please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Excellent selection of beers and continental largers. Who gives a stuff about the decor or the lippy landlord. Fill yer boots - a drinker's pub where the beer comes first. Good condition, reasonable prices, food looked good. Go through the selection of draught beers - you won't notice the decorations.
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Best pub in Brentford. Great ales.
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Proper pub with ever changing ales.
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This pub is a bit of a paradox - for years I would travel past before I noticed it and even then it looked shut most of time. Whilst there's no denying that a refurb was needed, especially if it wanted to attract the new more affluent clientelle that was moving into the area, but I can't say its proved much of a success: removing the ornate surround above the bar was a mistake, painting the walls and ceiling pure white has made it too stark, and yet the one thing that really did need to go - the dodgy 70's gas fire - still remains!
Still, its a small price to pay for the decent selection of regularly changing real ales but the real attraction has to be the farmhouse scrumpy or cider that is often available.
The Thai restaurant is a nice touch, although the last dish I had was WAY too hot.
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I had a very quick half in here this afternoon before rushing back to work. Just looking at what was on offer at the bar (most of which I’d never heard of) I could see why so many on here think that this place is the nuts.
I noticed some bar billiards at the back of the pub, which I find great fun and haven’t seen anywhere for ages. I’m not sure about ‘King of the Hill’ playing at full volume on the television though.
I think that I’ll reserve judgement on this place and try to arrange an evening visit with some of my ale connoisseur friends.
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I have to say, we have a madman in our midst: Jeweller John - Slags off The Beehive several times, and then he says..And I qoute: ' Great beer and food-well worth a visit!' Maybe a touch of memory loss there John, or is the old alkie-symers kicking in? The Beehive might not be up to much, but it most definitely does not deserve the rude, nasty comments that this person seems to be posting. Same goes for The Magpie, which has recently undergone extensive re-decoration, and is a very pleasant pub to be in, and the Thai home-cooked food is delicious. Steve the Landlord has his moments ( don't we all ) - But the beer and cellar are in 1st class condition, as is the public bar, & there are an excellent range of ever-changing real ales to satisfy the thirsty punter, not forgetting the wonderful selection of imported lagers and Fruli fruit beer. Need I say more..
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Excellent pub. Beer very good and a huge choice. Patrons are 'interesting.' I love it, my wife is less keen.
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Don't know why riddz thought it dirty, place has had a good tidy up and re-decoration. Maybe he/she should overcome fear of a real pub and try the "excellent range of beers". That's what it's famous for and not for being an hermetically sealed posuers palace..
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Brentford's swimming in good pubs, due to the proximity of fuller's base, but this one takes the crown for me (sorry for the pun!). If beer quality matters to you (lager and ale) this is your place; a huge range of stunning beers, well-kept by like-minded beerlovers. Their good taste extends to the taped music (old classics 1 mindless chartpap 0) and the thai kitchen. They've even commendably resisted the urge to refurb, redesign and restyle all the personality and individuality out of the pub (are you listening, landlords of most chiswick pubs).
In the 2 years I have been working in brentford, I have realised that the only good thing about this locale is the pubs, and this and the Globe are best-of-breed.
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A dirty pub where we were served by a barman who kept hitching his trousers up.
An excellent range of beers but I didn't stay around to try them as I was afraid of catching something.
riddz - 10 Mar 2008 17:32 |
do not enjoy being in this pub
seems for older gentlemen
run out of my drink and still didnt have it a week later
serve cans of coke and expect people to drink it out of the can.
i avoid this pub on a pub crawl
only thing its got going for it is its strawberry beer.
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Called in on Monday; a Grand Union beer still on and a couple more in the cellar. Get it now because the brewery has closed and the kit moved to Liverpool. Steve was very amiable and there were a lot of new faces since I was last in. Amazing what a lick of paint can do.
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Great pub, friendly landlord and clientele. The Thai food is good - especially for the price. Top range of beers. Football-fan friendly as well. If only I lived around the corner!
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Still the only pub in outer West London that can be relied on to have a real cider from a small producer.
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Paid a timely visit to the pub last night during a trip to Brentford. Noted the following changes to the interior:
* Bar canopy now removed, much more spacious feel to the building.
* Complete redecoration - brilliant white emulsion on the walls and the wood panelling has also been refreshed (even the upside down boat has had a lick of varnish).
* Toilets refurbished.
* Brighter interior lighting.
The tables in front of the pub have had to be removed on the instructions of the council.
Steve (Landlord) very friendly and well-informed re microbreweries, etc. Enjoyed Titanic "Steerage" (dry and refreshing) and Grand Union Bitter (beautifully hoppy).
Brightening up pubs doesn't always improve them but for the Magpie & Crown it certainly has, as the decoration has been tasteful and sympathetic to the original. I feel nothing has been lost by the removal of the central bar canopy, spaciousness has been gained.
Steve has advised me that he is planning to add more handpumps next year. Currently there are 4, but he hopes to add at least another two and move them to the centre of the bar. At the same time he plans to introduce a real cider. Last night they were experimenting with the new music system which could occasionally be on the loud side for such a small pub, but management were aware and quickly moderated the volume when a loud track came on (Thanks for that!)
The locals were very friendly last night, and conversation was enjoyable. Thank you Steve for the pint as well.
Will be back.
A good 9/10
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1907 different real ales served to date ( as at 4pm yesterday afternoon ) - great stuff, keep it up !
Yes, the place does feel a bit cleaner now and it's still one of the best pubs in Brentford, irrespective of whether you're a real ale anorak or not
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I had not been in for over a year following the sad passing of Gordon. It was a pleasant surprise to see a much improved decor and a good feel about the place. Beers kept very well and an interesting range as ever. I was with a group of Lincoln fans, who were made to feel very welcome.
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beer lovers heaven! excellent range of real ales and lagers, plus passable thai grub, friendly bar staff. an old fashioned good 'un. please DON'T 're-design' the pub, or tart it up in any way: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
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Had an excellent afternoon's drinking here & got chatting to the lovely Morgana the barmaid & who should walk in & sit next to me at the bar & have a few drinks....a bloke called Merlin !! Honestly, you couldn't make it up, The pub is a bit basic though but the beer far from makes up for it with at least four real ales on draft most from local breweries, if only the Landlord wasn't so misarable, still might have cheered up now Harlepool(monkey hangers) have got promoted, see if you can spot H'angus behind the bar.
