please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Entered to be greeted by the hazard of three toddlers roaming around on the floor. The parents oblivious to the H & S implications for both the toddlers and anyone who could have tripped over them. The toddlers later continued running around the place maniacally unabated. Everything else is immaterial - a pub should not be a creche. Nil Points.
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After a visit to the new micropub nearby (not yet listed on the site), I headed to the Fox. It was fairly quiet late on a Tuesday evening. But the ale range was better than I remember and they now have a cider on handpull. Ales were Three Daggers Blonde, St Austell Proper Job & Trelawny, Green Duck Duck Under, Fullers London Pride & Timothy Taylor Landlord. The cider was Lilleys Merry Monkey. Another pub I should get to more often.
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Having now walked the entire length of the Grand Union Canal, I'm not sure there are many betters pub than this, the presence of West Berkshire Brewery's Mr. Swift's Pale Ale sealing my approval. It looks like a great community local in an albeit pretty middle class area (there is a craft shop in the back garden for goodness's sake) - the food including looked excellent and the light stunning on a lovely April day. Berkhamsted's Rising Sun and Fenny Stratford's the Red Lion probably rival it in the Grand Union canal stakes.
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£3.70 for a pint of Timothy Taylors Landlord. Some interesting guest beers regularly on. Monday night is pizza night where you can enjoy home made pizza, though if you go there straight after work you will be accosted by screaming kids in the garden with their oblivious yummy mummies.
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"I am pointing out serious health and safety issues that not only affect local residents but also the people who use the pub."
Quite right, sir, quite right. And you keep at it. And don't let anyone cast aspersions on your motives. I mean, someone more amateurish, when looking to prevent imminent death from serious safety hazards, might alert the police, the council, the licencing authority. Not you, no sir. None of that time-wasting nonsense for you. You got straight to the point.
"Ah ha!", says you, "a pub review site someone reads once a year. That'll get the problem sorted by end of day or I'm a Dutchman".
(Presumably you're persona non grata with the rossers since you called them round to investigate a bonfire on Bonfire Night - I'm sure the policeman's comments weren't really directed at you. I mean, the mere suggestion made one's eyes water)
"The sad, old line of not buying a property adjacent to a pub is trotted out time and time again."
Yes, probably since just after they built the pub in 1850.
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Dear Fafnir. Facetiousness is obviously one of your stronger character traits. Very witty. I am pointing out serious health and safety issues that not only affect local residents but also the people who use the pub. The sad, old line of not buying a property adjacent to a pub is trotted out time and time again. If the pub is run with respect for its neighbours and reasonable requests are treated with understanding then harmony reigns. To their credit the owners appear to be doing a bit more in this direction and for this I am grateful. However with the Summer coming I wonder how long this will last? You also have my sympathy as there will be a deal of disruption near your property over the coming few weeks..... hah, hah, chortle, chortle.
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Visited this pub before seeing the mighty U's throw a 1-0 lead away in 14 minutes to lose 3-1 at Brentford. Still after 4 pints of the admiral London Fields bitter the irritation was lessened considerably, though it was no great surprise. Not too far from Hanwell and Elthorne station, you will need your phone map to be working to find it, but it's well worth hunting out. Not only was the beer excellent but the ladies behind the bar topped up the pints without being asked - just my kind of pub. There were 3 or 4 beers on if I remember but I stuck with the London Fields as it was top quality. The other chaps partook of the food which seemed to be pretty good quality. 8/10
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@Keepthenoisedown
Sir, I certainly admire you. Your complete lack of embarrassment at not only being an enormous arse but advertising it on the internet is something I can only admire from afar.
You have a valid complaint, obviously. When you bought your house six or seven years ago, it was incredibly sneaky and underhand of someone to surreptitiously erect a pub not five metres from your windows a mere 150 years before you moved in. How were you to know the public house opposite may be open to the public. Next they'll be telling you people are drinking alcohol in there.
I know how you feel though. I bought a house next to a big, empty stadium shaped building in Wembley. I wish the owners well, of course - don't get me wrong - but I'm going to have to report them to the police. They have the most inconsiderate habit of inviting an extraordinary number of people over to watch 'football' and sing silly songs. Now, I'm no party pooper, but this monkey business has to stop.
