Latest reviews from Brentford

“Originally The Royal Oak, 1 of 4 on each corner of the old ground. Closed Mon+Tue. Beer wise usually 6 really good kegs from excellent breweries such as Verdant, Pollys, Deya, Kernel etc mainly IPAs but at least 1 stout or porter. Also 1 line of cask beer often Harveys Sussex Best or from Long Man or Windsor&Eton breweries.“

b727trijet 170 days ago

“The landlord also runs Tiny Vessel, hence my first trip to Brentford in order to tick off the brewery. From the outside it looks like a small trad pub, but the decor has gone for a modern style. Doesn't work for me. Some random pop art and it looks a bit bare. Met Brian/BeerViking who warned me that Thursday was open mic night. However the singing (60s folk/rock I guess) wasn't too bad or intrusive. There was an initial butt clench when I didn't spit a Tiny Vessell beer. However there was one alongside the macro beers. Their are then two larger standalone taps with a house lager and cider... rebadged. Two casks but wad only one on? Had a mild. Owner was friendly enough. Would be happy to have the place as a local pub to pick up new ticks (the TV beer wasn't bad) but wouldn't make the trip out again.“

BeardedAvenger 384 days ago

“Very cozy large bar with nice beergarden. Went for warm-up Denmark Germany so was very couded with danish and german fans. Service was quite good concidiring it was very busy. 10 casks, All intersting and 5 cider. A place to go.“

HenrikSoegaard 667 days ago

“Crowded and the food stops being served at 5.30pm so not much use for an evening out with a meal. The Real Ale is rather disappointing too. Good for those demanding low abv values perhaps but not very flavoursome. It has potential and appears to have a good regular clientele. Lots of wines on offer so it seems to cater, heavily, to the wine bar crowd.“

TrueSatan 740 days ago

“Visited July 2018.“

fonefan 1319 days ago

“Probably what was once a basic back street boozer is now a stylish, bright, modern neighbourhood bar with well-heeled clientele and interesting bar food (tinned seafood or a jar of pate anyone?). Great beer selection - about 14 kegs, 8 casks and 4 ciders. Well worth seeking out. (Visited 3 January 2020).“

Boudicca 1584 days ago

“A landmark pub on the north side of Kew Bridge. Now owned by the Big Smoke brewey. Great selection of beers - 10 casks, 12 kegs, 7 ciders. (Visited 3 January 2020).“

Boudicca 1584 days ago

“Often has live music of many persuasions so stays open late. Usually 3 ales from handpump and 4 craft kegs plus usual dross on tap. Often features beers from Tiny Vessel microbrewery.“

b727trijet 1776 days ago

“Great friendly local. Good selection of changing beers with Bass always on! Food it great traditional pub food & often have trouble getting a table on a Sunday. Big well presented garden with cover & heaters.“

B Hop 1980 days ago

“Excellent new addition to Brentford. Great selection of ever changing beers & outstanding food!“

B Hop 1980 days ago

“A good locals bar but being Fullers poor selection and guests from their list at rip off prices. Pity as quite a legendary pub that brewed years ago before my time. Often does live music of various genres.“

b727trijet 2013 days ago

“Update 2020 - unfortunately changed hands for the worst in March 2019. Have given them a few chances but I no longer drink here due poor choice and often abysmal quality. Go to nearby Black Dog or Northumberland Arms instead! Sadly I have had to downgrade my ratings (was 4.4 out of 5) // pre Mar 2019 review : Biased ratings as has been my "local" since 1994. I have learnt so much about beer, the trade and people at this very friendly pub over the decades albeit with different owners and bar staff. Lets hope it survives the big redevelopment of Brentford High St.“

