please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A Thursday afternoon visit and I arrived at the busiest time of the day, it was absolutely rammed at the bar with the 3 bar staff rushed off their feet.
The beer choice across the 10 hand pumps that had 8 ales on was okay, mainly national brands. My first pint of Portobello Westway Pale was off so I backed it for the very drinkable Sambrook's Lavender Hill. So good i had another pint.
As well as being busy at the bar there was not a spare seat in the house. Very surprised at 5pm that it was this busy.
Decent visit and 2 good pints had in the end.
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Refused entry after a recent footy match because we could not prove we were home supporters. Seems a bit bizarre. The gorilla on the door wasn't having any of it and in the interest of our health we moved on to the nearby belushis. Looked alright as far as a pub in a run down shopping centre goes mind.
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I’m not a huge fan of the identikit nature of the majority of Wetherspoon pubs but had to take the opportunity to put in a good word for the service from the barman, the duty manager I believe. It was very busy but he did a great job and (just about) managed to keep his cool. This despite the provocation from some very ignorant, impatient punters. (The young woman who had to wait 2 minutes to have her wine glass rinsed out deserves special mention in that category!).
A reasonable selection of beers too, including a couple of local ones (Truman and London Fields), with the Oat Milk Stout (from Croydon’s Clarence & Fredericks brewery) worthy of a special mention.
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All the good things about a Wetherspoons: extensive menu cheaply priced, wide range of beers also cheaply priced. (I had an excellent real ale called Stiff Upper Lip and it was only about £2.30 a pint!) The staff are friendly and efficient too, and this pub is very easy to find - just come out of Shepherd's Bush station, look around, and you can spot it. Excellent venue if you're in the area.
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Cavernous Spoons near the cinema. They had a US-style beer festival when I went in so enjoyed a couple of pints from Wadworth and from a US brewer working with Bateman's. £1.79 with CAMRA vouchers but even at £2.29, they'd be a good deal. Staff were pleasant. Pub itself isn't much to write home about but the selection of beer at reasonable prices in central(ish) London make it worth a visit
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Full of chavs and old alcoholics. Everything else you expect from weatherspoons although it has a nice view of Bush Green
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Only popped in to use my spoons vouchers. Feels like an airport spoons without staff to take glasses off tables, so a bit of a tip. On upside, less than £2 with Camera voucher for an OK pint of Sambrooks Pale from a dullish selection
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We were there at about 5pm on a Saturday. Found it busy and characterless - totally free of any distinguishing feature other than reasonable prices. Several of the real ales were "off". Wouldn't both going again.
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Time for another update, and not a cheerful one. For the past few years, under the direction of a clever manager or two, this pub had settled into a local reputation as a good Wetherspoons pub. It had a superb range of beers and ciders, both draught and bottled, and was notable for its wide selection of real ales and traditional ciders.
Sadly, in the last few months, the management changed. Since then it's been a rapid slide into mediocrity. The bottled offerings are now all sugary, fake rubbish, and the dominant emphasis at the bar is on lager. Most of the real ale pumps are permanently turned off.
To be fair, on the upside, the new bar staff are just as pleasant as ever, but that does not appease me. Since I can't afford Holland Park pub prices, I'll be buying most of my drinks in the supermarket from now on.
Damn you, Wetherspoons, for letting me live beyond my means for several years, then dumping me into grim reality.
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decent pint of cask when we visited recently. however, very noisy, overcrowded and some people trying to queue jump into getting served first. not too overly impressed with the place but i've seen a lot worse from JDW.