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As a very local resident I am in total agreement with psimpsons' review of 2011 when he states that the management can best be described as " clueless amateurs ". 2 years down the line this remains valid. The owners are to be commended for turning this pub into a family and dog friendly environment, however they MUST also take responsibility for the noise and nuisance levels this brings to adjacent properties and should pay more than lip service to reasonable requests from their neighbours when problems arise. Let me give you 2 recent incidents which I reported to management and appear to have fallen on deaf ears. During the warm weather the side ( old public bar ) door is constantly open until closing, which can be any time up to 00.30 am. Despite the fact there is a designated smoking area everyone gathers here to smoke and carry on conversations, this is no more than 5 metres from the front bedrooms of the adjacent houses and every word can be clearly heard, which is not appreciated when I have to get up for an early shift! Young children seem to be in the pub very late at night and run out of this door straight across the road. THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AWAITING HERE. I have twice pointed this out and asked for management to ensure that customers left the premises with respect for neighbours. Nothing is done! I wish the pub well but the management need to take their responsibilities to neighbouring properties far more seriously before we consider other alternatives to control the noise and nuisance levels.
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Barman tried to give me change for a tenner not £20. No apology when I challenged him.
Packed because of the bank holiday beer festival and cold weather.
However, the pub is in an interesting little area and warrants a return visit.
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I want to leap to the defence of my local pub after the review posted by blue_scrumpy. But some of his observations are bang on the money. There are some excellent, professional members of staff at The Fox and I cannot sing their praises highly enough! But their acquisition, training and ability is purely down to fluke (the management will hire anyone regardless of experience or ability and keep anyone on staff even if they are patently incompetent - this is a major disservice to the great staff members and to the customers too).
The management, can at best be described as clueless amateurs, this is despite the fact they have been running the place for 10 years +. That said the landlady (Maggie) must be commended for her energy, determination and fantastic cooking on Sundays.
On the question of pricing, actually I have found that The Fox is rather cheap in comparison to the other pubs in the area. And if you are going to spend money on bar snacks these days, you must expect to spend small fortune.
The Fox is a lovely little pub, one which I will continue to happily frequent, the food and beer is excellent. BUT there is room for improvement, there is so much promise, so please management - pull your finger out, realise the gem you have on your hands and do a better job!
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nicely located and priced
located near the canal and Hanwell centre the Fox is a simple looking place popular with locals and walkers
good selection of beers and wines and the sunday lunch is a nice big hot portion of chicken,lamb or beef
also very popular with dog walkers who are catered for with doggie snacks behind the bar.
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I'd been meaning to try this pub for a while and finally got here on Friday evening. In all honesty, I was not overly impressed. The building and the location are nice, situated not far from the canal at the end of a suburban street. What disappointed me was the service. I hate it when customers are not served in the order they arrive at the bar. It shows a complete ignorance from the barstaff and customers alike. Nevertheless, I finally got served my half pint of Itchen Valley Pure Gold plus a bag of scratchings for a princely sum of �2.80. A mate arrived shortly after and ordered a pint of the same brew (�3.30). By my calculations, that makes the scratchings �1.15. I remember selling scratchings in a pub for 40p about 15 years ago. Has inflation really gone up by 300% in that time? Buying my mate a drink, I handed over �10.30, expecting �7 change. The barman returned to ask me what note I'd given him. I said it was a �10 and he came back with just �6.70 change. So I was overcharged 30p. Given I'd waited several minutes to get his service in the first place, I soon gave up and put the lost 30p down to experience. In summary, a nice pub with poor customer service. 4 other ales were on - Cottage Morgan Plus 8, Fullers London Pride, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Sharps Doom Bar.
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For a CAMRA branch pub of the year it's a bit disappointing. Pride, Landlord, Doom Bar and Lancaster Amber on 29 June. A bit shabby.
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Firstly, the good stuff. I've been coming to this pub for a decade, about the same time the current owners have run it. It's easily the best pub in the area, and in some ways one of the best you'll ever go to. It's a genuine, friendly local, full of nice people and nice staff, but still very welcoming to visitors. People wander off to the loo or for a smoke, leaving phones, wallets, all sorts sitting on the bar, never a thought anyone would take them. There are never any fights or rows, no drunken stupidity, no hooligans or yobs. It's a second home to a lot of people in Hanwell. It's basically a village pub in a little enclave of London. If you're looking for a pint in the area, it's definitely the pub to visit.
