At the corner of Hervey Park Road and Forest Road is a vet's practice which openned just a few weeks ago. It replaces the Wine Lodge Off-Licence, which itself looked like it may have been a small pub or somesuch in the distant past, as it had its own pub sign outside. Records in fact show that beer was being sold from the premices by one Stephen Pemberton as long ago as 1901.

This has not been discarded by the vets however, who have painted the post white and the sign blue. This now tells anyone who cares to know that they are offering Pet Passports, Vaccinations, a Neutering Clinic, Dental Treatments and Vetenary Pharmacy. They also offer accident and emergency.

It was because of this that I recently called in to see if they knew anything about my missing cat, but sadly they hadn't. The general appearnace of the vet's practice is much better than the old off-licence, which had been rather shabby. Now there is a simple blue signage above the shop windows, with the words 'Pets Clinic' and 'Veterinary Surgery' in white lettering, and a red box saying '24 Hour Emergency Cover' over the door. Inside the waiting area is clean, with the obligatory goldfish tank to keep any waiting moggies amused. The glass has an interesting blue strip round it on the front and corner windows, with silhouetted see-thorough gaps at child height in the forms of a fish, rat, lizard, rabbit, dog, cat, squirrel, tortoise and bird. Outside the vet's, which is at number 134 Forest Road, they have put a wooden fence round their part of the pavement with some simple pot-plants. If a few other local businesses would take similar care of their property and presentation, I am sure Forest Road would be a much more pleasant place.

Tel 0208 928 9999

[Updated 29 October 2009]