please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
My husband and two children had lunch here last sunday and we were so surprised at the changes the new owners have made. The bar staff were so friendly and accommodating. The roast dinner was the best I have had in along time (apart from mine at home of course!) The atmosphere was relaxed and customers of all different ages. We are definitely coming back.
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hearing good things abut this place, its been a long time since I've been there so looking forward to a revisit this weekend, watch this space...
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Went into the Raven the other night, WOW, what a turnaround! New owners have installed a new bar with new lagers and bitters, find Amstel, Heineken and several choices of contintel beers. The menu is fantastic, still keeping up with tradition of a British pub with meals such as homemade 8oz British beef burger with bacon and cheese, fish and chips with mushy peas. But the new chef, Luca, has brought a little taste of the Mediterranean with him. Homemade pasta, sausages and chorizo are on offer, with an array of tapas dishes as an alternative to a large meal. I had the tomato and bazil bruschetta, fresh calamari (not the frozen rings you find in some establishments) and the aubergine tempura. I could honestly sit and eat this food all day! After having a little chat with the chef himself, it transpires that more is yet to come... Plans for sushi and lobster nights, BBQ's on Saturdays and Sunday carverys are all on the cards if not already in place after writing this review. The Raven is, without a doubt, back!
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Went to the Rave Friday, It�s just like old times, the new owners are updating the bar, Had the best Fish and home made chips for years, and the staff was great, had Doom Bar, Junction, and Tribute on tap, Will definitely coming back
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Have to agree with the previous few comments on this place - what was once one of my top five pubs in London is now a pretty drab & miserable pub to visit.
The staff are indifferent at best and the food is way too pricey for what is very average pub grub.
The beer is still pretty good however, as a freehouse there are usually 3 different ales on, and it's a varied range. Long gone are the tasting notes under the pumps though.
Overall just feels disappointing - it should be a much better pub than it is, but I guess the Jagermeister stickers in the window show what level of clientele and service they're now pitching this place at.
Red14 - 19 Mar 2011 15:53 |
It's crap. Surly Aussie bar staff that resent breaking off their conversation to serve you. As soon as last orders are called they noisily start stacking chairs on the tables, sofas that are badly torn, dirty windows.
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May as well rename this place 'The Walkabout' or the bloody 'Kangaroo'.. Not any different from your typical 'Aussie / Kiwi' boozer now.. Big screen tv showing the rugby, Big bald headed clueless crettins now running the show in their stupid shit shirts!.. Kiwi / Aussie flags all over the bar area.. terrible 'singer, songwriters' nights and even more terrible 'comedy nights' (wtf!), horrendous, grooveless music on the sound system.. No more funk or cool music!.. rude staff and incredibly bad food.. A very, very different place to what it once was.. now completely ruined, I hear that Johnny Depp and Lady Gaga have popped in recently, shame they were 4 or 5 years late.. PLEASE bring back the old style Raven and let it spread it's wings again!!!!!!!
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I have been so disappointed with this pub recently. Having written a very positive review earlier in the year, I now agree with gastro_journalist. The food is just not good any more. The place has lost the "chic" in its shabby-chic; the staff (VERY high turnover) have been rude and unhelpful on my last couple of visits. What a shame.
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Experienced pretty inedible food, it's lost it's local charm, too shabby, unhelpful staff.....what more can i say. I will not be going back in a rush.
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Nice place, decent big screen to watch the sport on but out the back is very shabby. The sofas in the covered outside bit are falling to pieces and very dirty. Garden is ok but small. Not bad all in all.
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This is a great pub with greater food. Possibly the best steak I've had in London. The chef obviously knows what s/he is doing. The wine list is long enough to be interesting and not so long as to be tedious. There's always a good selection of real ales.
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I love this pub! The staff are really friendly and welcoming, they play really good music, always a good selection of ales and the food is good and well priced. Best pub in Hammersmith!
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Have lived around the corner for 2 years and have only just started going back to the Raven its a great local pub now with hot girls behind the bar and they show sport now which is great for me and my mates.
The food menu has changed it looks great even though it maybe a bit over-priced.
The place is alot cleaner still with a great atmosphere and again it has hot chicks so if you want a good night out with the mates or a quiet night with the Missus in front of the fire then I say pop down to the Raven and see for yourself.