Now for the not so good, and I only say it in the hope it might spur the owners to change a few things. For a while now, commented on by many of the locals, there's been a sense of having absentee landlords, that they're happy to let things tick over and drift. Unfortunately, it's drifting downhill. There's no manager, just ever changing shifts of bar staff. The beers (three regulars and two guest), once excellent, are now average at best and often, like the last few days, terrible, undrinkable. When none of the beers are drinkable, there's not much else to tempt, either. The lagers on tap are all virtually identical - Fosters/Carlsberg/etc - no Leffe or Weissbier for variety. The fridge is packed with cider in the middle of winter, and four bottled lagers no one ever drinks. Why not lose some of the cider and put a few bottles of decent beer in there? And the wine list, geez. It's been commented on for years, but the wine is still execrable. Every time a decent wine pops up by accident, it disappears again, and we're left with the same rubbish (half of which is never in stock anyway). If there's nothing for us to drink, we're going to be hard pushed to spend any time (or money) in the place.
- Sort out the beer, please
-Get some decent wine and stick with it
-Stop saying 'that's good enough to get away with' and start thinking about how the pub can improve
-Get some authority behind the bar. It's nice that the pub is dog and child friendly, on during Sunday lunch you expect it, but someone has to tell a few notable people that having their kids running laps of the pub and screaming at 9 o'clock is not appropriate. It's not a ruddy creche.
-Ask yourselves why some regulars you used to see six days a week barely come in anymore.
I love this pub. PLEASE pull your fingers out and do something about it before it's too late.
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We have been going to the Fox for years. I don't know what's happened or changed, but the current barstaff seem incapable of wanting to maintain this as the place we always knew it to be - a lovely relaxed and tranquil spot, both dog and child friendly but at the same time well controlled and somewhere where all ciuttomers could enjoy there time. Recently bored and disruptive children have been allowed to run riot with no-one asking their parents to take consider others, and to take control. I saw 3 people leave this pub as a result, that is 3 paying customers. We will be back, but not anytime before end of winter whereafter we can at least find a place of peace and quiet outside. Very disappointing. Gerry would not have approved.
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This pub is probably the cr�me de la cr�me of pubs in the area. The beer and the food are very good and it is just a really nice place to either stop in for a pint with mates; and/or visit with family that are staying. A real gem of a pub! However they don't show live football matches in this place so don't go there if you want to watch a football match - presumably this is to keep that sort of client�le away!
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I have a new favourite pub and it's this one! Great selection of ales and really good Sunday roast. Lots of attention to detail with the food, like homemade Yorkshires and not overdone vegetables! I even got some cauliflower cheese. Yum.
The garden is family-friendly with a playhouse and good, dog-free space - don't worry there's a friendly courtyard where they allow dogs too! The bar area is full of just the sorts of locals you'd want in a pub - and there's a darts board. All in all a really great pub by the canal.
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Visited here after a long day on the river and canals ..... clearly a popular pub with locals as there were several gathered around the bar enjoying some friendly banter.
The beer was OK and got better as the night progressed (isn't that always the way). We were there on Curry Night and I have to say that the Lamb Biryani was excellent.
The staff were friendly to a group that were clearly passing through and helped us enjoy a well earned break.
dGriz - 19 Aug 2010 15:41 |
Re: 'speccie27' - it's a busy pub, the food is excellent as is the beer - no wonder they are full on a Sunday? Don't take it personally, I doubt your looks came into it at all! Middle class? Not at all - just well-known locally. Make a reservation next time, it'll be worth it
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This could be a very good pub, but my girlfriend and I were treated with the most appalling rudeness when we paid a visit on Sunday. We sat at virtually the only table that wasn't reserved for lunch, but after ordering a few drinks and something to eat, we were asked to move as there was another couple waiting for lunch. There were no other tables inside, so we were told to go to the "shed" outside, that was apparently, heated. However, this was full of smokers, and my girlfriend is asthmatic, so the only option we were left with was sitting outside in the cold on a chilly November day!! Possibly, we surmised they objected to out appearence amongst what was quite a well-to-do middle class crowd (I have long hair/earings and my girlfriend has purple-blonde hair and multiple piercings), but do the management of The Fox really believe this is an adequate way to treat paying customers, whatever they look like?
