please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Went in here a couple of sundays ago and yes there was indeed a DJ playing house music at club decibel level while a crowd of pissed up, middle-aged regulars were making risible attempts to dance to it - kind of surreal. I find real ale quite revolting so didn't pay attention to what was on offer but the staropramen was cold and drinkable. Big plus for this place as far as I'm concerned, gorgeous polish woman smiles at me from other side of bar and we end up going home together........I shall certainly return.
|
The Masons arms really doesn�t know what it wants to be. It�s trying to be like its contemporaries down the road The Regent and The Paradise but not quite pulling it off. I went in one night last week and there was a DJ belting out Hacienda classics from the nineties at full volume whilst a smattering of punters were sitting there watching Sky football. It really was a bit grim, thought I�d stepped into a scene for a Mike Leigh film. I stayed for an hour and a half because it was a friend�s birthday only to be ripped off by the bar when I went to pay for my card that I�d left behind the bar. They were adamant that I�d bought 12 pints in an hour and a half. I like a drink but I�ve never done that amount in the allotted time. I paid the bill and will definitely not be going back. Word of advice � Don�t leave your card behind the bar, pay with cash!
paul7 - 27 Sep 2012 15:21 |
Currently visiting a pub for every station on the London Overground. Did this for Kensal Green. Brilliant pub, nice d�cor, superb garden, has screens outside showing sport, b-b-q going and had DJ's playing in the garden when I went Sunday afternoon. Clientele was surprisingly glamorous on this particular visit. Also has a roof terrace. Perfect pub for a summers day. Had a nice pint of Lemonhead. Recommend!
|
oftenscore6 has a point: the beer quality seemed pretty variable in the earlier part of 2010 but it seems to have picked up in the last few months. I've had no cause for complaint in the last few visits and the ale has been in good condition on each occasion, though there is usually only one ale on. Still my favourite of the Kensal Green pubs.
|
Whilst it's comfortable, my visit the other day didn't support the previously glowing reviews. One ale on, Bombardier, in average condition
|
I was rather impressed by my visit on Sunday. Very nice Harveys and not too expensive by London standards. The food was excellent, we were a big group but everyone got served at the same time which can be a problem in pubs and it was even reasonably priced. If I get the chance I'll certainly be back.
|
One of my favourite pubs in Kensal Green. Usually one or two ales on, usually in good condition. Beer garden at the side with barbecues on Fridays in good weather, room to hire upstairs with terrace. Good, unpretentious food, reasonably priced. Occasional comedy gigs and other events upstairs. Beautiful Victorian wood and glass "office" stands alone in the middle of the pub. Dartboard.
|
My uncle went in there today and was charged �3.30 for one shot of vodka...surely thats not correct!
|
I pretty much do live here. This is a great 'pub', not some over hyped gastro job. It sells good honest grub, good beer and throws great parties. The staff are generally all very friendly (although the tall model type really needs to learn how to smile!). I recently got to know Mitch the manager quite well and he's a top bloke. Apparently he is moving on quite soon so i hope whoever takes over runs the place as well as he does.
If they did B&B i'd move in!
|
If I could live in a pub it'd be this one.
|
Good pub. Beautiful architecture/design. Big beer garden. Good music. Mostly laid back clientele (a few people dressed like they were from a Northern city - women in short skirts and high heels, guys in short sleeved pressed shirts when it was freezing outside) but most people in jeans, trainers.
Highly recommend.
7.5 out of 10
|
Sprawling comfortable pub near the cemetery ("We're all that"). Two ales, much other kind of drink, and sofas and club armchairs. Not the best timing for my visit as the upstairs was reserved for a private party and much of the downstairs seemed to be in use by the same group. But at least it suggests that the pub is popular.
|
I like this pub a lot. Mainly because i smoke and it has a great beer Garden, the best I've been to in the area I think. I see where the anon guy was coming from with the staff sometimes. They're not the friendliest bunch in the world, save a couple of the girls, the guy with the tats for example looks like he's about to glass you every time you ask for a pint. But I don't care about that. its a classic pub, cheaper than the island and the WIV up the road, had many a good night there and will be having a lot more i reckon
anonymous - 8 Aug 2007 13:42 |
I love this pub! Great beer garden. Great food. Great music. love the roof terrace. Not too sure about the previous comments about the burgers? Supermarket saver range? All water and soya? I've never had one that isn't about an inch and a half thick and packed full of meat!