Cheers
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Having been to the Raven a few times over the last few years, the pub seems to have really picked up recently. Service was great, still a good selection of beers and wine. Food has improved dramatically, (think they have a new chef in there) great home cooked food. They have also added sky for the Rugby which is a bonus. Good times!
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Went to the Raven for dinner and had a great experience. The food was amazing and I recommend it to anyone. The service was great and the music that was playing gave the pub a really good atmosphere.
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This pub used to be such a fantastic place with a great atmosphere.. It now seems as if the new management don't care about it what so ever and are intent on running it into the ground. I knew many people, young and old who used to come here all the time but have now given up on this pub and have decided to drink elsewhere. It's over priced and the music policy has gone completely downhill.. (no Funk!) There used to be some amazing music played at this pub by some very talented and passionate dj's who knew their stuff, (much Funk!) now it's very, very terrible 80's tripe being played (on an i-pod!!) by some absolutely clueless and tasteless idiot members of staff.. just embarrassing!.. As for the live music, what's happened?.. where's it's gone??
The management have now decided to turn it into a hideous sports pub with a huge tv screen out the back (eh..why!??)...oh, because they say they want to attract more 'rugger and cricket types'.. well that's just great isn't it.. just what Chiswick could really do more of!!.. AVIOD AT ALL COSTS.. THIS PLACE HAS COMPLETELY LOST IT'S FUNK!!!!!!
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was a good pub havent drank in here for years watched a few england games in here completely mullered great times
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Great place - warm, friendly atmosphere, super bar staff and loads of sitting space. VERY expensive (almost �6 for a glass of house wine) and the food menu is nice but more suited a full service restaurant. Would recommend this if you're in the area, a welcome change from the snobbery and attitude you get in pubs on the High Road.
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Raven is amazing pub, always hass been, I have been there few times, great venue, great people, but recently all changed. pity..... food is better, drinks are great.... hope to see it in its best form, like used to be
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What has happened to the Raven? Being a local resident I have been coming here for years, but my recent visit was met by a young unsophisticated crowd, and some food dish winged out the side door - an hour late. Not impressed! There are plenty of other good pubs only a stones throw away that offer good food and atmosphere: The Carpenters Arms, Cross Keys, Dove, The Black Lion etc. New management need to tidy up their act or they'll be old management in no time.
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Hello; I'm writing to let you know that things have changed at the Raven; we have a new manager and a new chef - myself - and we have been working together to set things straight here. I've introduced new menus for lunchtime and evenings, as well as a bar snacks menu. Everything here is now prepared from scratch, fresh, every day. Taking into account the current state of the economy, we offer lunches for around a fiver, and we have just one main course costing more than �10 - which is a fillet steak. We are especially proud of our hand-made pies, available on the bar menu at �4.00 each. we do not believe you can find food of this quality at these prices anywhere else in London. We are carrying out some minor renovations and our aim is to make the Raven a truly great place both to eat and drink, without wanting to get too formal or change the nature of what we are. We want to welcome casual customers as well as those who want to eat a full meal or hold a party, and while it remains early days yet, we would be very grateful for any feedback or opinions. If you've been disappointed in the past, or simply have never been before, drop in and try a home-made sausage roll (�2) or cheeseburger (�4.50) and a pint. I personally can't imagine you regretting it - and that's not because of bias but from genuine pride in the quality and value of our product.
Rupert Shakespeare, Chef, the Raven.
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Was in last night , tried the ale, wadworth "malt & hops" was ok , went for another and it had run out , all 3 ales taps off. changed to guinness, they only do the extra cold version ( more pubs doing this nowdays??), didnt try the food but saw plenty going out, Looks like the gents have had a recent refurb, they were clean and well stocked as they should be. overall impressions was the pubs a bit grubby but that seems to be how the locals like it. I thought it just lacked character. will visit again only because its so close to tube station.
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The Raven used to be a nice pub, but sadly it has gone down hill recently. On the food side, i haven't had a good dining experience, the only one i can remember is when there was far too much chilli powder in my soup - the chef claimed to have added it to make it a bit more interesting?! The staff can be rude and unhelpful and show little respect for others. It's become edgy and a bit too 'cool', and it doesn't really fit the area. If you want to have a drink surrounded by shreaking teenagers this is your place.
