The Central Bar, Shepherds Bush

Time for another update, and not a cheerful one. For the past few years, under the direction of a clever manager or two, this pub had settled into a local reputation as a good Wetherspoons pub. It had a superb range of beers and ciders, both draught and bottled, and was notable for its wide selection of real ales and traditional ciders.

Sadly, in the last few months, the management changed. Since then it's been a rapid slide into mediocrity. The bottled offerings are now all sugary, fake rubbish, and the dominant emphasis at the bar is on lager. Most of the real ale pumps are permanently turned off.

To be fair, on the upside, the new bar staff are just as pleasant as ever, but that does not appease me. Since I can't afford Holland Park pub prices, I'll be buying most of my drinks in the supermarket from now on.

Damn you, Wetherspoons, for letting me live beyond my means for several years, then dumping me into grim reality.

18 Mar 2013 22:17

The Bricklayers Arms, Putney

The Bricklayers Arms is a delightful pub, offering a great range of beautifully kept, high quality ales, and a uniquely relaxing traditional atmosphere. It is one of the best pubs in London.

If only pubs like this were not so extremely rare! Maybe the owner/manager would consider opening a second pub elsewhere in West London? Hint: there's nowhere in North Kensington or Shepherds Bush that holds a candle to the Bricklayers Arms.

26 Dec 2011 21:43

The Central Bar, Shepherds Bush

You could reasonably find fault with a few things about this pub. The atmosphere is noisy, it's usually over crowded, it's hard to find a table, and these days, the food is over-priced and unappealing. But to complain about the real ale selection, like the chap below, is totally ridiculous. This pub has an ever changing selection of real ales, always including guest ales, and sometimes quite a few of them. Occasionally they'll run out of guest ale, but it's very unusual. The ale festivals at JDW are second to none. The fact of the matter is that there is no better real ale pub within miles.

26 Dec 2011 21:10