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A jolly nice pub!
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By far the best pub in Hanwell and surrounding area. Well kept beers, good service and atmosphere. Well worth a visit.
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Kind of L-shaped with the bar in the internal corner of the "L". Black and white beamed high ceiling, panelled walls, large full height windows with stained glass top lights. Carpeted, small traditional tables generally, chairs stools and benches, a few bar stools. All tables set for food with mats, cruet sets and so on Sat lunch, a bit disconcerting but no issue for drinkers, this is a beer pub not one of those gastro places that freeze drinkers out. A nice spot just off the canal, plenty of outside seating too but no waterside views, its about 50m off the towpath down a lane. A covered outdoor area has a bar football table, I guess this large shed is well utilised for the beer festivals The Fox holds from time to time.
Saturday's selection were Pride, Doom Bar, TT Landlord, Cottage Silly Mid Whippet and Morrisey Fox Blonde Ale. Be aware there are two banks of handpumps, the one nearest the entrance had the staples on with the two guests located on the second set around the corner.
A very pleasing spot for a couple this one, I enjoyed it here. You can buy postcards of the pub for 20p from the bar too!
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A very good local pub and the kind of place it would be a privilege to live near, the Fox Inn is located off the beaten track down a pleasant side street near the Grand Union canal. On the weekday night I visited it was thronged with locals, and with good reason I thought. The pub is 'L' shaped, with the bar on the inside of the 'L'. I spied eight handpumps, serving between them either five ales (I think). The regular ales were TT Landlord, Pride and the ever-more-ubiquitous Doom Bar. The guests were two beers from the Surrey-based Waylands microbrewery: Addlestone Ale and GBA. I tried both of them and they were extremely well-served. The pub has a decent food menu which I would characterise as "top-end pub grub": I had the Fox Burger and it was really tasty - the best pub burger I've had for a while. I have two small cavils: (1) I thought they might have the ratio of regular to guest beers slightly wrong - from eight handpumps I'd hope to see four or five guests (this is a matter of personal preference though), and (2) like a below poster, I thought the service could have been a bit better - it took me a while to get served at what seemed like a quiet moment at the bar, and one of the waitresses was too keen to take away my burger and various moments when I was taking a pause in eating! But this is still a very good pub, and I will be back soon I hope.
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By the way I meant the ale although the owner is a decent chap!
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Simply the best pub in West London. The landlord is to die for.
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May it stay on the same course as doing ok. Known this pub for years as sister used to live in old Hanwell. It has an enviable postion near the canal. Is a nice looking exterior with a worn but nothing at all wrong with it interior. New outdoor smoking monstrosity but got to go with the flow I suppose. Children like the few toys they have in the garden hope they keep that up and replace when knackered. Drinks fine. Food can take a while to be able to order then after ordering too but that's got better lately.
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Beer Festival at Easter 2009 was a triumph as usual. Thanks to Sarah for E-mailing me the list early so I could put it into Braille and me and my mates could have a fabulous day. Excellent beers; friendly staff; great place to be!!!
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Been here a couple of times. Nice character to the place - family pub. Great selection of beers too. Never tried the food though.
Would come back more often however it's at the wrong end of a long street.
Overall a hidden gem.
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I think you should give it a second chance Hanwale. The beer is usually first rate. Shame you had a bad experience.
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Possibly my favourite pub. I don't live here, but fortunately my brother does - on the same road - and it's his local. I go there whenever i visit him. First off i'd give it a '10' but you have to leave some room for improvement and the garden is just average - but that's being churlish. The pub itself i adore. Brilliantly kept real ales and good selection of guest beers. Fantsatic landlord, friendly locals, nice unpretentious and un re-constructed interior (ie. still like a pub, not a wine bar). Food has recently become excellent, nice barmaids, great atmosphere, friendly. It's quite light and airy and in a great position 50m from the canal on a dead-end-street - so you have to be looking to find it. Maybe this is what makes the landlord and landlady try so hard to make it so good. Colin keeps the best pint of London Pride i've ever had and TT Landlord, Doom Bar and Tribute have been other regulars. I come from Surrey by the way, a land of innumerable average to good pubs, but very few great ones (at least near Dorking). I WISH this pub was my local. It's that rare thing - a proper locals' pub that also welcomes visitors with open arms. Highlights are easter beer festival and occasional live music.