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A bit of an oasis in Brentford if you like real ale and continental beers - surprise was proper Budvar dark beer (can't remember the proper name) which disappeared at a rate of knots. 4 real ales on - good but needs to clean his tables - it was cup final day to I suppose he's got an excuse. Thai food available - didn't bother. All in all a good place but needs a shake and vac !!!!
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Im not a regular, nor do I live in Brentford but I do like this pub a lot. The bloke who runs it seems to know what he is talking about and is enthusiastic about what he sells. I like strong beer and have recently got to like Belgian trappist beers. This pub sells them, so I will come again.
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Now got the decorators in.
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Highly regarded Good Beer Guide regular and easy to see why. The attractive exterior is repaeated within. Good selection of real ales in excellent condition.
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Made a timely stop at this boozer last night after visiting Brentford Dock in the afternoon. Unchanged since last time (over one year ago). I had two positively exquisite pints of Twickenham Crane Sundancer, 3.7%. This beer had to be exceptionally flavoursome and well-kept as I was tasting it through a heavy cold - proof in itself!
The gentlemen's toilets are cleaner than they once were, and the cubicle is now fully locking and secure - welcome improvements.
The landlord remains friendly and businesslike, and the atmosphere last night was so pleasant it would have been quite easy to miss the train back and stay for another two pints.
The Magpie and Crown remains well worth visiting, indeed, worth a journey across London to reach the pub.
Excellent.
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Great pub whose guv'nor keeps a variety of real ales on the go. Brentford is an odd place - half council, half gentrified - but has maintained a lot of pubs, many of which unfortunately are rather crap. The Magpie and Crown however is a lovely place.
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Fantastic boozer. The paulaner lager is exceptional and the atmosphere is always quietly friendly without being in your face. Only problem is that i,m not a local.keep up the great work folks; real pubs ike this are a dying breed.
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A free house with 4 guest ales on virtually all of the time, all kept in perfect condition by Steve - he certainly knows how to keep a cellar.
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Haven't been for a cupla years but loved this pub when I went. Funny old place and I hope it survives the 'gentrification' across the road. Good bitter and good prices. A proper old West London pub. Lovely.
anonymous - 5 Oct 2006 23:31 |
I tried it. I didn't like it. I left. I won't be back.
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I visited for the first time last Thursday 17th August along with two friends and we had a superb time, we found the Magpie to be just what you want in a great pub, friendly staff and locals who all had a few words for us, good old fashioned fun music and superb beer/ale to suit everyones preference (the late licence is a bonus too). There are far too few real gems like this in London. Well worth a visit, we can't wait to go back !!!
mitsy - 21 Aug 2006 14:37 |
Just to add that the four or five times I have visited the Magpie & Crown have all been rewarded with good beer and friendliness from the staff. I would go more frequently if I lived in Brentford; last visited towards the end of 2005 and unless anything has dramatically changed, which I don't believe it has, stand by all my previous commentaries on this establishment.
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Pub review or chatline noticeboard ????? Its a good pub with good beer - enough said !
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As some of you will know, Gordon our dearest friend passed away yesterday morning and we are all shocked and surprised as it was so sudden.
Would like to just say that we are all going to meet up very soon at the Magpie & Crown and have a drink, a chat, maybe a cry or whatever everyone feels the need to do...
I'm no good at this so sorry if my way of words isn't up to scratch..
Steve Bolton is planning on getting a beer named after him quite soon and when this happens, I feel that we should pay our respects to him and have a pint in memory of Gordon... I think he would have really loved that..
Will hope to see you all down the Mag very soon and will update on this as soon as there is any news of the new beer.
Love Pan :) xx
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nose rather...
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Hello, thought I'd pop my mose in and say a few words.
Apologies again to Stonch for my defensive remarks although I did it in private too but thought it was worth saying in public..
joegreen, please do pop in for a pint, we'd love to see you in here, take no notice of my earlier post that you were referring to - was in a crappy mood at the time of writing it. (not an excuse I understand!)
Hope that cleared things up a bit...
Pan :) x
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JohnBonser generally seems to make sense on BITE, so that's good enough for me.
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marcus the part time barman here
ok people, enough is enough. i am that slightly odd and unfriendly barman and this has gone on far to long. firstly, stonch, sorry you don't like the way i act behind the bar. that's ok, there are others who think differently.
Pandora, stop trying to defend the place. he's got every right to have his opinion on the magpie and to express them here.
Anyone else, come and give the place a try, i might be odd, but when i'm not very very hungover i'm not that unfriendly.
right, is everyone happy now? good, i'm off for a pint of random beer.
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To be fair the strident response to me below was then followed with a private message from Pandora which was of a very different tone. So no harm done. In fact I wish I'd reserved judgement now. Places like the Magpie with a bit of depth need to be visited more than once before a view can be taken (in context to chain bars, where you can poke your head around the door and learn everything there is to know).
Although my review was a true account of my one visit, the landlord contacted me to explain what was up on the day I visited and I now think I got an unfair picture of the place.
anonymous - 18 Jul 2006 14:25 |
Joe, I think you should give it a try, I'm only an occasional visitor to the M & C, but I've never had any problems with any staff or noticed anything remotely resembling hostility.
Yes, there are some characters in the pub, but the beers have character too and the chances are you will find some interesting ones to try. If you're a Real Ale Anorak, you will like the place
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I was thinking of visiting the M & C, but I must say the strident and defensive tone of the post 14/07 @ 18:46 - apparently from a member of staff - has caused second thoughts. Can customers expect to be addressed in that way if they bring their money across the threshhold?
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Pandora. First of all, trying to pick me up on a spelling was a bit childish wasn't it?
Steve has already sent me a very polite and decent explanation of what was up on the day I visited - I must reply to it as I think it was a really nice gesture from someone who clearly cares about customer perceptions of his pub.
I didn't think the barman was very friendly, sorry about that. I only said he was incompetent because he couldn't change a cask beer.
I've worked in five different pubs and I can assure you I know what its like. I also happen to know how to deal with real ales, having worked in a regional CAMRA pub in the year.
