please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I grew up and lived in West London for almost forty years before recently moving south of the river, and this was always my favourite local.
For much of that time, it�s been as close to perfect as it's possible for a pub to get. Always a decent range of drinks available (with things like Hoegaarden and Leffe coming on from time to time), never fail to get a seat, a pool table that you will actually be able to play on if you want to (almost unheard of in London these days), and an exceptionally friendly and uninhibiting atmosphere.
The friendly staff go some way towards helping in this respect, right back to the old days when they used to hand us the teletext controller to view the lower league football scores on the television. One really has to wonder quite how some of the other commentators below must have behaved to have come away with those experiences.
Looking at other recent reviews, if this pub is disliked by real ale snobs, sultry teenagers and people who seemingly can�t even type a sentence then some might perhaps see this as a selling point. I certainly do. Comfortably one of the nicest pubs in West London.
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an absolute terrible pub unless the irish chap is working, the spanish girl and the blond one left me waiting 22 mins to be served even though they said hi at the bar on my arrival i will go again only because the Chancelors down the road is a shite hole ... this is a genuine report of an awfull experience. dont take my word for it check it out first u will see in right
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Given you could walk down the river and be in pubs like The Blue Anchor in minutes from here, I can't see why you'd go in The Old City.
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Good for nostalgia value.
An old schooltime drinking haunt , must have been there with weston...
Good thai food there now.
Says it all really.
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Popped in on my way back to Barnes and the football was on. This seems to be the pub's focus having been past it every evening it has a board outside advertising that it shows live games. Food was being served which I didn't sample.I had a half of doombar which was OK. Agree with other posters that the atmosphere isn't great and the barmaid who served me not overwhelming.
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This pub is at a level not far above awful. Dark and boring with staff to match, there never seems to be any sort of good atmosphere in here. The barmaid who served me on my last unfortunate visit seemed to consider it a chore (after I had to ask her to serve me, despite my chum and I being the only people at the bar). I'd not been in for many months until the last time but it's not got any better.
I recall spending some evenings here during my schooldays but even then found it abysmal. It's a shame considering it looks reasonably pleasant since they've repainted the outside red, but this is definitely a pub to avoid.
Amy_J - 11 Sep 2009 11:48 |
I gave this place a few tries some time ago and really struggled to find anything positive to say. The refurbished interior has more in common with a tile showroom and the general d�cor depressingly dull and devoid of any character. Everything comes over as fake and plastic and the atmosphere was always dull, hollow and lifeless. The bar staff always appeared to be disinterested and there was never anything available other than keg bitter or draught lager so at least the previous reviewer had more luck than me. Various Plasma screens dotted about for sport and there is a separate pool room at the rear. If there is a plus, the Thai menu was quite extensive and reasonably priced but there really isn�t much here to get excited about. At best, it is OK for a meeting place prior to an Apollo show but even then I can think of far better options.
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Not as bad as I was expecting from some of the reviews, but certainly nothing special. Only real ale was a so-so pint of London Pride.
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A favoured haunt of my youth with fellow cardinal vaughan alcoholics
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Don't understand the good comments for this pub. I've been in a few times at different times of the day but it's never been much to shout about. It's usually dead with no atmosphere. Avoid it.
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It used to be ok, don't really like it now though. Not much of an atmosphere and not great beer.
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This is the best pub in Hammersmith/Riverside. The Dove and the Blue Anchor and are nice too but they're the kind of boozers you go into to meet people on Friday night or to read the papers on Sunday afternoon. The Old City is somewhere to speak to regulars any day of the week.
The Old City is not quite good as it used to be. It was done up some months ago and is too bright, doesn't have Sky anymore, got rid of one of its pool tables and banned smoking at the bar. Lot's of old regulars don't go there anymore and are generally unhappy with its gastrofication. But the remaining loyal clientelle who have remained are still a good laugh and Polish bar staff very pleasant and conscientious (Anyone who thinks they are just eye candy obviously doesn't remember some of the lazy bar stewardsesses who used to work there).
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The 1973 look in the toilets is particularly appealing.And the smell of burning oil from the kitchen adds tp the general messing up of what was a good pub
anonymous - 15 Sep 2006 10:35 |
Used to be the best pub in Hammersmith. Has now being spoiled by the rubbish new bar staff who were emplyed on their looks and certainly not there bar skills. One of managed to take away a good half a pint without asking and then completely denied it. Is still better than anything down king street though
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shame to see the best barmaid in West London leave after just a short stint. Good luck to her in her new job, whatever it may be.
anonymous - 4 Jun 2006 20:04 |
invaded by Polish staff as is the rule for the new 'guvnor', though they're easy on the eye. Didn't take long for the Barnes inbreeds to move back in after having been barred for years.That said, good spot to watch sports and good beers, especially the Guiness.And the most racist man in the world drinks there too.
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Still serves a decent pint of Guiness, but the place has gone downhill a bit since the last guv'nor, John Considine, moved on. A lot of the dregs that got barred over the years have started to return, although the majority of the locals are a decent and friendly bunch.
anonymous - 26 May 2006 07:08 |
Visited this pub on Good Friday after searching 'BeerInTheEvening' for a pub in Hammersmith with a pool table! Nice old fashioned pub in need of a bit of a scrub, but with two very well kept pool tables. Staff and locals very friendly and pleasant. No nice beers though, even though the decor and ambience would lend themselves very nicely to a few decent real ales.
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2 pool tables
jukebox
anonymous - 3 Mar 2005 12:18 |
a bit quite on fri nights since they got rid of all the young ones,best pint of guinnes in hammersmith,a large selection of bottle lagers,good juke box,2 pool tables and 3 tv's for sport,good for a drink before a show
long - 22 Oct 2004 11:46 |
A realy good pub with pool tables and a really friendly atmosphere. Drinks are reasionable and the guinnes is very good(rare nowerdays)
j Murphy - 10 Dec 2003 15:57 |
Go there for the pool tables and great juke-box! Had a gas-powered open fire place, although I don't know whether it's still there. There is some kind of bar downstairs to where they sometimes do some type of comedy night.
Cameron - 25 Apr 2003 14:46 |
I love the pool table
Mad Jeff - 1 Dec 2002 19:18 |
I think this pub is rough unfriendly and a mess. Not worthy of a top 10 spot
Edward Howard - 25 Nov 2002 16:53 |