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We were on the Grand Union canal a few weeks ago and stopped overnight nearby. The Fox is down a no-through road, a little way off the main road, and not quite canalside but only about 50 metres away. Another 50 metres away is the surprisingly rural walk alongside the Brent River.
We arrived about 1700hrs and visited on and off until about 2200 (there is not much to do on the canal in Jan). The pub staff and customers were very friendly and seem to welcome children (in afternoon) and dogs. The single bar is L shaped with big screen tv in the corner of the L, but it is easy to get away from it in a cosy corner at the end of the long arm of the L.
The Taylors' Landlord was fine. A pint of Tring's Jack o Legs was decidely end-of-barrel but was changed instantly and without question.
The food was excellent and obviously chef cooked. Carbonarra, cheesy cottage pie and burger, all perfectly cooked and well presented and server. Good value too.
I thought this was a real find - local pub feel yet friendly, good beer and food but not expensive, good location. What more could you want?
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Having not long moved into the area, me and my housemate ventured into the fox due to its extremely close proximity, we were very pleasantly surprised, a great little pub with a proper traditional pub atmosphere, occasionally have live music which is usually good quality, and it's a delightful little pub, wether you are popping in for a quick pint, or in there for the evening. the landlord and staff are always friendly, and the dogs are gorgeous! the pub has been subject to some unfortunate incidents involving foreigners who had too many getting angry for no reason, and vandalising, which is entirely undeserved for such a great pub.
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Living in Hanwell all my life, I only recently visited The Fox for the first time when they were staging a beer festival. I was looking forward to this visit as Hanwell is short of good real ale pubs and I was assured by friends that this would be right up my street.
It wasn't.
You know what they say about first impressions ? Well, I ordered a pint of Chiswick which was poorly presented and tasted and smelt off. When I complained about this, the barman looked at me as if I had 2 heads. That really cheesed me off and I haven't been back since. Not sure whether to give it a second chance.
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Called in early the other Saturday lunchtime. Had choice of regulars of Pride and Landlord or one of two guests from Archers. we got tasters of both guests but neither appealed (had Archers best bitter in the past which was good) so we both settled on Landlord. A bit pricey beer but good value food offering which made up for it. It then started to rain properly (it was summer after all) so we had a couple pints more.
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I think its unfair to say that three ales on represent limited choice. Beer is always in perfect condition andf thats what counts.
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Fab! Came back again today; good selection of ales, and a tasting offered. The barmaid remembered me, the missus and the little'un. Top food, lovely atmosphere.
Can't fault it...
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Great local pub with big garden - ideal in the summer. Large selection of well-kept ales and very good food served by friendly staff. Gets a bit crowded now and again - understandably.
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Visited today with my partner and 6 month old daughter after going to the 'Bunny Park' at Brent Lodge...no bunnies, mind!
So much to say about 'The Fox':
Excellent ale - 7 to choose from. Enjoyed a 'Doom Bar' and 'One for the Road'.
Excellent food at reasonable prices.
No objection whatsoever to our daughter or her mashed carrot! In fact, the barmaid was quite taken with her...
Great service from the barmaid, who was polite, helpful and friendly, to the extent of bringing over a hot container to warm the mashed carrot.
Baby changing facilities! Don't get that very often...
Radio playing an enjoyable station, "Q", but not obtrusively.
...And the downside? Erm...errr...it's 20 minutes on the bus!
Ace. Will be back very soon.
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A lovely pub with excellent food and generally well-kept beer. Come and have a pint and play "beermat" with Luke the dog (reviewed below).
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A pretty and enjoyable boozer near the Grand Union Canal, serving some good ale (although the choice when I went was pretty limited - only 3 on).
TV and pub dog inside, but sitting outside in the garden on a sunny day is nice also.
Be warned, it's almost impossible to find a cashpoint in Hanwell high street (along with the English language it seemed) so go prepared.