Also I may have written a lot of negative reviews - for this I make no apology. However amongst them are some glowing ones for pubs I suspect regulars of the Magpie and Crown in particular would probably like.
My review of this place wasn't scathing by the standards of many you see on this site so I think your response is totally out of order.
You're just not very nice.
anonymous - 14 Jul 2006 20:43 |
I would like to apologise to "Stonch" for a mistake I made - you did not spell disappoints incorrectly, that was my misreading!
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In response to "Stonch" or should I say "Stench"...I would just like to say a few things as I don't think I can contain this any longer..
Firstly - we can't help it if some of us do not know how to change the real ales, I for one as a barmaid of 3 years now cannot change them as I as well as the other staff apart from our Landlord Steve are all part timers.
Secondly - we constantly do have choice of real ales to drink! There are always four ever-changing bitters, milds, porters and real ales on the go not to mention our farmhouse ciders and perrys.
Lastly - why on earth were you talking about our barman like this describing him as a "slightly odd unfriendly barman"?
Excuse my slight defensive attitude here but after reading most of your comments, you don't seem to have a great deal of nice things to say about some of the pubs you have visited in your whole 27 years of life!
To say that our barman is incompetent is taking the p*** don't you think?
You try and work in a pub someday.. just for one day and see what it's like.
To mention the location in Brentford seems trivial and pointless too I'd like to add - so we are in Brentford, on the High Street.. and according to you it needs knocking down?
Do us all a favour and NEVER come back to West London if it disappoints so much....
P.S... you're spelling of the word "disapoints" is atrocious, stick that in your bleeding pipe and smoke it.
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Was expecting a proper real ale pub - was disapointed.
Only one solitary ale on - Batemans Dark Mild. Lovely pint, but a bit of choice wouldn't go amiss.
The barman proudly announced "the landlord's away and I can't change the bitters!" This admission of incompetence coupled with a sweeping classification of all cask ales as bitters from someone who works in a CAMRA pub of the year set my teeth on edge. All a bit anal, you might think, but this sort of pub is meant to cater for oddballs like me and it presumably wouldn't survive in its current form without the support of them/us.
I did note a good range of contential keg and bottled beers, but you can get that stuff all over the place over in central London so its hardly a selling point nowadays. Slightly odd unfriendly barman. The atmosphere one finds in, for example, the Wenlock Arms (ostensibly a similar pub) wasn't there.
And I haven't even mentioned the location. My god, Brentford High Street is awful. They need to knock it down and start again (and clean up that river front while they're at it).
West London disappoints again. Although it does get points for having a bar billiards table.
6/10
anonymous - 10 Jul 2006 11:04 |
Inspired by all the comments about this place and seeing as I've lived in Brentford for getting on to two years and never managed to make it in to the Magpie and Crown I thought I'd give it a try.
The first thought that sprang to mind was that 'this is a local pub for local people'. The second thought was now I've finally gotten my pint maybe I'll finish this pint up (which was definitely drinkable but wasn't the best pint I've had all year) and move on elsewhere as it was just a bit dirty (the toilets were pretty disgusting for starters).
Still, maybe I just timed my trip badly - I could think of worse ways of spending a sunny afternoon than sitting out the front on one of the benches with a thai meal and a few pints. It's just that you'd probably be much more likely to find me in the Lord Nelson, that's all.
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marcus the part time bar man here again. hmm pub reviews or a chatroom? difficult, i'm not sure really. then again who really cares? oh what the hell lets be nice and say it's a bit of both. which is the way it should be i think. ('scuse me i just got back from drinking far to much IPA so things might be a bit blurred).that's all for now. nighty night people. sweet dreams and mat they all be damp and ........ etc etc
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My dear Pandora,
I certainly will visit again in the not too distant future. You will recognise me instantly because of the cunning disguise.
As for the sarcasm - I have the skin of a pachyderm! ;oD
All the best,
Wimbourne.
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Well Mr. 5th Earl of Wimbourne (chuckle-chuckle!!) i am glad you like the pub and hope you will visit us again soon.
Don't mind me about the elastoplast thing - I am the queen or sarcasm and thought it was quite amusing... oh the hilarity..
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First of all my thanks to Bob the Binman of Egham. Hadit not been for posting on Doris' pub, I would not have found the Magpie and Crown.
Having read through all the comments, however spurious some of them are, I decided that I would make the journey from Planet Thanet.
I ambled in around one o'clock yesterday, and was greeted by a charming smiling lady who turned out to be Angie, the landlord's partner. I apologise to Steve for distracting him away from compiling his quiz. Steve is a lovely fellow, and a "gricer" to boot. I spent a few pleasant hours chatting with them and a couple of the regulars.
The pub has a lovely lived-in feel to it and just didn't feel like a town centre pub, and I certainly can't understand the postings about the lighting or the alleged size of the place. Whomsoever was responsible for the latter remark has obviously never visited The Little Gem at Aylsford, or "The Smallest Pub In Kent" ( the name of which eludes me ) in Snargate Street, Dover.
I had a delicious Thai meal at a reasonable £3-19-00 ( £3.95 to anyone born post 14 Feb 1972 ).
As far as drinking, this pub has something for everybody - a good selection of well kept real ales, czech lager, cider, Hoegaarden and Belgian bottled beers. I tried five different pints - not a bad trick with four handpumps!
Burton Bridge XL Mild - 4.0%
Welton's Schneider Leicht - 4.1% - so nice, I had another.
Grand Union One Hop Pioneer - 4.5%
Grand Union Stout - 4.8% - again, so good that I had a second pint, and finally, by way of "one for the road" -
Twickenham Strong and Dark - 5.2%
Prices between £2-7-0 (£2.35) & £2-10-00 (£2.50).
All in all, a superb town pub, with bags of character, a cosy atmosphere, excellent, well cared for ale and a great landlord. Well worth the journey.
Avery highly deserved 9 out of 10!
Bravo.
Pandora - thank you for your concern. I am extremely meticulous and precise in the application of Elastoplast to my spectacles.
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Well Mr. 5th Earl of Wimbourne...(haha!) Didn't realise we would be under close observation....!
Mind you don't mistakenly get any elastoplast on your nose, it hurts a bit...
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Having read all the comments below, I will pay a visit tomorrow in a cunning disguise.
One false padded tie-on beer belly.
One voluminous jumper to conceal above.