b727trijet 2013 days ago

“Update 2023 : Closed on Tuesdays. Now usually 4 beers and 3 ciders on cask and 14 keg lines which include 1 cider and 2 global branded lagers, rest crafty beers. All constantly changing from several breweries/cider makers. The Fearless Nomad brewery in the outhouse at the back (temporarily closed after covid) is rumoured to be restarting soon, late 23 or early 2024. Still gets extremely busy if Brentford FC have a home fixture. // 2019 : Was the very rough Albany, been closed for several years. Now been nicely refurbished and become an up market drink and food pub. Interesting beer selection, approx.10 handpumps 4 of which are cider. Plus 10-12 kegs aswell as bottles and cans. An amazing transformation! In the near future they plan to start a brewery! Not far from Brentford train station and buses 65 195 235 237 267 E2, E8 and N9 stop nearby.“

b727trijet 2013 days ago

“Visited July 2018. After half an hour this pub showed up... old style town pub with a center bar.. Good amount of seating and a few as well outside.. Friendly service.. cosy atmosphere and music not played to loud.. a few new beers for us, nice selection of beers both on cask as on kegs.. being in the area nice place to visit..“

Brugmansia 2111 days ago

“Visited on 11th July 2018. Locals pub, single room a few minutes walk out of the centre of Brentford and on several bus routes. The pub is pretty neat and tidy, it's a local's pub and the banter was around the upcoming England match with people sitting in front of the bar making it difficult to pick up beers although they happily moved when asked. Beer range has 3 on from Tiny Vessel, 2 keg and 1 cask, 2 other handpulls and a handful of bottles in the fridge from Dutch brewers and Tiny Vessel. Prices were a bit steep, around £4.75 a pint, but I picked up a bottle for £2. Staff were friendly and prompt with service. Not sure I'd rush back but a decent pub and probably the best place to try Tiny Vessel's offerings.“

WingmanWillis 2129 days ago

“Nice Fuller's pub with a central location in Brentford. The usual Fuller's suspects in perfect nick. Excellent fish & chips.“

Sigmund 2202 days ago

“One of a dying breed of proper drinking pubs in London! Great place with an awesome selection of beers on the go, always includes beers from Big Smoke Brewery.“

bman1986 2221 days ago

“Visited January 2017. Pleasant pub with an impressive range of British beers in both cask and kegs. Landlady was a good host and regulars friendly. Worth a visit.“

downender 2578 days ago

“Visited on 31th December 2016. Small pub near my hotel with a lot of people inside, i had Siren craft which was great, this is how I imagine small beer pubs in England.“

MatusBeer 2677 days ago

“Spacious, old-fashioned boozer which has a decent array of about 8 handpulls, six craft keg lines and a better-than-average but small bottle selection. Ubiquitous piped music but the beer makes up for that. I’m drinking a bottle from Siren, and there’s a fair bit of Marble on today. Worth incorporating into whatever else you may be doing in Brentford.“

jjsint 2824 days ago

“Almost next to Kew Bridge rail station, the Express Tavern has a distinct traditional feel, somewhat ruined by invasive piped music. Open-plan but with two fairly distinct bars: I opted for the Chiswick bar on the right. I hate to say that I’ve had friendlier service, but that’s the big city I guess. 10 cask ales, about 5-6 keg of interest and a smattering of interesting bottles. They carry quite a lot of beers from Surbiton’s Big Smoke brewery, so worth coming for the ticks. A proper beer venue.“

jjsint 2824 days ago

“Cosy reburbished pub close to the Holiday Inn Brentford. Three beers on handpull when visited plus a Lilley’s perry and afew taps. Central bar, tv, afew tables & chairs down one side and with a small outside patio area. Not busy when visited on Saturday night. “

danlo 2834 days ago

“Cosy backstreet pub with good atmosphere and friendly staff. Standard fullers lineup of beers, abit pricey. Blues band was playing when visited on a Saturday night.“

danlo 2834 days ago

“Large selection of handpulls and five ciders on tap at this refurbished traditional style London pub. Popular, with a very large beer garden area out the back perfect for summer drinking. Definitely worth the visit if in the area. “