Well worth a stop.
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Cheers Peter. I totally agree. The Landlord here is absolutely stunning.Best pint in the land for my money.
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I've dreamt about a decent local for years! The Fox is a Camra pub, and Colin the guvnor, (well sort of, its a family owned pub) keeps the standards of his regular and guest ales to an awesome standard. He's a London Pride Man, I'm a Timothy Taylor's Man, and many a lively debate has ensued over this important issue.
The Fox is all about a welcome. People go there to enjoy conversation over a pint, or with friends, or over a well-priced meal with a decent wine. It's the opposite of cliquey, the antithesis of a theme or chain owned pub. Quiz night on Thursday is superb, home grown, challenging and entertaining, but doesnt interfere with the dartboard in the corner. The Easter beer festival is a wonderful thing to behold.
Sorry to hear "Weston" the massive fan had a perceived set back. Talk to Colin, old chap! He and his team are on the ball, and run the best local I've ever had.
It's a real pub, for real people with fires in winter, a thoughtful provision for people who like a smoke outside, close by the secluded garden. The two magnificent black Standard Poodles are celebrities in their own right, as is the manic dog with a passion for catching beer mats in mid air...
Many of the regulars travel to get there, as do I - a 40 minute walk if I'm up to it. Engage with customers and staff there, and you will find a welcome.
My rating? For the Pub, 11/10. For the Timothy Taylor's Landlord last night, off the scale. That Good.
Go, and enjoy.
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I am a massive fan of this pub and I am extremely reluctant to say anything negative about it whatsoever. I am just slightly concerned about very poor service I have received by a certain couple of bar maids over the last month. I really dont mind waiting to be served and I understand that it is a difficult job to do; however, last time I was in the bar maid showed a stunning indifference to how long I had been waiting and instead was faffing around dealing with the other incompetent barmaid/helper's mistakes, whilst at the same time serving people who had blatantly come in after me9about six or seven people). I politely informed her that it was my turn as I had been waiting for about 15 minutes and although she didnt say anything her body language made it clear she was put out. These two seem to be quite new and the other bar staff have always been excellent. New staff should not be allowed to jeapordise the superb standards that this pub has always maintained. I only mention this out of concern for this pub's reputation rather than because of my own personal inconvenience.
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I am a massive fan of this pub and I am extremely reluctant to say anything negative about it whatsoever. I am just slightly concerned about very poor service I have received by a certain couple of bar maids over the last month. I really dont mind waiting to be served and I understand that it is a difficult job to do; however, last time I was in the bar maid showed a stunning indifference to how long I had been waiting and instead was faffing around dealing with the other incompetent barmaid/helper's mistakes, whilst at the same time serving people who had blatantly come in after me9about six or seven people). I politely informed her that it was my turn as I had been waiting for about 15 minutes and although she didnt say anything her body language made it clear she was put out. These two seem to be quite new and the other bar staff have always been excellent. New staff should not be allowed to jeapordise the superb standards that this pub has always maintained. I only mention this out of concern for this pub's reputation rather than because of my own personal inconvenience.
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Just about the perfect pub...
Relaxed, really great beer, by a good walk and the canal, good honest food...
We liked it so much we bought a house round the corner.
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An absolute stunner of a pub with the best ale in the country;see you soon!!!!!
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Great little local pub near the canal, beautiful during the summer and cosy in the winter. A propper community pub, especially enjoyable this christmas. Food has always tasted great and the waiting service has significantly improved in recent months. The proof is that most, if not all tables are reserved every Sunday, book early to avoid dissappointment! Also a great range of food avaliable during the week. Most of the bar staff are very friendly and professional, they really add to the character of this pub, though watch out for the grumpy bald one!
I'm not an ale drinker but they always have a good range on which my husband appreciates! There is also a great range of wines.
It has two lovely pub dogs, the most placid animals on the planet. I'm not a local but am more than happy to travel the distance. Easily deserves its recent award. Well done!
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Nice place for a family pint on a sunny afternoon, after a walk by the canal. Beer garden has greenery & flowers, plastic things for entertaining kiddies & usually some random dogs. Food is not bad, but sometimes erratic in turning up. Food not served all day- I nearly always forget this & end up eating many bags of crisps. Inside is quaint, small & cosy.