A bit low on the chicks behind the bar quota at the minute though. Need to sort that one out!
|
I haven't been here for a while as i moved out of the area but i was back this way visting friends and we all came in on Friday night. The muisc was great, and i love the new menu layout. We all shared a few small plates. the oysters were very good. The beer garden was buzzing and there were lots of pretty girls floating around. I think i may have tomove back. South London just doesn't do pubs like this.
|
Me again! i just read the review below and i have to say i was very suprised by the comments. I go to The Masons all the time with my friends and we all love it. The manager is charming, i find all the staff cheery and helpful (particulalry the Brazilian girl who is always lovely)and i've never had a problem with waiting too long for our food. Don't be put off by one persons negative experience. It 's a great pub and now the summer is (?) coming the beer garden is a fanatstic space to hang out. 10 out of 10 for me!
|
I really want to like the Masons, good pedigree, good food, looks nice and black, but everytime I visit I spend more time being annoyed than actually enjoying myself. The first few visits were marred by the most miserable woman ever to be found in hospitality, throwing clipboards at us, telling us off for accepting one more dessert than we ordered, she was prerry petrifying. She wasn't there today, when we tried lunch again. All 7 of us ordered together but the food came out with 90 minutes between the first person's meal and the last. The pub was about 10% full. We had to chase the staff for attention and they did give us some wine to their credit and the manager was apologetic. But...it is no longer rammed with people on a sunday lunch which suggests we're not the only ones who've given up. If you go to the bother of buying and renovating a pub and you have other good well-run pubs, why not invest in people and kitchen etc? Well?
anonymous - 13 May 2007 18:58 |
A huge improvement since the Autumn 05 refit. The beer garden especially is a massive improvement for the summer.
I have some sympathy with the previous comments about it being a bit pretentious and the bar staff are sometimes a bit too cool to be efficient - but overall think its a big improvement.
Food and beers much better and worth the extra money.
|
Not bad at all. The pub is large and it's generally easy enough to get a seat, and the beer garden is good for the summer, particularly when the barbie is going at the weekend. Agree with some of the other comments - there is a mix of people but it can sometimes be a bit too cool for school, but on the whole it's decent enough. Food is good, burgers (as mentioned) are not.
anonymous - 12 Feb 2007 13:35 |
Catch this pub on a good day and it could be pretty nice. The insides are interesting looking and feel cosy enough, and all the staff (bar one) come across as very friendly and helpful. Glad to see the bar billiards table too!
But, and it's a big but, there is a smugness problem. The clientele are just so damned pleased with themselves. And that seems to go double for those who flounce upstairs to the members' area (what sort of pub has a members' area anyway!)
The food IS slightly on the expensive side for what you get, but on the whole seems good enough. Avoid the burger though - it tasted like a supersaver supermarket range, all water and soya. Not what you expect if you've paid eight pound something for it.
|
Hmmm. Mr.'Anonymous' 2o Dec
The Masons has the biggest cross section of people i've ever seen in a pub; from an old man quietly watching proceedings and smoking his pipe to the uber trendy fashionistas you clearly have a problem with. I've certainly never felt sneered at and i'm about as uncool as it gets!
I also find the staff charming and helpful.
Food - �5 to �12.50 is hardly expensive.
There are three ales 'on tap' (whatever that means. my boyfriend told me to put that in!)
We love this pub. You guys rock! Can't wait for the smoking ban to come in though as it can get a bit smokey on the busier nights.
Can i get a Membership for upstairs now plaese??! xx
|
Heard something interesting about this place recently on the excellent "Notes & Queries" Robert Elms show on BBC Radio London. Apparantly the wood and glass structure in the middle of the pub, referred to in a previous posting as the office, was actually built to accomodate coffins for those requiring a drink before hitting the nearby Kensal Green Cemetery. This was common practice in Victorian pubs with passing funerals.
|
It is impossible to adequately describe quite how pretentious this pub can be. If you manage to get served (quite tricky as you are invisible unless you are wearing some sort of outlandish creation or in the cookie-cutter fashion of the moment) you then have to squeeze through the throngs of people who are concerned with 3 things, namely 1) looking you up and down and sneering at your obviously uncool outfit, 2) talking about how they have just been partying with *insert name of celeb* and doing so in such a way as to insinuate that this is a normal occurence for them and 3) going to the toilet cubicle in pairs (sounds like lots of them have colds).
