please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Hop Poles was my first new pub of the day. With Doom Bar, Atlantic & London Pride on, I went instead for a keg cider. The interior has a large, central bar and high ceilings. Large windows look out over King Street and there is some nice glasswork. Not a place I'd target in future, it was at least open on a Sunday morning.
|
Used to drink here as a teenager back in the mid 90's. Many fond memories (and bad ones). Always lively and full of people getting tanked up before heading to the Palais afterwards. Times have changed somewhat (some say for the better) and the atmosphere will never be replicated in this modern era of gastro pubs.
|
Decent beers, Rev James and other Brains stuff plus Blue Moon. Comfortable sort of gastro pub, wood floors etc and the food looked good. Service a little slow and slightly annoying when the staff dont understand you or make eye contact - sometimes doing you a favour by actually giving you the change from your payment!
|
Agree with Lucy as it used to be awful, but it's a world away from that now, nice place for a drink and the food decent too.
|
I think the rating for the Hop Poles is misleading as most of the votes will have been a while ago, before it was refurbished. It's quite nice now and much improved though I still think there are better places to go nearby.
|
Not sure why the rating is so low for this one. Decent enough pub, service was fine (although it wasn't busy) good outside seating area. Not massive but decent enough selection of beers. Would certainly come back if the occasion arose.
|
I think binnsy is wrong, the price list is displayed at the bar.
I drink Carlsberg it's �3.30 a pint, my missus loves frulli and I know its 4 quid. Hop poles used to be a bit shady - actually it was a bit of a shit hole, but its not half bad now. Its been done up and I actually feel safe going in there on a friday night after work in my suit. Missus loves drinking up on the beer garden in the summer.
|
Past three visits in a row I've been served pints that are about three cm off the pint measure. Today I finally asked for my pint to be topped up, and was told 'that's how they're served'. Could have done without the attitude. Won't be back.
|
I drank in this pub for the first time in weeks, only to find that they have put up the prices to a stupid level. A pint of Carlsberg was 3.95 !, and before Christmas it was 3.25. Strawberry flavoured lager is now 4.25 !. I know vat has gone up, but this is a discrace, shame on you Hop Poles, you won't be getting my custom any more.
|
Utterly dismal. I often drop in here when I want to depress/punish myself. Maybe it's the ex-Catholic guilt in me. You can always tell a pub by it's toilets. These are very telling, indeed. Imagine, if you will, stepping into the nightmare that is a Hieronymous Boshch vision of hell. That's not nearly as bad as the facilities here. 2 cubicles, sans locks and choking with paper and faeces, admirably provide some light relief to the pools of urine/water/God knows what - that cover the floor. Out of order hand driers and vomit filled sinks are another talking point for rubbish pub fans - you won't be disappointed.
The clientele are ok, evidently they don't seem to mind the carnage within but hell's teeth, this place needs a makeover. Or demolition job.
|
Bland bland bland & not a nice pint in site.......
|
i agree that it is better, but from a starting point of minus two, that wouldn't be difficult.
it seems to be populated by some of the stupidest people in london which is not necessarily a bad thing. don't risk drinking the lager though, it comes with a free shot of pipe-cleaning fluid. the staff here clearly don't know/care what they are doing after cleaning the pipes.
|
I concur with others on here that the pub's score is dragged down by scores given in its earlier incarnation - it has been much improved and is now quite a good pub, the building has been opened up without being damaged so you can go upstairs - there is an upstairs bar and a small outside area - and look across Lyric Square. Busy of course, but it is near Hammersmith Broadway with its offices.
|
I had the misfortune of ending up standing next to an old Irish bloke at the bar that was so pissed that he couldn�t speak except for shouting indistinguishable ramblings at the poor barmaid. He seemed to be a regular and thankfully she informed him that he wouldn�t be served any more drink although this was probably about five pints to late.
The Pride was good, but the other ale offering of Landlord was off as the barrel had just been changed and it needed time to set, whatever that is supposed to mean. There is also an unused ale pump along with a mixture of standard and premium lagers.
On the whole it wasn�t that bad an experience as the staff were friendly and the place has been tarted up a bit.