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Proper old local pub with great ale and lots of character. Nice location by the canal and a good little beer garden in the summer. Thursday night quiz is quite legendary and well worth the visit.
Last time we ate here it was pretty poor, but i've heard that they're getting their act together on the food front so we might give it another try in the future.
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The garden is visible from the road as you approach and was busy with mother and toddler stylee on this sunny Tues pm; that was fine for me as it left the bar nice & quiet. Three handpumps as you approach the bar had TT Landlord & 2 mainstreams, these were replicated at the other end of the bar but the 4th pump there carried the excellent Twickenham Naked Ladies. A nice enough pub but, with 7 pumps and CAMRA awards on its CV, I wonder whether the Fox varies its beer choice occasionally with some more imaginative selections?
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A cosy friendly pub with a well chosen range of beers kept in absolutely tip top shape, this is one for the beer enthusiasts alright. Timothy Taylor and Archers when I visited with the fruity Fruli in chilled bottles. Tucked away in a peaceful spot in Ye Olde Hanwell Village, far away from the machinations of evil property developers and right by the Grand Union canal (though not near enough to catch its vile brackish whiff) this is an excellent service station if you are walking along the towpath or patiently piloting your boat through the rancid debris strewn waters. In fact seeing as Hanwell has around eight hundred locks lifting the canal twice the height of Everest and back again, you're probably better off ditching the boat for a few hours and getting hammered before even attempting all those taxing locks. Who cares if your drunken lock opening efforts subsequently drain the entire north of England of water and canal boats? It's a damp wet place full of querulous natives at the best of times, but gentle reader, I digress. The only thing I would say is that the Sunday lunch service is like a sort of Beckett play, or some lost surrealist experiment from the 1920s. God-awful music will blare randomly from loud speakers then stop entirely, the service will be slow and ponderous, the waiters will converse in a broken form of Pidgin English full of confused pregnant pauses and quizzical discourses on the existence or otherwise of hummus, the staff will then visit you regularly after forgetting who you are and walk past with random plates of food for hours, your meal will arrive with eight forks, ten serviettes and no knives and then no one will accept money from you in payment and look blankly and dejectedly at your bill as if it were a cuneiform tablet from the third millennium BC detailing some minor piece of Sumerian accounting procedure. But as I said, good beer.
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I've only been there once before, nice enough enough pub but the two pub dogs put me right off. They chased me right into the ladies and then I couldn't leave because the owner wouldn't hold on to them long enough for me to get the door. Nice place but more control over their dogs wouldn't go amiss. Avoid it if your afraid of dogs!
anonymous - 10 Jul 2007 15:00 |
Beautiful pub with lovely garden and great beer, child, pet and bike friendly. Down a quiet cul-de-sac, it's an excellent destination if you're walking or cycling by the canal. They do a good trad Sunday lunch but the service is slloooowwwww so settle in for a 3-pint wait. Last time we went there en masse for lunch with family and friends (May 07) they were so disorganised they undercharged me by �50. Another punter who had taken his family there for lunch was so cheesed off by the slow service he told me not to pay it, but I did. They're a nice bunch - they just need to get their act together in the kitchen.
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Nice local pub along the canal, even my friend who doesn't particularly drink and isn't fond of pubs was quite happy there when she lived in the area.
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We liked it so much we're buying a house round the corner
anonymous - 1 Feb 2007 18:10 |
A wonderful friendly pub even on a damp Tuesday in January, beer excellent as ever,food superb and dog friendly, has pub poodle.
dandj - 16 Jan 2007 20:35 |
This is part of the dying breed of truely great London pubs. Please God don't let it ever be gastro-ised, it's perfect as it is.
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Great pub in a sleepy part of west london. Almost like a village atmosphere in Olde Hanwell. Great choice of Ales and very cosy in winter. Well done, and please don't ever change!
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This is a fantastic pub and is certainly one of the best in London. The Taylor's landlord is the best in the land and all the other beers are always exceptionally well kept. Also, well done to them for only charging �2.80 for a pint bottle of magners.