danlo 2836 days ago

“Reasonable number of handpulls and afew taps at this locals pub in Brentford. Central bar with tables & chairs arranged around, and some picnic tables in an out-front area. Good music & atmosphere (including an amusing shouty man at the bar) and selection, worth a visit if nearby“

danlo 2836 days ago

“Visited on 30th July 2016. Large pub pretty much next door to Kew Bridge station. Venue has 2 rooms plus a huge beer garden. Beer range was decent enough with a good mix of cask and keg beers. Picked up a couple of new ticks here so happy with that. Service and prices decent too. Food was a big let down, had high hopes but it was sub-par Wetherspoons style with premium prices. Left us both disappointed as opted to eat here as opposed to local Fullers place. Might pop back for the beer but food a huge disappointment.“

WingmanWillis 2838 days ago

“Visited on 17 April 2016. A small and tidy pub close to the Grand Union Canal. Seems to have had a fairly recent makeover in a stripped out pale pine mode. The majority of the clientele comprised family dining groups when we visited on a Sunday lunchtime. The combination of these two factors didn’t give it the most pubby feel. The number of diners was also, no doubt responsible for the rather considerable delay we experienced in getting served our two halves - lots of faffing around with serving coffees, food etc. Service was friendly but understaffed. There’s a pleasant seating/smoking area out the back with a good floral display. Beer was four handpumps - Doom Bar, Sharps Atlantic, Andwell Ruddy Darter and a Lilley’s cider. There were some "continental" lagers on keg - a bit better than the UK standard fare but not particularly interesting. On the plus side, both the beers we had were in excellent condition. Worth a look if passing but avoid Sunday lunchtimes if you want quick service at the bar (or perhaps we were just unlucky with timing).“

chriso 2944 days ago

“Formerly O’Briens of Brentford, this cosy pub had a major refurbishment a few months ago and reverted to its original name. Now with three well-kept cask ales - usually Doom Bar and two guests - plus a cider/perry on handpump, some continental lagers on tap and more foreign bottled beers in the fridge. It has good food, and regular music nights. Very convenient if you’re staying at the Holiday Inn!“

BeerViking 3052 days ago

“Visited July 2015. Impressively relaunched pub offering a wide selection of beers and ciders, some of which were particularly unusual. Atmosphere in the bar was friendly, with locals and Kew Gardens workers enjoying a pint. Worth visiting if in the area.“

downender 3060 days ago

“I’ve passed this place a number of times and just assumed from the ’DRAFT BASS’ sign that it wouldn’t be worth stepping in. But on an accidental detour I found myself in the area and thought I’d pop in.

On a Friday near Christmas this was obviously pretty busy but I still managed to take up a stool. 8 casks including permanent Bass and around 5 new beers for me. There were also several keg options and 5 cask ciders on offer.

This is certainly one of the best pubs in the area. Not in the best location as there’s nothing else in the locality to draw passing beer tourists. I wouldn’t say the range is special enough to warrant a deliberate visit but this is a great option for anyone who finds themselves in the area, perhaps to visit Kew Gardens. A very good pub, and I’m sure it’s a pleasure to visit at quieter times. “

The_Osprey 3064 days ago

“Visited august 2015 with beery friends. What a surprise. Large, very cosy pub close to Kew Bridge. Oldstyle pub with a large bar, just inside the doors ;-) Friendly staff and free wifi. Huge selection of beers and ciders, all served in good condition. It is a bit cramped in the front of the bar, but in the back, lots of additionel seating. They serve food as well, but didn´t eat here this time, but will be back for sure.“