Even with the drunk old soaks, I think that this place has improved vastly and the current low scoring is a little out of date.
|
Attrative, traditional styled pub near Hammersmith tube station. Went there after visiting the Hammersmith Apollo and found the place busy but well staffed. The staff were nice and polite, and the music wasn't to loud.
Have a nice variety of seating areas and a very nice roof terrace, which was particularly usefull for the smokers in our group. Saw they had a large food menu but didn't eat there on this occasion, but plan to do so soon.
Large selection of beers, especially lagers but also stock Timothy Taylor and London pride ales too, a few of us tried their cocktails which were fun!
|
Really nice bar to relax in during the day, always seems to have loads of bar staff on which is nice. More expensive than most places but a favorite haunt if I don't fancy heading down to the Thames.
One of my favorites.
|
Since its refurbishment it is a nice place to go. You have a pubby feel out the back with old pub tables and a carpeted floor, counches and polished tables at the front for the more chic clientele and an excellent back patio for Summer.
The function room up the top is excellent and offers a good space and its own bar.
The place doesnt have heaps of character but i think it does have a lot to offer its customers.
Staff are good
|
A few of us decided to go in for a quick drink (since looked quieter than the other ones around) to decide on a venue for the evening but instead we decided to stay on as it was extremely pleasant. We eventually moved upstairs to the patio area (which now has an extra large heater!). The music was tasteful and not too loud either unlike most pubs these days and found the whole experience quite calm and pleasant, ideal for anyone my age (thirties!).
The photo on this site could not be a recent one as we found out that they did not show any sport on TV not even Andy Murray playing tennis! I would definitely go in there again for a few more Peronis and just having a nice time with friends without being pushed around by kids and louts. Surprised at the current rating, a perfect 10 for me.
|
Extremely dissappointed. After the refurb, we had started to use this as an after work local. Had a few leaving do's there however, just recently, after a two week period, after phoning 3 times, visiting and talking to staff twice, finally got confirmation we could use an area. Emailed and advertised to friends and collegues only to be called Thursday morning to say we could no longer have the are requeseted. Absolutley disgusted in their customer service, especieally when they admitted they didnt care about losing the business of 50 people for an evening.
norts - 10 Apr 2008 11:46 |
After reading older reviews of this pub I can't believe it was the same place I visited this afternoon!
Had wonderful food (2 sandwiches, priced around �4 each with chips for �2-ish) and a few pints of guinness (�2.90 each). The atmosphere was welcoming, the staff friendly and the sofa we sat on was wonderfully soft - we didn't want to leave! The toilets were also better than many other London pubs that I've visited.
Don't live in Hammersmith but if I was ever going past I would go back without a moment's thought - much more inviting than the Wetherspoons across the road.
Giving this 9/10 to hopefully increase the average rating somewhat to reflect that this pub is much better than its previous incarnation!
|
Have never wanted to go inside before, but interested in the recent reports suggesting dramatic changes. Certainly looked good inside, but some of the punters still seemed a bit dubious. Only one real ale on - Timothy Taylor Landlord - and they tried to charge �2.65 despite the rather irritating digital adverising displays around the bar clearly quoting �2.45. They claimed that "the price has gone up today", but their bluff was well and truly called when I asked to look at the official price list on the wall. Ho hum! All in all, a mixed bag, but certainly now worth more than the current rating.
|
Just been at lunch today and will be going back in the future, it was a pleasant surprise. I suggested it to the guys for the Firday lunch time drink to see how it faired after the refurb and it has been a complete transformation since last I was in there. I have avoided this place for years due to a previous bad visist there. The decor is a lot better than previously, lets hope it stays that way and the general atmosphere is more welcoming.
The biggest surprise was the prices, I expected to get fleeced but most pints were under �3, pint of London Pride was �2.45, which I think is even cheaper than the local Fuller's pub! The selection of beer was good, Peroni (�3.30) on tap which is always nice, Amstel, 1664 etc etc.
My only dissapointment was the bowl of chips we ordered, for �1.95 there was about 10 chips which was far from adequate.
I didn't have chance to explore or use the WC so can't comment on the whole pub, however I'll definetly be heading back there soon. Top marks for the revamp, lets only hope it keeps up the standard into the future.......
|
OMG, what a transformation. It's kinda weird, because the Hop Poles used to be *so* bad that it was fun on occasions to go down and experience the worst of chav culture.