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Popped in here for the first time last night and found a very busy and fairly rowdy 'spoons. It's accessed from the first floor of a shopping centre at the eastern end of the green. Being a long narrow bar, you can generally get somewhere near a window to watch the goings on around the green and the tube station, if people watching is your thing. With the festival on yesterday, there were plenty of ales - Fullers London Pride, Zululand Zulu Blonde, Wychwood King Goblin, Thwaites Logan's Run, Everards Gallantry, Vasileostrovsky Imperial Russian Stout & Titanic Nine Tenths Below. Ciders were Westons Old Rosie & Cider Twist Ginger & Mr Whiteheads Boxing Dog. There was also Broadoak Perry. The stout and the Boxing Dog were both in good condition. Service was good and the toilets were fine. A bit too boisterous to my liking. But nevertheless a good pub, at least at festival time.
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You could reasonably find fault with a few things about this pub. The atmosphere is noisy, it's usually over crowded, it's hard to find a table, and these days, the food is over-priced and unappealing. But to complain about the real ale selection, like the chap below, is totally ridiculous. This pub has an ever changing selection of real ales, always including guest ales, and sometimes quite a few of them. Occasionally they'll run out of guest ale, but it's very unusual. The ale festivals at JDW are second to none. The fact of the matter is that there is no better real ale pub within miles.
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Busy shopping centre Spoons. Festival on so a reasonable choice of beer.
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i found this spoons to be one of the better ones. went in twice during my short holiday in london. the adnans ghost ship was excellent beer and in good condition. if i am in london again this is a pub i would go back to
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You could go into this pub at any time of day , on any day of the week , and week in the year and the same people will always be there. , notably the Aborigine postman and the busker guy with the guitar slung over his shoulder.
Still not a bad pub for a couple of pints before heading to the Central line home.
Not great for smokers though as it's a bit of a hike downstairs.
Handy for the Aussie Pie shop too.
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not a usual wetherspoons........ no ruddles...... green king ipa instead, london pride and abbot on with 2 guest brewers. not the biggest choice of ale but you cant complain as the pride was excellent.
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A major contribution to binge drinking culture & public urination in a vibrant part of West London.
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A 'spoons in a shopping Center with a great view over the green. Does what it says on the tin..
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This Wetherspoon W12 property has sadly reversed to the policy of the Williams Morris/Lloyds No 1 outlet in Hammersmith namely that of showing a bank real ale pump clips that are actually not on.
Does it make sense to reject customers' requests for proposed beers on offer? Apparently so. Maybe the thinking is: 'This is what you could have tasted tonight, but not right now'. My advice is very simple: turn the clip around or get the ales ready!
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What's important is the quality of customer service and on that issue, Journolady's comments were spot on. In early 2009 I also witnessed the manager at the time, a youngish bearded bloke, being extremely rude to a female customer. He really was a complete oik. Thankfully, that manager doesn't appear to work there any more. The staff there these days are fine.
This pub has improved generally over the last year. It is a lot cleaner than it used to be, the tables are usually cleared quickly, the food is always ok, and the real ales are being kept properly once again. The Central Bar is never going to win any prizes for atmosphere or decor but it's not hard to see why it's so popular.
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Journolady
I don't know where you spent part of your past career as a 'critic', but you do not seem to understand how JD Wetherspoons works. If you require music and even dancing you visit their Lloyds No 1 outlets. However, if you enjoy the company of your friends and the ability to hear what they are talking about then you visit the JD Wetherspoons pubs where there is no music. They do have televisions but the sound is usually turned down and you have to rely on captions.
I have visted this bar on a number of occasions over the years and it's not that bad; there are much worse in this chain.
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After working as a bar critic for a period of time I can honnestly say that this pub has one of the most unfriendly atmospheres I have ever come into contact with. There is no music, the stench of stale beer is over whelming and the decor should have been left in the 60s.
The main bar staff are polite enough however, the bar managers could do with a course in amiable etiquette. The management are dismissive and appear grumpy. Whilst I was there recently I saw a manager be very rude to a young lady who was clearly humiliated by his actions.
On the upside, the beer is cheap and the pub is ideally situated for Westfield shoppers. Yep, that's where the compliments stop.