Clientele and service aside, the pub is actually quite good. A nice space, great beer garden (which was a fantastic place to watch the World cup in the summer) and decent (if slightly expensive) food. The range of beer on tap is pretty good, though as is typical for these sort of pubs, real ale is under represented.
anonymous - 20 Dec 2006 16:00 |
By far the best pub in the area. Good food, friendly staff (needs more girls though!) and good music.
anonymous - 12 Nov 2006 17:12 |
I've been going to this pub regularly since it had it's revamp a year ago and i love it. The food is honest and fairly priced (although perhaps a bit on the blokey side). They always have a choice of well kept ales on. The staff are friendly and there always seems to be something going on; comedy nights, parties, sport. And they have an old Bar Billiards table which is great! Good work guys. Keep it up.
|
I've just been in for Sunday lunch and it was excellent. We had to wait a while but it was very busy. The ladies loos seem to have been fixed too. Oh, and we all fancy the manager!
anonymous - 20 Aug 2006 23:19 |
Great food, good selection of well kept ales, great music, fantastic place to watch the football over the world cup. Cant't wait for the Carnival party. This pub rocks!
|
Brilliant garden for summer boozing. The food is mediocre if you're drunk enough. Always have a great time at this pub since it's been taken over but the ladies toilets need to be fixed and more of them would help. Best thing about this pub is not having to go inside once 9pm strikes. Not sure how busy it will be during the winter months as it's a bit dark and dreary inside and too smoky.
anonymous - 16 Aug 2006 17:31 |
I agree with Red. I live around the corner and this was a place to avoid. What a transformation - it's now a cracking pub with well kept ales, friendly staff and a good atmosphere. By knocking down the divide they have revitalised an lovely Victorian Pub.
|
I've lived just around the corner from this pub for over ten years but only visited it thrice. The beer was grim. Now that it's under new management, they seem to be making much more of an effort on the ales. In the course of one week, I've tried both Landlord and Deuchars here, both of which were very good. Passing by on another day I noticed they had London Pride on the pump. The partition dividing the two bars has been removed. I can't remember if it looked like it was worth keeping, so I don't know if that's a good thing or not, but it now leaves the amazing, eye-candy office resplendent in the middle of the pub. It's a wood-and-etched-glass construction, about the size of a small garden shed: brilliant. Last time I was in there, there was a notice saying that they plan to introduce a food menu and sounds like they're aiming at keeping it basic and unpretentious. I know people won't like it being taken over (by the same people who run the Metropolitan and the Westbourne, apparently), but the beer's the main criterion for me, and it's improved enormously.
|
This was my local for three years. Run by the fabulous Doyle family and frequented by a crazy array of people, you were never hustled out the door bang on closing, but were encouraged to drink freely and enjoy some good old-fashioned craic. I went to the opening last night, and while they have done wonders with the pub itself, the sort of prices they are charging will only keep out us locals. Community spirit is precious in a big city like London and the day you have to catch a bus to the nearest affordable pub is the day it all falls apart.
|
All change at the Mason's. On Saturday new manager falling over himself to get us to visit. Last night though - 'Sorry guest list only!' Right hand, left hand. Good luck for now, but long term might need the locals!
|
On the outside it says warm hospitality,do not know where they got that from. Grumpy Landlord and the assistant is not much better,thats of course when they are around.Not a good omen when they are never in the place.Looks dirty from the outside could do with a good clean inside and out.
|
This pub? is next door to the Dead Centre of Kensal Green (the crematorium) that should be enough.I went to a funeral last week and poped in for a pint and wished i hadn't bothered.The place is a sxxxhouse and the beer is mank. I will NOT return.
|
v good boozer
|
This pub is dire, it was my local until quite recently. The trade in this pub has steadily decreased over the last 5 or so years. Then it used to be a entertaining local. Now it has terrible decor, a defective jukebox, the staff are often indifferent & rude and the beer often is flat and has a dirty tinge. All this at a time when pubs should be fighting for trade especially during the week which is often a very quiet time for the. Definately one to miss!
David Green - 19 Nov 2004 20:35 |