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This pub is great! 2 second walk from a tube station. Beer garden and that nice old english pub feel about it. The bathrooms probably need a bit of attention but it is by no means the worst place I've been to in Stamford Brook. Sometimes they have bands and the sunday's roast are great - cheap too! Pints are reasonably priced and its a great place to meet and catch up with friends. The staff are super friendly and its definately my personal fav.
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DO NOT GO TO THIS PUB.
I have been going to this pub for 5 years with a blind gentleman who I do voluntary reading to. I have put up with the inadequate and dingy toilet facilities throughout all this time. Recently, the toilet has got even worse, the hand dryer is broken and the soap container was empty.
I have mentioned this issue to the bar staff on numerous occasions and have always been greeted with the usual response of 'We're having a refit in 2 weeks'. Three months later, nada.
I went in there last night and asked an off duty member of staff what was happening with the refit. He objected to me asking him about it when I was off duty and I apologised. His girlfriend then remonstrated with me and said as I am not eating, what does it matter? I stormed out of the pub shouting 'DISGUSTING, DISGUSTING'.
Why is it that my blind friend cannot wash his hands properly?
The attitude of this pub is appalling. STAY AWAY!!
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This pub is lovely in the week for a few beers but the service is abysmal. I really like the idea of sitting and reading the Sunday papers here but would get annoyed by indifferent, unfriendly staff. The food on the main menu is great but the sunday menu is a complete rip off - we just paid �8.95 each for the tiniest piece of vegetable lasagne and 1 finger roll (not French bread as the menu stated)!! Also they had no bitter on and no idea how to pour Guiness!
anonymous - 25 Nov 2007 14:41 |
This pub feels oddly out of place in leafy West London. It feels like it should be in Shoreditch and Stoke Newington. It's minimalist mix of old furniture, unpolished rough floors and bare brick walls certainly mean it is not like anywhere else in the area.
On the plus side the beer was good and service swift, however I felt that the place could do with a bit of effort spent on cleaning it up. I'm not talking turning it into an All Bar One, but the toilets need a decent clean, the back room smelt musty and the furniture may look trendy to some but I felt the place looked a bit down at heel.
You need different sorts of pubs for different people, and I can see how this attractive to some, but for me it is not a must visit and certainly not a potential regular haunt.
I bet it would go down very well in Camden, but I'm not a Camden type of punter.
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I had my wedding reception here in August 07 and The Raven did a great summer barbeque - swordfish kebabs were the highlight. The manager and the chef love their food and the pub is unpretentiously earthy with a great atmosphere, the main section has booth seating, long tables and sofas, there's a lighter conservatory, a rustic restaurant and an uncovered yard with picnic tables. The staff are really friendly and easy going, this is a great place to go for Sunday lunch but they'd do you proud if you wanted them to host a celebration for you.
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This is without doubt the best pub in town. Music is great, the staff is friendly and food is reasonable and really good quality. I come here all the time and I have never been disappointed with the food or the service. The staff (check out the really cute barmen!!) are always friendly to everyone, even when they are busy, which they usually are every night. It�s always a good idea to book yourself a table in the restaurant bit in the back, which is a lot quieter than the main bar area. They have a really cheap dinner deal on most weeknights (two courses for �10) and on Sundays there is a BBQ where you can choose from meats, seafood, veggie options and lots of salads and breads. This is my home away from home and I love it!!
anonymous - 1 Aug 2007 11:57 |
Quality bar with a late license and good furnishings
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Hi there , Came for lunch today with 10 friends . service was very good and friendly but food was an absolute ripp-off !! basicaly paid �9.00 for a corn on the cob and one tiny burnt mini burger. Suffice to say 10 people were extremely dissappointed with the food and will not be eating there again.
Happy to pay for a decent portipn but this is definatley not the pl;ace to eat a sunday lunch with friends !!!
Thatched house 1 mile away serves excellent food with excellent portions .
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I had a great time getting extremely drunk in here on Friday night. Good lager, friendly staff and interesting clientele all adding up to make this a great pub.