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I think previous comments are harsh - beer (York Guzzler)and food good tonight, clean, plus there is the feature in the back corner of books you can read whilst there... For the non-shoppers, 'West12' is opposite the tube station and should not be confused by the 'Westfield' shopping centre.next to the tube! Seemed a good Wspoons to me
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Maybe it's the pissheads and dossers, of which yes there are many, that put the staff in such a bad mood, I've never seen such a surly bunch. Cheap as chips though of course so a good one pre Empire. Those thieving scoundrels charge �3.90 now so you'll want to cancel that out.
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Couple of changes of management in the last 6 months.Worth popping in to see what has changed
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Wetherspoons in a shopping centre - a vision of the UK's future urban hell? Maybe.
To be fair, this one isn't as bad as it could be. There's a decent view from the windows and the punters didn't seem too bad. The interior is a bit bland, but more kempt than many other Spoons and cleaner too.
Three guest ales on, varying in quality from 'on the turn' to 'very good', with a distinctly 'average' inbetween. But what to do? Olga from the Volga rarely has a clue or cares, in my experience. Still, it's only 99p for a half, it could be worse if you need a couple of beers before a gig at the Empire...
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This is a good pub overall, it has a few old people that have noting better to do but on the positive side the bar staff are friendly and have a good range of guest ales as well as the regular pedigree, directors, abbot, etc. The food is also good, specially on Tuesday (steak night) good value for money �6.09 for a steak and a drink �guest ales included-!
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A mecca for every piss head and dosser within a four mile radius. Started doing cans of Sapporo here a while back-but not sure if they are still serving this
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Popped in for a quick pint before seeing Saxon at the Empire, confronted with at least half a dozen guest ales, as well as the usuals like Abbot! I'll definately be coming back to make a night of it and drink my way down the bar, I can only assume the harsh comments come from non-ale lovers. Service polite, bogs clean, massive choice of ale, what more do you want?
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Much as I don't like being critical of Wetherspoons, who do a good job in promoting decent beer, this place is hideous, with as much charm as a motorway service station which hasn't been cleaned for three days. If you're after a pre-gig pint you'd be MUCH better advised to head for The Green on the northern corner of Shepherds Bush Green.
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Always had good service here, typical Wetherspoons - very reasonable priced food and increasingly getting better in quality ingredients. About 4/5 real ales with guests at good prices. Sunday lunch is good. Shame though if you go in for food the place is full of saddos sitting on their own occupying four seater tables, often very hard to get a seat. Shame as the food is tons better than the other pubs in the area.
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Service is terrible!
I waited (stupidly, I know) 10 minutes at the right hand side of the bar the other evening. Everyone that walked in and stood at the bar got served 1st. The staff haven't got a clue.
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Went in before going to see Southside Johnny at the Empire. Ok for a pre-gig pint, absolutely packed. Some "interesting" characters in there.
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Pub of the year, not!!
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Translation - Foxski has been sacked as manager of the gaff
anonymous - 12 Sep 2007 06:42 |
I've been a long term defender of the Central Bar because despite the horrible decor, the staff are really great, and it's the only place for miles that sells a large range of ales - and until a few months ago, the ales were always very well kept. However, since Wetherspoons introduced the 'super-chilled' system for lagers, the ales have been super-chilled as well - which destroys them. (Ironically, the bottled European lagers are lukewarm!) JD Wetherspoons know about this problem, but they've done nothing to solve it. I've stopped visiting this pub altogether.
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A Wetherspoons in a Shopping Centre is probably several people�s impression of hell and the Central Bar goes some way to making this image a real one. The large neon sign that blazes out of the front windows across the pointy end of the Green announces the pubs presence. To get in you need to go into the shopping mall and up the escalator and you could be forgiven for thinking that you were in an airport.