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Great pub, very friendly and down at heel in a comfy sort of way. Beer garden lovely in summer, and usually a nice range of beers though the wine drinker isnt forgotten. Food typically chaotic - they havent got their serving sorted out yet - but shows signs of promise though most regulars tend to go for the pork scratchings. Excellent quiz night on thursdays for most of the year (not summer). Lots of regulars and somd through-traffic from the canals. Probably the best pub in the West Ealing to Hanwell area.
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Brilliant range of beer - well kept. I see that The Flea is back from Kiwiland - that is good for beer quality. Great Quiz on a Thursday. New chef Marcia from Brazil does fine food till 9 most nights. Locals friendly. Recommended.
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Simply the best Sunday lunch at the price (around �6-7) that you'll find anywhere.
Timothy Taylor's Landlord is also perfectly kept.
A great pub to spend a long sunday afternoon.
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Stand up and take a bow. This place should be the benchmark for all good boozers. Makes living on Green Lane an absolute pleasure.
anonymous - 1 Feb 2006 19:08 |
Not bad - nice beers
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great pub, nice locals, tucked away down a sde street.
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This is what all pubs should be like, Good beer, friendly peeps, nice garden, good food.
Boaby - 11 Jan 2006 16:06 |
This is my local and I love it.
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Deuchars and Timothy Taylors in excellent condition when I was there last - always a good atmosphere and a lovely garden in summer. A must if you are Hanwell way.
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A great local. A real asset to the neighbourhood.
Neato - 27 Jun 2005 18:05 |
Lovely garden, great staff, well kept reasonably priced beers and lots of guest ales. Damn near perfect. Try to go midweek or evening if you can. Gets very busy Sunday lunchtimes
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Great selection of real ale and a must for a canal walker like me....They were having a beer festival when i called in.....super pub from the old breed...check it out...........Mitch
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Seems to have become more food orientated of late - particularly at Sunday Lunchtime - when most of the tables were reserved for diners last Sunday. Still, the Timmy Taylors was on top form and the pub is still an ideal stopping off point when doing the Grand Union Canal, either on foot or bike ( or barge !). Pub is close to the famous Hanwell Locks
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An old gent walking along the canal recommended this pub. He was right.
I enjoyed the decor, and the food was good (including proper handcut chips) two types of cider on tap; Thatcher's Gold and Strongbow. Tim Taylor was ordered a lot while I was there, and some London Pride. The telly's could be a bit bigger, but the pub isn't laid out well for more than 6 or so people to watch. A good spot to stop as you walk the canal. I will be back.
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Great place to spend an afternoon. Really nice original decor too. Only gripe that it gets really busy with Sunday lunchers. Still, the Dolphin isn't too much of a walk away.
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Nice. Excellent beer (Landlord but also guests like Deuchar's), friendly clientelle (including greyhounds). Trad pub lunches. Hard to beta
David Jollie - 6 Oct 2004 13:22 |
Good Staff & friendly. Traditional affordable food. Beer very well kept, Taylor�s landlord superb, mild very pleasent, Brakspears not too good, but I've never had a decent pint of Braks in london. Try the dew drop at Hurley SL6 6RB if you desire brakspear at its best. Back to the Fox though, Good mix of people & friendly, beer garden great, and so is the interior. A local in the traditional style. This pub has been transformed into the best in the area since the current landlord has taken residence. 9/10
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near the grand union canal
nice beer garden
regular guest beers
real food
decent pub
dan - 20 May 2004 16:59 |
Good beer, good food, friendly staff
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A real pub, great beer, better than any of the others mentioned
Jane Salisbury - 17 Feb 2004 00:54 |
Went in last night with a mate. Sadly no Taylor's Landlord, but there was a nice mild. Brakspear Bitter and Fuller London Pride went off later in the evening leaving just the mild. Despite this the atmosphere was very welcoming as locals and staff alike were very friendly.
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No doubt the beer is amongst the best around, but it's also a true 'local' with a friendly atmosphere, nice garden in the summer and welcoming to families. Worth combining with a walk up the nearby canal and you'll really feel you're out in the country.
James M - 8 Sep 2003 14:33 |
Good local pub with real beer in good condition.
Andrew - 15 Aug 2003 20:44 |
Real Ale pub. Traditional English Food lunchtimes.
Sarah Brazier - 28 Jul 2003 23:28 |
