Stadium address: The Hive Stadium, Camrose Ave, London, HA8 6AG
Ground capacity: 6,500 Telephone: 020 8381 3800 Club website: www.barnetfc.com
Completed in 2013, Barnet’s stadium, ‘The Hive’ is the second-largest venue in the National League - and certainly one of the most advanced in the division – but, originally, the site was intended to be the new home of Wealdstone FC.
Situated on the former Prince Edward playing fields in Canons Park, construction companies started work in 2003, but were forced to halt work the following year after Wealdstone’s investors went into liquidation. In 2006, Bees chairman Anthony Kleanthous purchased the right to occupy the stadium from the London Borough of Harrow and all looked to be progressing well as the club sought a move away from Underhill, where they’d been based since 1907.
Yet lengthy legal negotiations about the future of Underhill persisted for many years and it wasn’t until the summer of 2013 when the club were given the keys to the state-of-the-art stadium. It was worth the wait, though. Set in the middle of a leafy complex – some six miles from their previous home – The Hive boasts a gym, multiple grass and 3G pitches and The Imaging Centre, which specialises in “World-class diagnostic imaging services”.
Over the last five years, the stadium’s basic appearance has been upgraded, with the away fans section – Stand ’66 – the first of many protracted developments, having been a small terrace at the beginning of Barnet’s tenure. The next phase is to bring the stadium’s capacity up to around 8,500, with plans seemingly having been submitted in the last 18 months.
The Hive’s previous record attendance was set on 5 May 2018, when 5,539 supporters saw Barnet beat Chesterfield in their final game before relegation to the National League, but with the club announcing that Monday’s game was sold out, the FA Cup fourth round tie will set a brand-new capacity record.
Though this will be Brentford’s first competitive fixture at The Hive, they have won two of the last three trips to north London, with the last coming on 23 August 2008, when a Glenn Poole penalty settled a League Two tie at Underhill. All in all, the west London Bees have won nine of the last 12 meetings between the two sides.
Did you know?
When Barnet first moved into the stadium, there was a restriction on the lease that prevented Football League fixtures from taking place there. The club were granted permission to host fixtures for 10 years in 2015, before owner Anthony Kleanthous recently purchased the freehold of the ground from the London Borough of Harrow, meaning the restriction will no longer apply in future.
How to get there
It’s anticipated that many of the near 2000-strong away support will be travelling to The Hive on the underground, but for those looking to make the journey by road, the official Barnet website gives the following directions to reach the stadium. The postcode for the stadium is HA8 6AG.
From the West (M40)
From the M40 continue onto Western Avenue/A40 and at the Hanger Lane roundabout, take the second exit onto the A406. Take the first exit left at the Staples Corner roundabout onto the A5/Edgware Road and follow this road for three miles. Turn left onto Camrose Avenue, continue straight along and The Hive will be on your right just after the width restriction.
From the South (A5)
The A5 runs from Marble Arch in central London all the way north to Stanmore. Drive straight all the way to Burnt Oak and turn left onto Camrose Avenue.
Matchday Parking
There's ample on-site parking with room for up to 500 vehicles on a first-come, first-served basis at a cost of £8. Tokens to exit can be purchased from the Club Shop, Home & Away Ticket Offices, Coffee Shop, Legends Bar and Bar 66.
Additional space for a maximum of 100 cars is also available at Canons High School, a short 5-minute walk from the stadium. It will be £5 to park here, which must be paid by cash upon arrival. This car park will be open from 18:00. Spaces at both car parks will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
There is no street parking on Camrose Avenue but surrounding streets will have free parking available.
By Tube
Canons Park Underground Station, on the Jubilee Line, is a five minute walk from The Hive. Turn left out of the station on Whitchurch Lane and after 200 feet the pedestrian entrance to The Hive will be on your right.
Queensbury Underground Station, also on the Jubilee Line, is a 10 minute walk from The Hive. Turn left out of the station on to Turner Road. Walk to the end of the road, turn right and the entrance to The Hive will be across the road.
Edgware Underground Station on the Northern Line is about a one mile walk to The Hive.
By Bus
The 340, 186 and 79 all run from Edgware Station to Canons Park. You can also take the 288 and 688 from Edgware Station to Camrose Avenue. Coming from west of The Hive you can take the 114 and get off at Turner Road. It's then a short walk up to Camrose Avenue.
By coach
Coaches depart from Layton Road Car Park at 5.30m. Book by phone on 0203 665 7371, Monday to Friday, 12pm-8pm.
Join the Bees Travel Club and save on coach fares. Membership is just £25 for the season, free for those 12 and under, and affords members a number of benefits. For further information please email [email protected].
Where to eat/drink
Unusually for a non-league side, owing to the professional setup at the Hive, away fans have the option to enjoy a pre-match beverage in their very own dedicated bar at the rear of the North Stand. ‘Bar 66’ as it is known, is the club’s newest hospitality area, where fans can escape from the bitter January air to watch Sky Sports, have something to eat or drink and prepare for Monday night’s action.
For those looking to get into the matchday spirit ahead of their arrival, Irish bar Moranos can be found close to Canons Park station, on Station Road, which is just a 10-minute walk away from the Hive. In addition to that, JJ Moons is a popular Wetherspoons pub on the way to the Hive, situated close to Kingsbury tube station, just two stops before Canons Park.