The internal layout is rather uninspiring with little to focus on of any interest. The bar area can be a bit cramped � there are several pillars close to bar making it a squeeze when the bar is busy. It is rare that you will find a seat and on occasions, I have been turfed out of the half empty dining area because I was not eating despite there being nowhere else to go. On the plus side, you will find the usual good selection of Real Ales and usually a stout or a mild. All 10 pumps are usually operating and then there are the usual mix of mass market lagers and bottled beers from here, there and everywhere at knock down prices. They are Cask Marque accredited and I have never had any problem with the quality. Unfortunately the beers alone cannot disguise the fact that this is a rather soulless and uninteresting place to sit and have a drink or meal. It has its fair share of winos and gets busy if there is something on at the Empire. Unfortuantely, the lack of any other half decent pubs in the immediate area means you really have very little choice.
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Agree with most of the previous posters. Nice and cheap, convenient for the cinema and the tube station. The staff are friendly and the place is like a microcosm of society. From the cheapskate suits who come here for a cheap eat to the guy in the hood who won't take his eyes of your new phone and is distracting your attention from the old man who has wet himself and is trying to romance your girlfriend. This place has the lot. Don't expect too much. just come here in a group and have a meal and a couple of head start pints before heading off somewhere nicer and you won't be disappointed.
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Fairly typical Wetherspoons, with its most notable feature being the particularly uninspired name. However, as you would expect, there is a good choice of beer and food here at very reasonable prices. The window seats also offer a good view out over Shepherds Bush Green. (NB - This place also seems to attract to some rather dubious characters, some of whom are definitely best avoided if they try to engage you in conversation.)
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Standard Wetherspoons really on the beer side but I'm 50/50 about the food here. Had the mixed grill on a Tuesday - couldn't fault it. Tried the curry on a Thursday - was still running through me on Sunday. Still, if you're the type of person who goes to a Wetherspoons for a culinary experience you'll probably appreciate the eat-as-much-as-you-like chinky next door. No doubting it's cheap as though.
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The main reason I ever go in here is cos it's the nearest pub the the cinema (about 20 seconds walk to be exact) and cos it's dirt cheap. Stupidly cheap almost. It's always busy with the sort of punter that spends all day, every day bloating on the cheap beer, sucking in the yellow fog and talking bollocks to anyone who'll listen. There really are some "characters" in here. Women with make-up drunkly smeared literally all over their face. Girls in short skirts with no knickers who sit on stools and don't care who has a look. I could go on but what do you expect from a Wetherspoons (apart from their ridiculous no music policy)? This place is actually a bit of a guilty pleasure. Sitting by the window and watching the World bustle by outside in the heart of Shepherds Bush, whilst safe in the knowledge that your last round cost you about a fiver for 3 pints and putting the World to rights with some mates is actually not too bad. The last time I was in here there were a couple of extremely easy on the eye barmaids too. It's clean, they serve pub grub, the toilet doors are locking full length ones. There are better pubs nearby sure, but that doesn't mean you can't stop in here for a couple too though.
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very average, grubby place, no draught beers available on my visit which meant even the real ales were warm enough to bath a baby - i'll be back (but only at gun point)
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Re the previous comment: Anyone who boasts about drinking three 'sterile' pints of cheap lager in a pub which always offers 6 to 8 real ales, all extremely well kept, and a huge range of international bottled lagers, is saying a lot about themselves and nothing about the pub.
Not only does the Central Bar offer great real ales and pleasant service, the food is a cut above the usual Wetherspoons. Their salads are really nice.
Best of all, everybody is treated politely and made to feel welcome, not just the BBC employees who tend to clutter up the place a bit.
My one criticism : they really should replace the carpet, and the decor is tired to say the least.
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Typical Spoons. Large selection of well priced drinks including large amount of ales and ciders.
Nice 2 sit by window and look out over Shepherds Bush Green.
Ideal location right opp tube station. Look up though or u won't see it!
Very busy when i visited 4 a Thursday lunchtime;
My Rating 6/10
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An exceptionally well-managed Wetherspoons, in fact I think it's the best Wetherspoons in London. Excellent bar staff. It's extremely busy though, and best avoided at weekends. On a week night it's a lot less frantic.