Went along earlier in the week, not a chav in site. They've ditched the Sky Sports and now just have quiet background music. The pub has been fully refurbed, making it much more welcoming.
The best bit was going upstairs. There's now an upstairs bar and seating area too, plus quite a large patio area. Only downside was no patio heaters but I guess you can't have it all.
|
YAY! Finally there is a pub in Hammersmith that isnt a weatherspoons of full of Chavvy idiots. Renovations are really nice, and the new crowd (And there is one!) seems to be a good mix.
I�m converted!
|
7 weeks of lick of paint??? You must be the one painting it than... Right, here's bad news for local hopers and believers... Forget about late night DJ weekends, forget about sports, start looking for a new place to go, 'cos none of that nonsense is coming back...surprised??? make sure you gonna have a couple of extra quid next time you decide to come in for round or two...Cant wait for reopening.
one of the locals...
anonymous - 19 Oct 2007 01:58 |
Hip hip horay this dive is having a make over and it could have come sooner!!! How the authorities didnt get this place closed down is a mystery. It was filth the toilets were something else i wouldnt send a rat to this hell hole. Anyway lets hope they do away with the chav style and introduce a bit of class but something tells me not heres hoping.
|
THE Worst pub in London.And that is saying something,full of ugly chavvy slags wearing the obligatory 3-4 cheap gold chains from Argos (And one with those cheap tacky clowns is a MUST) it would appear.All waiting for whichever Dwayne or Leroy is sober enough to get them up the duff for the 2nd or 3rd time (To help get those child benefit payments up higher) so that the little whore can spend more time on her arse watching Jeremy Kyle and just dreaming of the day she gets to be on the show.Full of whorish under age slags - and all the scummy blokes from Acton/Chiswick/Ladbroke Grove that it can fit in.
An absolute dive of a pub,even in my younger days of shagging slags and fighting mugs this pub was a shit hole too far
anonymous - 12 Sep 2007 02:58 |
This place is a meat market and if your new in there your not gonna be liked the girls give you looks like they run the place....not my idea of a great night out
anonymous - 14 Aug 2007 16:12 |
It really is rubbish.
|
I was walking past the Hop Poles last Friday and glanced through a window. Unfortunately I caught the eye of a couple of neanderthals who mouthed words to the effect of "wotta you lookin at ****, we'll kick your head in".
Quality in a way I suppose, a pub that you don't even have to go into to get into a fight.
anonymous - 23 Jul 2007 13:13 |
Big dive, although I had a good night when I went and some bird got her chats out.
|
Jesus and Gandhi would end up getting into a fight in this place. Old chinese proverb say: cheap pint is no consolation for shattered skull
|
walked in there and within minutes saw a fight at the bar and a crazy old guy came and sat with us. It was extremely dirty and gross. But cheap for a pint. I would suggest you go somewhere else though.
|
Another dive. On an evening you can smell the testosterone as boozed up thick chavs hunt for another tart to get up the duff. It gets full of the dreaded School Disco crowd on a Saturday night, which says it all realy. A shitting hole. Take note of the rating of 1.3/10 by 73 users.
|
Went to this pub on a Thursday night. Blaring music made conversation almost impossible, but the three old men that made up the entire clientele didn't seem to mind.
|
I really should have paid more attention to the comments below before agreeing to meet a friend in here for lunch!!
Every table was filthy, and the anonymous poster is correct - the sausage and mash does resemble dog's shit in a moat of vomit.
The girl behind the bar was quite sweet though, think she'd do better elsewhere though!
|
This pub is just dirty, when i dared to go in one time, the bloke on the door had the nerve to tell us that it would cost us 2 quid to get in. Me and my mates walked away in disgust. 2 whole quid to get into the Hop Poles?!?!?! Decent enough staff i'll grant you and I know some pretty decent clientele too. It's just old, outdated, with creepy, pervy blokes sitting by themselves waiting for the School Disco girls to have that one Reef too many. Not to mention that they don't seem to ask for ID very much either.
|
i don't think I'd be too far wrong if i were to say that this serves the worst beer in Hammersmith. The nicest thing is the toilet and only because there was a man squirting you with perfume and drying your hands. This pub is wrong.
anonymous - 4 Jun 2006 20:08 |
Avoid this sh**hole. i had the severe misfortune of coming across this pub when i used to work in the area. Almost checked myself into A&E after eating their sausages and mash which resembled a whippets turd lodged on a bed of congealed baby puke. shocking!
anonymous - 20 Apr 2006 15:10 |
A friend of mine suggested meeting here. I went to the bar and asked for a glass of red wine for her and was told that they didn't have any. They were also out of whiskey and another customer was complaining about how long he had been waiting for his food.
