bargees casting votes at the original Ballot Box, while Ealing Council’s historic postcard collection preserves an image of the old pub.
For local residents, these details can provide additional context for understanding familiar roads and landmarks.
For tourists, the story demonstrates that interesting London history is not limited to central attractions such as Westminster, the City or the West End. Suburban districts such as Perivale also contain layers of social, transport and architectural history.
What Can Visitors Do in the Area Now?
If you are travelling to the former Ballot Box site, the main reason to visit should now be the surrounding area rather than the expectation of a meal or drink at the pub.
Horsenden Hill and nearby open spaces provide opportunities for walking and enjoying the landscape. The wider Greenford and Perivale area also contains historic sites, local nature areas and routes connected with the River Brent.
The area’s combination of greenery and suburban development is particularly appealing to people who want to experience a different side of west London.
Before setting out, check current access information for individual parks, paths and facilities. Weather can also affect some walking routes, particularly after periods of heavy rain.
Ballot Box Perivale for Local History Research
For people researching family history, pub history or the development of Ealing, the Ballot Box can be an interesting starting point.
Old pubs often acted as community meeting places, and their names can survive long after individual buildings change use. The Ballot Box is particularly notable because its name has been connected with local electoral history for centuries.
Researchers can explore historical maps, photographs, council archives and local heritage resources to understand how the site changed over time.
The Ealing Council local-history postcard collection is one useful example of the historical material available for the area. It includes an image of the Old Ballot Box and other photographs documenting Greenford and Perivale.
The Ballot Box Perivale is best understood today as a former pub and a piece of local heritage rather than an operating restaurant or drinking venue. Its location on Horsenden Lane North, near Horsenden Hill, and its unusual name give it a distinctive place in the history of Greenford and Perivale.
The original Ballot Box was associated with the canal and nineteenth-century voting, while the later 1930s building developed into a large Hungry Horse pub with food, family facilities and outdoor space.
Although the current venue is listed as long-term closed, the surrounding landscape remains worth exploring for people interested in walking, local history and the less familiar side of west London.
For anyone searching for Ballot Box today, the key point is therefore to separate historical information about the former pub from current information about what is available in Perivale.
FAQs About Ballot Box Perivale
Is Ballot Box Perivale still open?
No. The Ballot Box on Horsenden Lane North is currently listed as long-term closed, with its future uncertain.
Where was the Ballot Box in Perivale?
The former pub was located on Horsenden Lane North, Perivale, UB6 7QL, at the foot of Horsenden Hill and close to the Greenford and Perivale boundary area.
Why was the pub called the Ballot Box?
The name comes from the historic Ballot Box pub that stood near the canal. Local history records say bargees were able to cast their votes there during nineteenth-century elections.
Was Ballot Box a Hungry Horse pub?
Yes. The later Ballot Box operated under Greene King’s Hungry Horse brand and became a food-oriented pub with family facilities and a large dining area.
What was near the Ballot Box Perivale?
The pub was situated near Horsenden Hill and the surrounding open spaces between Perivale and North Greenford. The area is known for its greenery, walking routes and local heritage.
Can I visit the Ballot Box for food or drinks?
The former pub is currently listed as long-term closed, so visitors should not travel there expecting its previous food or drinks service to be operating.
Is the Ballot Box part of Perivale’s history?
Yes. The Ballot Box name has a long local history associated with the canal, elections, Horsenden Hill and the changing landscape of Greenford and Perivale. Ealing Council’s historical postcard collection also includes an image of the Old Ballot Box from around 1930.