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Typical Wetherspoons
Cheap and shit.
Filled with suits, tarts and pissed old men, but in agreement with the poster below. The bog's are impressively clean.
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Cheers. I've had several drinks here. It's a typical Wetherspoons. Very busy when the Rs are at home. Lager cheap, but tastes a bit.............well odd. Surely they can't buy it cheap.
Bogs are lovely though.
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Mmmm, how attractive Lyncroft. Thank god you don't actually drink in the place.
anonymous - 11 Jul 2005 09:34 |
Great for using their bogs when you're desperate to have a slash or a dump. It's usually so big and busy noone will notice you walk in and walk straight out.
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Just over �2 for a double Gordons and Schwepps tonic - and they're always fizzy - you can't go wrong really! Great seats along the windows so you watch Shepherds Bush go by. If you want an elite crowd this isn't the place for you, but it's always lively and the drinks are great value. I love this place!
anonymous - 26 Apr 2005 15:12 |
People love to slag the Central Bar off because it's downmarket, but it's the only place anywhere near Shepherds Bush Green that sells well-kept real ale. In fact, they offer a selection of about twelve real ales at under �2 a pint, which you can drink in a private booth whilst leafing through a book of short stories (or whatever) thoughtfully provided by the management. The social atmosphere is dire, but as the trendier pubs around Shepherds Bush have no idea how to keep cask ales, this pub has almost no competition.
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Enthused by the glorious Welsh victory over England in the rugby I descended on Shepherds Bush. The glorious Welsh hymns were still ringing in my ears.
I decided on the Central Bar in the shopping centre called West 12 and can you imagine a more scintillating name. This bar was designed with all the magic and style of the railway line from London to Northampton. But talk about cheap beer - I wanted to inquire were they paying into pension funds and providing for ageing grannies. This was a give away.
They all enjoyed themselves here and even though there were quite a few in God�s waiting room, this is a lively hostelry with the motto that the beer is the main drag. And a great view of the grotty green under the crane lights of the new developing White City.
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cheap and nasty.
don't go for the food or the service
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Its a decent pub and compared to some other pubs in the area its bloody good value. The food is also very good for the price you pay! I dont see how some people can complain....look at the state of the Bushranger now.
anonymous - 30 Dec 2004 18:58 |
this pub is great,
has good staff and a lovely manager called jeff.
secret - 12 Oct 2004 20:06 |
Being the cheapest pub in the area, it's where all the derros retire to after a hard day drinking Special Brew and White Ace on the Green.
Handy for the cinema and you might even get ringside seats for a good old fashioned pub fight, like we did last time we were in.
Chris - 5 Oct 2004 14:00 |
sorry to go against the grain, but I really like this pub. i think its got a cool atmosphere and well has great food, and all my mates agree. the portions are always just right, thats a hard thing to achieve, so well done you!!
kitty - 5 Aug 2004 19:08 |
Is this the one built into a shopping mall? If it is it's possibly the worst 'pub' ever created. It's like an Odeaon Cineam vestibule with it's nasty primary coloured carpet, bright lights and faux pine furnishing. Or worse still the bar area on a P & O ferry. It is truly obscene.
Good for: Pretending your a pikey
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Nice view of Shepherd's Bush tube station.
Appalling food.
John Doe - 23 Oct 2003 12:40 |
Modern pub on first floor of recently re-developed shopping centre directly opposite Shepherds Bush Central Line underground station.
Very reasonable prices on beer and food as with all JD Wetherspoon pubs.
Children allowed in designated area until 6pm everyday, but MUST be eating. Special kids menu available. Food served daily until 10pm (9.30 on Sundays.) Offers include:
Steak-out Extra (Tuesdays)
Curry Club (Thursdays)
Sunday Roast
West 12 Centre also houses many restaurants, Warner Bros. multi screen cinema, Argos, Safeway, Fitness First Gym, etc.
Graham - 25 Mar 2003 14:08 |