I�ve been through Stamford Brook on the underground hundreds off times, but have never had a reason to alight, until now.
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I lived just around the corner when I last stayed in London, and the raven was as vital for my daily routines as breathing. Very service minded people and great premises.
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Love this pub. Great selection of spirits. Rare you ask for something they don't have. Atmosphere is great and friendly and the choice in music varies from indie rock (usually a bit too loud on the rock days though), Regge and funk which makes a nice change from rnb (we've all had enough of it) and jack johnson. Wide range of people in this place and all nice and friendly. Can't think of a better 'lively drink and chat' pub in west london. Food went down hill but seems to have picked up this last month. Loads of new exciting stuff on there. As for the service -well, sometimes it's excellent and you are made to feel welcome and valued. The staff seem to have a genuine idea what they are talking about and are a complete pleasure. Sometimes they seem to have a completly different team on and they I'm afraid are the opposite. There is nothing more insulting than being ignored at the bar while the staff have a chat. Get rid of the bad apples. Other than that still an excellent place to go. One more little moan though - Did you really need to put the prices up that much after new year?????
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I recently took up residence in the local propinquity and stumbled across this little den of vice on my travels (approximately 15 seconds from the tube). My first impressions were positive and based largely upon the audio visual delights that greeted me as I entered the bar area. Unlike the vast majority of London watering holes the music policy strayed from the familiar and discordant warblings of Blunt, Jones et al and actually delivered a varied and often exhilarating smorgasbord of musical joyances. Even the clientele seemed to shy from the usual gaggle of toothless estate agents that I had anticipated. There was no talk of 'Twickers' or the latest episode of Spooks within earshot. Instead an effervescent buzz of appreciation seemed to resonate from every corner of the room - and with good reason; The guest ale was well kept and punchy, the selection of spirits faultless. My only real complaint came in the form of a bitter and obnoxious Guinness which left me in a similar state for several seconds thereafter. At this point of the evening I probably would have left for pastures new but the bar flies wouldn't let me. The crowd were a mix of youthful exuberance and cask matured charm - a combination which often clash but in this case somehow blended well. The bar staff were nice enough if poorly dressed and thankfully didnt hurry last orders. Can't wait to check out the 'outside bit' on my next visit.
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This is the best pub in the Stamford Brook area by smiles...music is always gr8 (Could do with the CD's being renewed as they jump from time to time), food is delicious and the atmosphere always relaxed and friendly.
Gets a surprsingly hip crowd considering the decor.
Top marks from me.
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The service on Saturday was friendly and fine - but we had plenty of time and were in no hurry.
If you sit in the courtyard, beware - if there are noisy types under the archway you'll have to listen to every guffaw. These were, in our case, hooray Henrys. Thankfully they stayed only long enough to glance at their Grauniads.
As other posters have mentioned, the food's great, and I can happily endorse the Raven.
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Trying to appeal to a slightly trendier crowd than most pubs in the area, so expect to pay a little more than you're used to. Good range of beers and wines, food is excellent but service is consistently poor. Decor and atmosphere are good; I've rated this pub 7/10 but if they could sort out their abysmal table service they would hit an 8.
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Nice venue but the food is AWFUL and the waiting staff ignorant and unhelpful. I ordered gazpacho at this pub and it was served hot (and was horrid and greasy anyway)! When I raised the issue there was no apology and I was made to feel fussy. I was the one that had to suggest it should be taken off the bill otherwise they would have expected me to pay for it.I should have given up there but went on to taste the nachos and chilli which was disgusting - the meat was of the lowest standard - basically a tasteless sludge. I wrote to complain but they didn't even bother to reply. Nice one.
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awesome! love this place.
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If there's ever a pub that confirms the old adage "never judge a book by it's cover then the Raven is it.
I've been past this pub a few times since landing in London and was always put off by the "old man's local" exterior. Had to go there for a flatmate's birthday drinks and it turned out to be a surprisingly good pub.
Decent pint, music wasn't bad, bar staff were friendly (unlike some pubs in the area where the bar staff look at you like something they've just stood in).
Only downside was that the guest ale was off but the Guinness more than made up for it.
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I really love this place. Although I've had problems with places like Amber and Motion in town as they attract braying morons. However, they're bars and this is a solid pub. Although trendy. With trendy food. And trendy prices.