Brugmansia 3091 days ago

“Very nice old style pub. 10-15 casks, some draught beer and 4-5 ciders. Beautiful house with good interior. Decently crowded on a Sunday afternoon. Big beer garden in the backyard. All together a nice surprise.“

rlgk 3190 days ago

“Recent change of ownership. Now a sister pub to the Sussex in Twickenham (best in west london) and Antelope in Surbiton. Pump selection not quite as cutting edge as the Sussex in terms of the range of brewers but still great. The kegs included Camden Helles, Titanic Stout Flying Dog Doggy Style and Hammerton N7. casks by Ascot and Blackjack were memorable. Fridges had a great array of craft beers too! Pub itself is very pretty inside. Clientele were a bit on the aged side and I am guessing this is a pub in transition from its previous guise. Give it three months and it will be a much more diverse crowd Well worth a visit“

Dannybro 3392 days ago

“A huge increase in choice of beers and ciders since new management last month. 10 real ales plus 4 real ciders (and 1 keg cider) plus several keg beers (craft and non craft). Food looked good but quite expensive. Loyalty card scheme in operation... buy 9 get 10th pint free as at their Sussex Arms in Twickenham. Free wifi. Well worth a visit. Almost on top of Kew Bridge station and buses 65, 237, 267 and 391 (plus N9!) all pass by. The interior was always like a museum and luckily the refit has been done with care and retains most of the character of this historic pub. CAMRAs first London meetings were held in here back in 1973 partially due to the draught Bass which is still on offer today!“

b727trijet 3496 days ago

“Just reopened under the management that brought us the Sussex Arms in Twickenham, it still sits at the north end of Kew Bridge, but now features 10 cask ales, 10 keg beers (priced £1-£2 more than their cask equivalents) and 5 ciders & perries on handpump. The cask Bass is still there, as is the piano. The garden’s been opened up too. For the historians, it’s on the Trafalgar Way and is just a short walk from both the Musical Museum and Kew Bridge Steam Museum, it’s also just across the river from Kew Gardens.“

BeerViking 3515 days ago

“Friendly local with a big row of handpumps. Often quiet and dominated by regulars playing pool, but easy to get a seat and work through what’s on the bar. Couple of Belgian keg taps inc Fruli, alongside San Miguel et al. One of the few places to get UK ’craft keg’ out west - I’ve seen Buxton, Magic Rock, Thornbridge, Weird Beard and Redwillow in recent times - and a fair list of bottles too. (Can’t comment on the food as I haven’t braved it but it looks fairly standard)“

andrew_drinks 3830 days ago

“The last pub out of Brentford if you are heading West before the grounds of Syon Park begin, and close to the the river Brent before it enters the Thames. This pub is traditional in style but comfortable enough with small tables and cosy enough seats. There’s a real local focus about the pub and a real ales that have been well kept with guests.“

ManVsBeer 4053 days ago

“There’s eight handpumps on the bar, two for real cider & perry and six for ale - usually including one "LocAle" - although sometimes only six or seven are in use during the week. Ask at the bar for the key for the free WiFi. 10 keg taps are arranged in two groups of five either side of the handpumps. As of December 2013, three of the keg taps have been allocated to British craft beers on key-keg. The latter often carry beers from Thornbridge, Red Willow, Siren, Oakham, Cloudwater or Weird Beard. Two more carry Belgian keg beers. There’s also 30+ English bottled craft beers plus usually some foreigners. The pub remains very welcoming, the ales remain excellent and it is a good comfy local. The kitchen now offers a shortish menu of mediterranean and ’fusion’ dishes.“

BeerViking 4123 days ago

“Friendly old & traditional local with lots of characters, popular for its jazz nights and the terrace overlooking the street where on the very highest tides the Thames floods over. It’s a Fullers pub so has three or four Fullers ales on handpump plus a guest. Good pub grub at lunchtimes. Can be great fun when it’s busy the night before a rugby match at Twickenham. Update 7-Aug-12: now under new management and with a spruce-up, the ales are still in good nick, with all 5 handpumps regularly in use - typically 3 Fullers regulars, 1 Fullers seasonal and 1 guest. Also now has free WiFi - ask at the bar.“