One pair of Jack Duckwooth style spectacles with Elastoplast on the hinge.
One false long straggly beard.
One matching hairpiece.
One notebook.
One pewter tankard.
A selection of well-chewed biros.
One hat adorned with beer festival badges.
Yes, I think that's everything - a report will follow in the next few days.
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Pandora, glad you know about Dr Feelgood (RIP Lee Brilleau!).
Magpie & Crown is always a good boozer with good beers, good grub and good barmaids. What more can a man want?
Bob the Binman, Egham
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Always an excellent pub. Visted late 2005. Several friendly people at the bar, fantastic beer and THAI - not Chinese - food.
Recommended. Easy to miss trains from here and get stranded! (I haven't, but know trains from local stations stop early).
Check train timetables if using BR, last tubes from Gunnersbury underground station into central London run to about 2345.
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Unusual pub. Festooned with fluoro-bulbs. Eccentric to the max. Good range of changing real ales. Good chinese food. Worth a journey - not just a detour!
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as always monday nite is mogdencat nite. as to what pan just said, its worse pan when they try and look down my top. that's just plain wrong! captain swing come make yourself known to me, since you're a perve (according to Pan) we can talk about custard and sheep and how the two can interreact is a sloppy fleecy sheepy sort of way. 'scuse me i gotta go lie down now aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh pant pant
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Congratulations to Steve & Gordon!!! Hope the wedding went off ok! xxxx
anonymous - 9 Jan 2006 17:41 |
I'm neither here nor there with this pub. It's not a bad boozer for it's location. (I hate Brentford, being a QPR fan) But there's a great cafe next door so I sometimes visit The Magpie after a good lunch. Good range of beers, but the pub is so darn small you have to go outside to change your mind.
Good pub for Brentford, but doesn't belong in B.I.T.E'S Top 40.
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Excellent range of beers - very well kept. We went on a Saturday evening and were impressed by the friendly atmosphere there. Bar staff were great and v helpful in calling a taxi at chucking out time. I will definitely be back.
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Doc. Beat?? ok..I know who Dr. Feelgood is though... not sure what you're on about Marcy - we need to start a new conversation about something. Any suggestions people out there in the mighty talons of Brentford..?
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who cares who captain swing is. ever head of doctor beat? (doc doc doc doctor beat)
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who is captain swing by the way????!!?
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Scruffy old pub (wouldn't suit young trendy types) but a wonderful selection of real ales, continually changing as you sit there! And excellent homecooked Thai food that goes surprisingly well with the beer. Highly recommended if you're in Brentford.
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Arrrrghhhh Captain as you asked
The monkey-hanging legend is the most famous story connected with Hartlepool. During the Napoleonic Wars a ship was wrecked off the Hartlepool coast.
During the Napoleonic Wars there was a fear of a French invasion of Britain and much public concern about the possibility of French infiltrators and spies.
The fishermen of Hartlepool fearing an invasion kept a close watch on the French vessel as it struggled against the storm but when the vessel was severely battered and sunk they turned their attention to the wreckage washed ashore. Among the wreckage lay one wet and sorrowful looking survivor, the ship's pet monkey dressed to amuse in a military style uniform.
The fishermen apparently questioned the monkey and held a beach-based trial. Unfamiliar with what a Frenchman looked like they came to the conclusion that this monkey was a French spy and should be sentenced to death. The unfortunate creature was to die by hanging, with the mast of a fishing boat (a coble) providing a convenient gallows.
hense the Song/rhyme
Hammer his ribs, the thunnerin thief
Pummel his pyet wi yor neef!
He's landed here for nobbut grief
He's aud Napoleon's uncky O!
Thus to the Monkey all hands behaved
"Cut off his whiskers!" yen chap raved
Another bawled out "He's never been shaved",
So commenced to scrape the Monkey, O!
They put him on a gridiron hot,
The Monkey then quite lively got,
He rowl'd his eyes tiv a' the lot,
For the Monkey agyen turned funky O!.
Then a Fisherman up te Monkey goes,
Saying "Hang him at yence, an' end his woes,"
But the Monkey flew at him and bit off his nose,
An' that raised the poor man's Monkey O!
In former times, mid war an' strife,
The French invasion threatened life,
An' all was armed to the knife,
The Fishermen hung the Monkey O!
The Fishermen wi' courage high,
Seized on the Monkey for a spy,
"Hang him" says yen, says another,"He'll die!"
They did, and they hung the Monkey O!. They tortor'd the Monkey till loud he did squeak
Says yen, "That's French," says another "it's Greek"
For the Fishermen had got drunky, O!
"He's all ower hair!" sum chap did cry,
E'en up te summic cute an' sly
Wiv a cod's head then they closed an eye,
Afore they hung the Monkey O!.
Hope that explains abit
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Not sure who Anonymous is, but if you're a regular make yourself know to us.
I have ambivalent feelings about Hartlepool myself. They elected Peter Mandelson as their MP which speaks volumes. What is a Hanging Monkey btw? xxx 2 Pan ;-)
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Where on earth do you get Sunderland from Anonymous? Yer man's from Monkey Hanging country - Hartlepool - and proud of it, hence the stuffed toy dangling from the bar.
The reason for this posting is my disappointment at the number of people who feel they have to post anonymously. If you've got something to say, put your name to it, otherwise there's no point in having a forum like this.
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So ... are we saying that the two fat blokes are a couple???? interesting, never realised ... mind you, Sunderland eh?
anonymous - 13 Oct 2005 18:32 |
I usually visit this pub before I go to a Brentford game (which is only about once a season though).
The beer is always great and the atmosphere is friendly - what else matters?
The only downside is that the place could do with a spring clean but at least the pub has character, something that is becoming increasingly rare nowadays.
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I don't and have never lived in Brentford, but from 1998 - 2002, this was my local. House special double vodkas and Friday night karaoke were the main reason for me trekking to the Magpie on a weekly basis.
Nowadays I occasionally drop in for Thursday quiz night (and was delighted when my team won last December!!)
This is one of the VERY few pubs where I feel comfortable, as a "ladyeeee", walking in on my own.
Steve should be extremely proud of his pub; it has a great atmostphere, warmth & character.
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A great pub i miss since leaving Brentford.