However, they do pretty good guest ales, they also keep matches in a brick on the bar whatever that means, and it's an clientele ogle-fest.
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Good pub, especially for socialising with a group of friends. Seems quite impersonal and is definitely not your typical "local's local". Very interesting range of drinks.
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Really nice pub. It has three parts; a cosy front bit, great in the winter, a restaurant bit, and a beer garden so take your pick.
Its got a really good atmophere and the staff are pleasent. The music is different to any other pub I've been in, and suits the casual mood of the place. The only draw back, would be for someone who really hates smoke, as the low ceiling of the front of the pub, means that the smoke builds up over a night. A great pub besides though.
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very nice and friendly, enjoyed my time there, and i'll be back soon..
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Have popped in here, usually on a friday at this pub for last 3 years, about once every couple of months. Appearences from the outside are somewhat 'old man boozer' nothing like it.
Sometimes I feel the crowd is a bit 'chiswick' but not unbearably so, and also often staff are little too hard on the trying to look like Tom Cruise in Cocktail thing, and could be little quicker to pick up on 'customer waiting'
however the atmosphere is very good, the funky jazzy music is different and uplifting, the food is actually worth its price which is high for a pub. Decor is one of 'winter warmth' but contemporary.
And the pint is always up to scratch, and they do have papers!
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nice boozer, plays ska and reggae sometimes which is good-on minus side it can feel like your 'down under' you hear?
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Mad Aussie pub, great fun, just make sure you have your dancing trousers on !!!!
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Great local to have, great food and sunday roast is a must. Fit barmaids and one of the true pubs in London with great atmosphere.
Phil - 29 Oct 2004 12:54 |
Good music, quirky decor, great atmosphere, good selection of wines. Does get crowded in the evenings though. As Clare (see below) says, it's the perfect Sunday afternoon pub
Timothy Bonnici - 15 Oct 2004 14:06 |
Excellent Pub, just what you want from a local. Really good menu only the finest and cheap too! Good selection of bier and really friendly bar-maidens...
Jim - 15 Sep 2004 13:24 |
it's wicked is the raven.
sexy staff
beer
the food has gone shite recentl
but still one of the few pubs in London where there drunken people DANCE each night. also a high chance of meeting fit ladies.
Joe - 2 Aug 2004 12:23 |
Great, great, great! The best atmosphere, music and staff in london! Food a bit pricy but excellent. A must-see in west london!
Miki - 28 Jun 2004 14:51 |
Above-average food from an interesting menu. Some comfortable sofas and benches if you can get them. Bar staff have always been polite when I've been there. Great on weeknights, can get a little crowded on Fridays etc.
ben - 16 Jun 2004 13:58 |
Quite prepossessing but expensive Hoegarrden, food seems interesting.
CT - 18 May 2004 13:59 |
Lovely good quality food, cool music and relaxed atmosphere. Real fires and comfy sofas. Popular with young professional locals.
Sarah Jones - 27 Feb 2004 14:15 |
You couldn't wish for a better local - it's the perfect bloody mary + couches + sunday papers pub. Both the bar snacks and the menu is great and always delicious. A great atmosphere, music to suit the tastes of everyone and fab BBQs in the summer. A perfect example of an independently owned pub - it should be institutionalised.
clare - 6 Feb 2004 17:16 |
Wonderfull food, great atmosphere, lovley staff.
charlie - 4 Dec 2003 14:06 |
In an area of London lacking in vibrant places for the twenty-something crowd, this is a breath of fresh air. Minimal, without being poncey, this retains the feeling of a pub, rather than a bar like, say, All Bar One. Does get crowded mind.
James - 26 Nov 2003 14:04 |
This is a nice pub, with a good atmosphere and a nice menu. The only downfall are the staff, who I was not keen on. Wouldn't rule out going back though.
Emma Potter - 3 Nov 2003 16:55 |
Brilliant place. Not so far upmarket to be frightening, but just smart enough. Good atmosphere and an interesting range of beer and food. A former stable block (but it doesn't smell of horse, honest).
Chris - 12 Sep 2003 16:14 |
Best pub in london!
jon - 8 Jan 2003 14:42 |