BeerViking 4295 days ago

“A slightly run down traditional English Pub in Brentford. 6 interesting ales on tap, 2 ciders, 18 interesting bottles & about 10 kegs. Slow service, relaxed atmosphere. A quite hard to get to place. Few trains to Brentford & Northfields underground a 25 minute walk. Only worth visiting if you are in the vicinity.“

JohnRMurdoch 4317 days ago

“Great spot with a very local, laid-back feel. Pretty chill music airing on my visit. Eight casks with lots of bottles (20ish) and a few decent kegs (Boon, Kwak, etc.). Average prices. Folks just be chillin’ real hard up in this piece, readin’ ’n talkin’ ’n whatnot. Well worth a visit.“

Leighton 4326 days ago

“An OK spot. Four casks and a kind of interesting bottle range. Average prices. Very low-key with a local vibe. Doesn’t have tons of character, if you ask me. I absolutely would not go out of my way to visit this place, but as a local option you could do worse. There’s some nice outdoor seating in the back, FYI.“

Leighton 4326 days ago

“Yep, it’s a back-street boozer. Nestled among empty lots, garages and run-down buildings, this isn’t a pub upon which you would stumble. Five casks on offer that go beyond the standard Fuller’s fare. Seemed a little expensive, surprisingly, given the local, seedy feel of the place (1.90 quid for a half). There’s a small garden in the back, too. Yeah, an interesting place. I’d love to see what it’s like late-night.“

Leighton 4364 days ago

“A decent spot. Definitely more of an ’ambiance pub’ rather than a craft beer pub - they have six cask lines but only three were active on my visit. Seems like it’s usually ales and all are pretty basic (bitter and golden ales on my visit). Just a handful of people in the pub on my Sunday afternoon visit, though the back garden, which is truly gorgeous, had about 10 folks scattered about. Interior is old school pub all the way. Prices are average. Only worth visiting if you’re nearby, though it certainly is a nice, traditional pub.“

Leighton 4364 days ago

“This pub goes up and down in it’s quality, at times it can be a bit scruffy then at others is OK. Good selection of beers though the quality is also a bit variable. However it is a pub that’s always worth a visit.“

MikeJohnson 4657 days ago

“I grew up near by so this is my favorite pub and I am one of the regulars. It has always served the best Bass in London and Gordon, the landlord really knows how to keep his beer. Some folk don’t like it because it’s too quiet for them but I’m of an age where a nice quiet pub is what I look for. Gordon’s wife Liz does the cooking and while it’s not a ’gastro pub’ the food is wholesome and honest.“

MikeJohnson 4657 days ago

“An excellent pub for obscure real ale when you’re in the neighbourhood . decent bottled and keg offerings too . this is a friendly unassuming pub -down to earth ambience . my local.“

Gary 4732 days ago

“A nice back street-boozer, just of Brentford high street . Friday evernings are lively , with live blues/easy listenin’ . A frendly atmospher , almost timeless in feel... The beer selection is alright.... usualy 3 Fullers ales cask (with Chiswick in excellent condition). Fullers Honey dew on draught , a guest ale and then customary mainstream lagers . Pretty cool pub all in all .“

Gary 4988 days ago

“Certainly back. Great news. Visited on Friday night (27th November) and enjoyed one Twickenham and one Butcome ale both on great form. Pleased to see the Thai kitchen has also reopened. There was no music whilst I was there, just relaxed conversation. The pub is essentially the same as it was when it closed; apart from a few of the model boats, etc which fell prey to the odd souvenir hunter on the closing night! They have continued counting the beers served since 2006 on the board, and the ale policy remains as before, alongside 5 or so beers from Europe on draught. Although rather harshly lit inside, this is made up for by the welcoming attitude of staff and punters. Great pub, and long may it prosper. UPDATE: the rent dispute that caused it to close last year for a time has resurfaced. I am sorry to report that this pub may yet close very soon or change management. My rating is for a visit made on 27th November 2009 under original governorship.“

ladnewton 5230 days ago