Sure its dirty, smelly and full of leathry faced women but its got character. I liked the fat bloke in the guinness t-shirt who recommended me lovely wheat beers. Only Spitalfields market where I found the same stuff. Had a good chat with him about what he liked. Nice bloke, nice and fat.
I came 2nd in the quiz the one time i entered it back in january which was a relief because i feared some of the shiny faced locals may not have taken too kindly to a non-alcoholic outsider winning.
Really good place to nip in for a drink. Staying in there longer than an hour may have an adverse effect on your perception of reality. For example, you may start talking about beer in a dismissive and aloof fashion whilst referring to the perfectly normal 'Weir' as 'Weird'. I could see why people hate it but thats why i like it. Sort of like Marmite....
If ever a pub were an online chat forum for Dungeons and Dragons ths would be it.
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Actually that big bloke IS a bit 'false'. Still, nice beer though.
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Interesting place with a gothic air.
Very good beer quality and a variety too. Seems like a really decent local where effort is made to keep standards high - congratulations.
mally - 23 Jul 2005 12:21 |
Ive been coming in this pub now on and off for a few years, and I would just like to say I don't recognise it from some of the comments on here which don't seem very fair at all its always a good laugh and Steve and Gordon are a lovely couple.
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From my basic maths, 13 out of 60 is near enough 21% and not 25%, And as for complaining about staff posting, I feel its nice to see staff that take an interest in what is been said about their work place.
As for it been a locals pub, whats wrong with that? I find the "Local" pubs offer much more in the way of a good night out to people (even if it isn't your local) than many of the bland theme pubs that are dotted around, remember if it wasn't for the locals most pubs would be conveted to flats by now.
as a regular user of the pub I can state the only thing fake in the pub are a few of the locals false teeth.
good beer, good company, thats what a real pub is about and the magpie is 1 hell of a real pub.
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Hi there Simon from 3 men in a pub here. My friends and I have been drinking in the pub on Thursday evenings for around 2 years now. In this time both Steve and Gordon have become friends partly through having mutual interests with me and partly through the fact that they are friendly people who have time for anyone interested in what a pub is for ie. the consumption of alcohol not loud music and karaoke nights. The quality of the beer is without question and even though the place could do with sprucing up a bit it still has many many times the charachter of places like the Weir(d)(well thought of Pandora)or the Fire Station. Also if you do drink the bitters you don't need a second mortgage to pay for a round.
All in all this is a pub that does exqactly what it says on the tin, serves high quality reasonably priced beer in a friendly atmosphere with loads of charachter (and charachters). Anyone who is put off by the negative comments on this site I'd suggest you try the pub.If you come in on a Thursday I'd recommend taking part in the quiz it's brilliant!
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Well Steve, old son, I don't think my posting was 'negative' at all, it was trying to address the negativity, but clearly it's rattled your cage! But the slightly cross tone perhaps gives people a clue about what I'm getting at ...
And thirteen comments by staff out of sixty is pretty near 25% - that's certainly a lot.
"Goodnight John-boy!"
anonymous - 2 Jul 2005 21:32 |
This pub is great! The beer is always in fantastic condition and the constantly rotating range is impressive...usually at least one darker beer which is always appreciated :-)
I am by no means a local and can normally only visit maybe once a month, but I have always found the pub friendly and welcoming. I would certainly recommend this establishment to anyone who enjoys drinking proper beer in a proper pub.
Cheers!
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Hi, Steve the 'faux bonhomie' dispensing publican here. Just thought I'd add a few words. Yes, the staff(including me) have made a few postings here but this is usually to reply to some of the negative postings. While we're on that subject I'd like to mention that of the 60 postings, only 13 were made by staff(I've actually included a member of staff that wasn't employed by me at the time of these postings) which leaves 47 postings that could of only come from CUSTOMERS (your caps). Of those 47 only 9 are negative or have a negative aspect to the posting (including yours, Mr. Anonymous, what's the matter? afraid we might recognise you for one of the 'discharges' from the magistrates court?). When we see a negative entry on this site, we set about trying to address the problem (assuming it's a valid point), which includes posting a response.
Gordon's missive, I thought, was a well balanced item, he agreed that some points that people had made were valid, but he was also replying to some earlier comments about our toilets, the rest of his posting was to thank our CUSTOMERS for going above and beyond the call of duty. How many other pubs do you know where the CUSTOMERS give up their valuable drinking and working time to clear up a yard to create a beer garden? As for the Magpie & Crown being a LOCALS pub, I'm afraid you may have taken my "League Of Gentlemen" T-shirt a bit too literally, or you haven't been in to see us recently as we try to provide an atmosphere where you can either have a quiet drink, or have a conversation with 'friends you've never met before' as the Irish would say. Next time you're in, friend, come and talk to us.
Wassail
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marcus the part time barman here yet again. hopefully not the one wearing the satanist tee shirt (please tell me it wasn't me). hey geezer or whatever, debates are gooooood. not as good as beer but not too shabby either. just dont discuss debates and numbers in the same word if you know what i mean and i'm sure that you do. anyway, i'm still waiting for a kerplunk game on monday night, wassup you all scared or something. cheers for now
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Hmmmmm ... there seem to be a number of postings from the STAFF of this pub, following on from some rather negative ones from CUSTOMERS. Is this really what Beer in the Evening is about? Let's start a debate!
The post from 'Gordon the FULL-TIME barman' seems particularly self-congratulatory. Yes, we're sure, you all feel you're a great bunch. But what's the reality?
Yes, the Magpie is pretty cruddy inside (sticky seats, grimy walls etc), but this really is 'atmosphere' and entirely forgivable. You're here to drink beer - and they have some very good ones on offer, with an admirable changing list.