Inept.
|
Good for a Saturday night if you want to carry on drinking and can ignore the raucous and unpleasant elements within the clientle. Or better yet - laugh at them.
|
what has happened over the last few weeks,this pub has become a dump.bring back the women who run it before this terrable S.A bloke!!!!
anonymous - 19 Oct 2005 21:55 |
"If this place is so bad why's it always packed at the weekend?"
Because the staff turn a blind eye to all the seedy, nasty behaviour that occurs in there, that is why. This place is HELL ON EARTH.If you have never been in - avoid.
In all my years of visiting boozers in West London I have never been so dissapointed as to what has happened to the Hop Poles.Yes,you do get a few decent folk in there,but mostly it is full of the worst kind of trash immaginable. Lousy DJing,crap food,piss poor karaoke and disgusting beer make this place a prime contender for the bulldozers (in my humble opinion of course!!)
Passing by it yesterday (Monday) afternoon,I saw about 4 police cars & numerous on foot officers all piling into the Hop Poles.This is a regular occurence at this very unpleasent rat hole!!!
|
If this place is so bad why's it always packed at the weekend. Just because you dont like it, doesnt mean others cant. If someone likes this venue does that automatically make them a tart or chav?!
And if you dont fancy here, you can always check out Club Richmond in Earls Court. Under new management and new DJ's, it's getting busier each week.
|
Well said Mr.Raffles. In an area like Hammersmith,where 99% of the pubs are shite,this one gets the award for being the crumbiest pub of them all. No style or class. The bouncers are a waste of space, the under age slappers are pursued by slavering townies eager to put another tart up the duff & drain the welfare state even more. This pub should have a Biohazard warning palced on every window.
|
To the poster below,I have no problem with people getting drunk & having a good time - except when being drunk & having a good time involves insulting and threating behaviour aimed at others within there line of blurred vision. The Hop Poles is one of the most unpleasent pubs in the area. The food is revolting,the beer is piss poor & the atmosphere is heavy with menace. A cancer on the face of Hammersmith.
|
this pub is not as bad as people say,don't analyse the customers,just the good time you'll have. i visited the pub,despite the comments and enjoyed myself,and so did my mates.it's a pub for gods sake not an office,people get drunk and enjoy themselves,which is what i suggest to the last e;mailer!..a good pub 4 a piss up and a laugh,especially on a thursday to saturday.
anonymous - 19 Jun 2005 22:17 |
An absolute hell hole.I can think of no worse pub in the area.It is full of thick chav types and council estate slappers without any brain cells.This pub should be forceably closed down for the sake of the good folk of Hammersmith.
|
it is really bad in there, i agree full of really young looking girls who put themselves out there. Gets really really busy and far too hot. The staff are ok and the bouncers are generally quite friendly. If you want to actually talk to the people you rae with dont go there.
|
Ignore my comments below. This pub is awful, awful, AWFUL! It's loud, crass, vulgar and filled with the shittiest people in Hammersmith.
Visited last night and it was so loud I couldn't even hold a conversation with someone I was standing next to. All the other people looked so young they'd get asked for ID purchasing cigarettes. Young girls masquerading like they're queens of the catwalk, but look more like common tarts, chewing gum and talking dirty.
The bar staff looked like they couldn't wait for closing time so they could chuck everyone out.
It's the worst pub I've ever been in.
|
At least they've stopped charging on the door for the sweet hell of it.
