The Forester, West Ealing

This is and always has been a lovely looking big pub, which for some years served nice Thai food at a decent price, and had open fires and some music.

As a local for the last few years this was a pub I'd wander into every now and again. The previous landlord wasn't the friendliest, but once he recognised you he would serve you quickly and even crack a smile. The prices were good enough so it was fine for the occasional pint. So when I heard it had been bought over I knew it wouldn't take much to make it a great pub...

So is it? Well, it has been tidied up, new wallpaper, the toilets have been painted as has a lot of the woodwork, some of the furniture replaced and upholstered. It is now looking as it should, but it really didn't need much, the good stuff was already there. It is busier now and there is a friendlier vibe, though there was little trouble when I walked in, which I'd never seen before, but to their credit they handled it very efficiently.

The prices however have went up significantly - I bought an ale and a soft drink and walked away just short of eight pounds poorer, which I think is ridiculous for a draft lemonade with orange concentrate from a basics range and a standard ale. Also in my handful of visits since the re-openeing I've realised the staff are not the most efficient and a lot of them don't seem to really know their way around a bar, you will wait to get your drink no matter how quiet and there isn't much in the way of character or banter.

In the area it is your best bet, but as there isn't much to choose from that wouldn't be hard. Having worked in a lot of bars when I was younger I would say this bar could still be so much more. For now it has improved, but not as much as its prices would like to have you believe.

26 Mar 2012 21:03