But there are ceertainly some negatives. This is a LOCAL pub for LOCAL people, and there's an odd atmosphere, and some odd people, whether it's the latest 'discharge' (oooo matron) from the Magistrate's Court opposite, and their larky 'are you looking at me' tatoo-stare, to the large publican with his faux bonhomie or his teenage/middle-age partner in the satanist tee-shirt. Altogether an experience! Make your own minds up ...
anonymous - 29 Jun 2005 22:25 |
evening people, marcus the part time bar-man here again. just a quicky (ooh missus) to say thanks for making monday night a bit busier. not many of you are playing games yet but i'm sure that will change (fancy a game of kerplunk anyone?). you've missed out on a few really good beers lately, lots of one hops and stouts, and no i can't remember their name. I just serve the stuff and know the price, of course when i'm not working i drink it but then of course i get drunk and can't remember my own name let alone what beer i've been drinking.
that's about it for today, so come along and monday night and say hello to the black wearing earinged person behind the bar (that's me folks) and try and beat me at kerplunk
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This is indeed a splendid pub. My friends and I began going there when London Broncos RLFC moved to Brentford. We go there after most home games during the rugby league season and if the Broncos ever move again to a different ground we'll definitely make a point of coming back whenever we can.
Four real ales on at all times, carefully chosen to provide real variety in strength and often including milds, porters and stouts, and consistently in excellent condition at reasonable prices. I don't usually get as far as sampling the real ciders or continental beers, and with the hourly Sunday train service back to London I've lost count of the number of times I've thought "oh sod it, I'll have a couple more beers and get the next train".
I used to think the place looked a little bit too tatty, and at times the gents toilets have reinforced my theory that quality of a pub's toilet is often in inverse proportion to the pub's overall quality. However, I did note the recent improvements yesterday with the outer door even closing properly at last!
As a relatively unbiased occasional customer I'd like to endorse all of Gordon's comments below, which I feel are fair and accurate. The place has a comfortable lived-in feel to it, and I appreciate the use of energy saving lightbulbs. Too many pubs are far too brightly lit; it isn't necessary and the lighting in the Magpie is perfectly adequate.Wasting energy is a particular pet hate of mine, whether it's heaters turned up full on crowded trains while all the windows are opened to prevent the passengers from fainting or fluorescent lights in shopfront signs. Anyway, I'm rambling now.
I'm already looking forward to my next visit, which unfortunately won't be until 24 July when the Broncos play their next home game.
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Hello. Gordon the full-time barman here. I thought it's time I made a contribution.
I believe a pub is not bricks and mortar, or even the beer (even if it's as great as ours). A pub is the people who use it - So it's no wonder that we reached the number one spot last week.
Yes, we use low-energy bulbs. There's a good reason they're called low-energy. They cost less to run, and don't put such a strain on the environment or our venerable wiring circuits! OK, the toilets might not be to your liking. Spotted any improvement lately? Well, you won't have seen that the toilet roof has been replaced, or that the plumbing has been upgraded. You might have noticed the new hot-air hand dryers or the new tiling in the Ladies. As for being the worst in West London, I can assure you that they are not. No way.
But what we have got going for us is the best customers a pub could hope for. I wish I could tell you about every one of them, but there's too many to list here. I would, however, like to single out a few for a special mention in no particular order. There's Bob, who it turns out is as handy with a fire extinguisher as he is with a spanner, and has literally saved the pub. He's also responsible for the much-admired bike rack. Kim and Dick are invaluable, and without them I'd have sunk in a sea of empty glasses and overflowing ashtrays on many an occasion. Then there's Ralph, Vicky, Zoe, the Reverend Steve, Pandora, Jason, Graham, collectively the 'Ground Force Team' who are turning our back yard into a beer garden. Well done guys. Andreas has been hard at work on the plumbing, roofing and lots besides, and is available for hire at very reasonable rates! Kathy, Marcus, Pandora and Joanne are customers and friends who've bravely made the transition to part-time barstaff. Thanks to you all.
I wish I could list everybody who makes the Magpie and Crown such a great pub. Please don't take offence if your name's not here. For me to give you all a mention would, I'm sure, overload the website.
Please keep enjoying what Marcus calls 'The Magpie and Crown Experience'. I wish you all health, wealth and happiness in great measure.
Cheers!
Gordon (although my name appears here as 'Macbeth' for reasons I won't trouble you with!)
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An excellent traditional pub with superb beer! Perhaps the worst toilets in West London, and the extensive use of low energy light bulbs doesn’t lend themselves to a ‘cosy’ atmosphere, but what a cracking pint!
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The picture of the pub has changed, the tables are round the back and we are in the process of clearing it for use as a beer/BBQ garden. (all we need now is the sun)
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marcus the part time barstaff here - a big hello to all you magpie and crown fans. its good that some of you are finally getting the hang of the place. we do try. or maybe thats just me being trying? oh well, try to drop in again and drink beer. if for no other reason than we do need to keep the stock turning over. oops forgot to say that steve (the landlord) wants me to mention the new random Belgian beer on tap (it changes every week). thats all for now. happy drinking
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This pub was my local until I saw sense and moved back up north and I always found the beer in top condition - Steve wouldn't put a beer on unless he was satisfied it was ready. I still call in when I'm down that way, usually around GBBF time. All in all a cracking boozer and I can't understand some of the negative comments on this site. Ignore them and give the place a try. If you like your beer I'm sure you'll love it. Say hello to h'Angus for me!!!
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This pub was scheduled as the first pub on a "bus-pass" pub crawl run by a few mates in 2004. I could not make it until pub 3 on the crawl but everyone said it was the best pub on the crawl..so when a Real Ale mate from Southampton came up for the May bank holiday weekend I thought I'd give it the once over.
Unobtrusive music in the background was Genesis: Selling England By The Pound (a good start in my book). Chalkboard listed the currently available Real Ales, Ciders, etc and their ABV and advised over 1,000 Real Ales had been served at the pub since they were keeping records (exceptional). The Pint of Shefford Old Dark was in excellent condition, my mate went for the summer ale (Barnsley Umpire's Finger) and he stayed on it all night. I switched to a Titanic Ale after the first S.O.D. but this suffered from having subtler flavours than the first beer and it was not until I'd nearly drained my glass that it impressed at all...so back on the S.O.D. until closing time when I had a finger too - judging that if it was a quick drinking up time I could polish it off quickly - however, no problems there - we were all allowed to finish our business in our own time.