I've never been a lover of this pub, but it's always reasonably busy, mostly with the folks who work at King's Mall. Get in early if you want a table though, especially on Karaoke/Disco nights. The karaoke isn't particularly good, but it is busy. Don't expect to get a song in if you arrive after 11pm. You get a few dickheads, but they don't completely ruin the atmosphere. Not a good pub for watching the footie though.
|
i would like to say that the person who complained about not singing on the karaoke has since been in and sung,see we do know who you are!it's because it's such a good night that alot of people want to sing.i suggest come early to avoid disapointment!!!!
anonymous - 4 Feb 2005 14:03 |
went to the karaoke last thursday, tried to put a request in to sing about half an hour from the end, I was told no, she couldn't take any more requests. I hadn't sung a song all night, and there were the same people singing song after song (appeared to all be her mates) she could have easily ignored one of their 10 songs to let me sing my ONE. Played far to much music between people singing, no idea how to run a decent karaoke. And if she reads this good, and before you say I've no idea what I'm talking about, I've been doing karaoke for 8 years, at one point I even used to do this pub, and have done the after party for the brits....where I sang songs with Kylie and Robbie, and various others. I do like this venue though, just dont like the karaoke woman.
anonymous - 1 Feb 2005 13:58 |
Avoid this pub like the plague, it's terrible, but to be fair to it no worse than most pubs in Hammersmith.
|
Soon 2 b referbished. Nov 04. get sum air con.
Monsterboy - 19 Oct 2004 06:03 |
Dodgy pub, full of leary thick blokes. Avoid.
TheGP - 21 Sep 2004 13:51 |
Atmosphereless place which used at least to have the occasional cute Japanese tourist. Even they seem to go somewhere else now. I had possibly the worst bangers and mash I've ever had in this pub.
beeronaut - 6 Sep 2004 22:55 |
No atmosphere - virtually empty during the week. One of the most unfriendly barmaids I've ever encountered, to put it mildly!
Ellie - 15 Jul 2004 14:50 |
Absolutely appalling place with no character and no atmosphere apart from the threatening one from the constantly mashed up failed city boys in suits who stagger from one end of the bar to the other in this place looking to spill their pint of lager-top on someone. Only one thing to be said for the place - you can always pull.
fingers_malone - 5 May 2004 06:46 |
a crowd from work go every saturday,its brilliant especially if ur into 80's music,wouldnt go anywhere else!!!!!!!!!!!!!staff are friendly,bouncers can be a bit rough but otherwise a brilliant night out b4 going onto a club!!!
sam - 3 Apr 2004 11:59 |
Did used to okay if a little draughty. Now gone the way of the Bull and Bush in Richmond. Could almost be an Edwards. Avoid.
Good for: Possibly during the day, I don't know.
|
it is go good the best pub its more like a club then a pub fridays are good and saturdays really good u should go
gina - 6 Jan 2004 21:18 |
dont recommend karoake night unless you intend on getting serious drunk other nights can be better
Alex - 21 Dec 2003 19:39 |
Used to be ok if not special, now very much a pastely clone of a lot of other places.
|
Scary karoake in that the purveyer of tunes and speakers looks like he has escaped from a maximum security prison. I've only seen one person taken out on a stretcher from here. Good service, reasonable prices, nothing to really recommend it. Apart from being near a cash machine.
Ron Malibu - 13 Dec 2003 18:50 |
this is a fun pub excellent nights,late licence and good bar staff that can remember your order no matter how many drinks you order!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
chris - 7 Oct 2003 23:42 |
Good busy pub,friendly staff,open till 12 on thursdays,fridays and saturdays,and the south africian lady don't work there any more!!!(also they have a good sized roof terrace,which is tucked away from the drones of kings street,and a sun trap on a nice day)
happy customer - 25 Sep 2003 20:56 |
stinks of old beer encrusted on carpet! dont sit near the loos the doors BANG loudly everytime someone enters or exits. strange lack of seats at front of pub. can find much better in hammersmith
millym - 26 Jul 2003 21:06 |
in my experience, the doormen have being very strict on ids, which is a good thing, however despite being 22 and not looking a day younger, i have been rejected, whereas girls who barely look 16 have being let in no probs. if u complain to them about this, they'll threaten to phone the police. then again, whats new?
jim k - 2 Jun 2003 20:12 |
Bit of an ACME pub now, used to be more original. Lacking in atmosphere, but cheap food and loads of screens.
beer - 13 Feb 2003 12:15 |
Loud boozer full of obnoxious blokes, plus the School Disco crowd on Saturdays.
SK - 12 Jun 2002 11:12 |