The pub itself has a local feel (my mate reckoned it was the best pub I'd ever taken him to in the Smoke). The comfortable surroundings certainly will attract people not wishing to suffer the gaudy and loud that is so prevalent in other pubs...of course it attracts CAMRA members too - there were a couple on the next table to me with their good beer guides and marking down their opinions in their notebooks. Did not see any "Pikey" women, but to be honest this pub is not likely to attract that many women - unless they are seriously into either beer or pub games! There were only two women in the pub that Sunday - a striking looking woman with black hair and a young lass with her boyfriend who was on the shorts! (in a Real Ale Pub!!). The policy about returning glasses is quite clearly displayed (although as it was not a busy night I guess there was no danger of being served in the dreaded plastic receptacles!). Overall a very good "local" pub experience and although it is a bit too far from Wembley to make a regular haunt (considering I'd hardly be driving with what's on offer behind the bar!), I would certainly visit the place again.
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I've just read all 49 comments about this pub. Notwithstanding the fact that some of them have been posted by people who work there, I find it hard to believe (from the general tenor of comments) that this pub does not have a higher overall rating! If I had known about this place while I was re-visiting the Big Smoke yesterday, I would certainly have strayed from my chosen path to pay it a visit. Perhaps next time <Bar Billiards, Strawberry Beer, 3 different REAL Ciders? I can't wait!>.
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Well after reading some comments recently - I thought it would be time to correct a few disgruntled visitors, I work full time in the pub at the moment and we've never been better! Ok so we don't serve food at the moment or have regular live bands and as to the fact that some of you have declared the Magpie as "needing a good spruce up" I definitely think it looks lived in and that is part of the charm about our local!
If you want wining and dining and toff talk - go elsewhere (The Weir(d)) for example.
And as to LondonWolf's comment about a "strange pikey woman collecting glasses" and being "intrusive", she is NOT a pikey but a good friend and local to the pub - maybe we were too busy ourselves to collect glasses and I think highly of our locals who want to lend a helping hand once in a while...
So put that in your pipe and blooming smoke it!
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Was in here on Saturday. A great pub, good atmosphere and good mix of characters drinking here. Only slight problem was strange 'pikey' woman who was collecting glasses (NOT a member of staff I hasten to add!). Rather rude and intrusive, and quite unnerving! Otherwise, comfortably the best pub in Brentford, well worth a try.
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By far the most traditional pub around. Real ales (four of them) and real ciders too (THREE on at the same time!) plus friendly staff and a welcoming atmosphere. When I was there, the barman (sorry I don't know his name) seemed less like a member of staff and more like everyones mate. He knew his beer, and offered me a sample of the strawberry beer to try. I will return to this gem of a pub whenever I'm in the area.
anonymous - 31 Mar 2005 02:44 |
hello people, marcus the part time barman here. it is true the pub is a bit grubby, or should that be lived in? The locals are a bit miserable (ever been to Brentford?) but all in all it's an old fashoined pub for old fashoined people (unless you're young and like very good beer). as for me smiling, think of it as me bareing my teeth and getting ready to bite. why not come and see me on monday nights. cheers folks
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I find it surprising to say you found the locals a bit depressed, it may have been a bad day, or you caught us in deep contemplation of a good pint. And now another shock for the locals, on certain nights I have been lead to believe Marcus is working behind the bar, And shock horror HE HAS BEEN KNOW TO SMILE.
Still one of the best pubs in Brentford. And with a high pressure bike pump and puncture repair kit behind the bar, Gordon asked me to remind people of that.
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Wide range of beer (inc guests), lager and cider. Staff nice enough, but a lot of the punters seem a bit depressed, and, as others have observed, a once-over with the steam cleaner wouldn't go amiss.
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Great pub and a real oasis for those that like something with a bit more character than chilled fizzy kids' pop to drink!
Hundreds of different ales have passed through here - nearly two thou since 1996! They're into cask cider too so if you're looking for a good traditional boozer with great ales, interesting sarnies, a quiz night etc, you really can't fault this place.
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Great beer, friendly staff and a good atmosphere, those of you who find it intimidating when you walk in try talking to someone they won't bite your head off!
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Beer great as ever, friendly staff. The pub could do with a spruce up though.
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Good beer, friendly staff, Cider too.
Shame about no live music but maybe its too small.
anonymous - 19 Jan 2005 19:39 |
Vast slection of beer, seemed popular enough with the locals but could do with a good clean
Gary - 7 Oct 2004 13:13 |
During the 2nd world war my fathers' parents where running the Magpie and Crown and it was in the pub that my dad met my mum. His name was Donald Hale although I do not know his parents names. My father died in 1998 but my mum is still alive and I am sure she will be very pleased to see the photo of your pub and hear that it is still there. Cheers, Paul Hale, in Lowestoft Suffolk.
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Delicious section of continental lagers - oh how I wish this pub wasnt miles from where I live (Teddington)
PJ - 26 Jul 2004 10:11 |
Hi - I'm Gordon, and I work at the Magpie so it's not fair for me to tell you how wonderful it is. Visit us and judge for yourself.
But I would like to tell you what we've done for the increasing number of cyclists who visit us. We've installed a cycle rack... And don't forget, we keep a high-pressure pump, puncture repair kit and a few tools behind the bar, in case your beloved steed needs some attention.
We're on the Thames Path and right by the canal towpath which are both popular routes for cyclists, so why not drop in when you're passing?
Cheers!
Gordon.
Gordon - 22 Jul 2004 10:27 |
Still serves great beer, well worth a visit.
anonymous - 12 Jul 2004 01:33 |
brilliant beer, good laugh, great landlord, very good food. cheese ploughmans with 1/2lb of cheese, local trout, what must be the bigest breakfast in london (I have still to hear of someone finishing it and still been hungry) and even better in these times Beer that doesn't need a morgage to buy more than 2 pints.
Bungle - 18 May 2004 16:50 |
Still a great pub, I must say that Alan's food is fabulous! His menu is constantly changing and there is great variety to please everyone.
His all day breakfasts are huge.. it's a great accomplishment finishing the whole bloody lot!
Keep up the good work guys!
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As no one has added any comments recently I thought I should. Last Friday the 3rd of April I wandered into the Magpie & Crown hoping for a drop or half gallon of cider. Oh woe upon woe, no cider was there to be had. It had sold out, so perhaps the good news is spreading that good real cider is wonderful stuff. I had to comiserate with myself over a not inconsiderable range of glorious ale, which through pure hapenstance, I was assured, seemed all to be animal related. This range included three from the same brewer but from different breweries. Now that is unusual! It just goes to show that after 8 years Steve (the landlord) can still surprise us all.As always as soon as one beer is finished another one is put on, so through the evening I think I had about 6 different beers including the Pauliner Weiss, which it cannot harm to mention was first available in the UK on draught at the Magpie & Crown. Even tha hardend lager drinkers have been known to sample the strawberry Frulli.
ps All Richmond and Hounslow CAMRA members remember to vote for the Magpie & Crown for this years Pub Of The Year, better still how about the Pub Of The Decade.
Cheers and Wassail.
simon - 6 Apr 2004 17:02 |
Best beer in Brentford and good local crowd
Neil Chippendale - 23 Mar 2004 21:55 |
Hey everybody! It's my 22nd birthday on Wed 25th..for those of you who know me...be there and be merry! Be seeing you..
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Smashing local boozer with lots of variety in beer choice and friendly natives(including me!).Bar billiards ,quiz night,genial and friendly hosts who are both have an encyclopedic knowledge of beer/cider and how they are brewed.Come along if you're friendly and like good ale
Keith Iddon - 14 Feb 2004 02:22 |
After reading all the comments both good and bad about this pub, I took the opportunity to pay another visit last night (04/02/04).
Was very impressed by the beer range. Four constantly changing cask ales are available on handpump in excellent condition, together with six draught continental lagers (such as Paulaner, etc).
I did not find the pub overbright as some have mentioned, but low-energy CFL bulbs are in use throughout.
Traditional pub games, such as cribbage and shut-the-box are available here; the pub features one tv and quiet background music at other times. However neither intrude on what is a good conversational atmosphere.
The landlord (Steve) is friendly and welcoming, and the locals are all friendly.
I have been assured that the non-locking door in the gents' loo is about to be repaired!
This pub is well worth a visit and I shall certainly be coming again.
It is useful to note that last train services from Gunnersbury are the 2303 eastbound, but a night bus N9 runs into central London every 30 minutes from about 0030.
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Well hurrah for bar billiards indeed!
Hopefully that will stop some of the morons coming into our pub wrecking the blooming thing as they did with the pool table...hence no pool!
The fact that you have to score points and have a brain to add may frustrate some of them..let's just hope it doesn't happen again!
Still great beer as ever and hmmm yes..I'll have a pint of that ever so tasty strawberry beer known as Fruhli...yum!
Keep drinking folks!
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Another excellent visit to one of the best free houses around. One of the very few true free houses at that. Seven different ales on throughout the evening, not a bad choice from only 4 hand-pumps. As the Battersea Brewery beers finished, still in great condition, they were replaced with ones from Wickwar Brewery. You don't get much from this Gloucestershire brewery in London so it was a very pleasant evening. The resultant Saturday morning still drunk did lead to some slight delay in imbolc celebrations, but all went well, blessed be.
Pandora was present, but as a customer only.
simon - 2 Feb 2004 14:10 |
pool table has now been replaced with a bar billiards table reasonably priced at only 50 pence a go. Beer excellent and cider better!
simon - 22 Jan 2004 16:44 |
By far the best drinking experience in the netherworld of Brentford. The beer choice is wide and varied, changing often and showing great imagination. There is also a choice of real cider on offer, a great rarity for any pub in London. With one quite bar and a pool table crammed into here as well I can recommend it to anyone who wants a genuine and friendly local with excellent beer. Although last time I went there someone attempted to throw a video recorder through the window, and we're talking the huge early eighties things here, the ones that are bigger than most tellies are today. Thanks heavens for leadened windows that's all I can say. Oh and I've yet to see the bar maid, though the jolly genial overweight landlord in his real ale t-shirt comes highly rated!
Agnes - 21 Jan 2004 14:30 |
thank you for the nice comment about the "fit" barmaid. and that would be me, you are not the first one to resemble me to the cartoon in the metro...do visit again and show yourself sir..glad you like the beer!
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Nice pub, sells Strawberry beer (German?).
Fit barmaid bit like cartune in Tyne Metro, sometimes she smiles.
Nice eyes as well.
Bar Snooker Table in rear bar.
Nice people, decent beer.
Dernnott OO Groves - 20 Jan 2004 10:49 |
This has got the potential to be a really top pub. The german and belgian beers are excellent (do try the Strawberry one!) and the guest ales are all worth a try. these seem to change quite often, which is a real bonus as well.
John - 22 Dec 2003 14:48 |
Looks so tempting from outside but when you get in things aren't so hot. What could pass as character comes across as a little cold here. Could be the Brentford crowd who can come across as a little 'hostile' shall we say. Still, better than most pubs in the area. If they could just make it cosier, get rid of the white paint and dim the lights. The building itself has certainly got good character.
Good for: Daytime drinking, most definately.
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A New Beer on the scene, Paulaner Octoberfest, a bright Munich Lager high alcohol. There is a possibility of Strawberry Fruhli later this year. Watch this spot.
Note No longer any Karaoke!
Tim - 26 Sep 2003 18:01 |
Gordon is the sexiest barman in the world!
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Great real ales. It's always a treat to visit and chat with other CAMRA members. The furniture and doors were fine when I last visited 22/9/03. Great atmosphere, keep up the good work Steve.
John - 2 Sep 2003 19:34 |
After reading some of the comments about my pub on this website I feel that I ought to clarify some 'issues' that seem to have been raised. Miranda, your comments about the benches falling apart were very out of date as the offending items had been replaced with brand new benches for at least 3 weeks by the date of 5th August(the date of your entry). The Gents door was hanging off it's hinges, true, but this is in hand, the door is being replaced. I would like to apologise to 'francisthemule' as it was probably me that served you, I don't have any excuse for it other than it was probably a quiet day/morning and I probably looked up and didn't register that someone was there, once again I apologise. Well I'll stop rambling and just thank everybody else for their kind words, and to ask Miranda and 'francisthemule' to give us another try, we're not all bad.
Stephen - 11 Aug 2003 09:58 |
I had to visit after reading all the good things about the place. The beer was fine, not OTT, but fine. My problem was with the service. When I went (a couple of weeks ago)there was a very fat man behind the counter who acted as though it was too much bother to serve me. He was reading a newspaper when I went in, looked casually in my direction and continued reading.
Not a very welcoming attitude.
Nice beer but...
francisthemule - 9 Aug 2003 05:26 |
The Magpie & Crown is the best pub ever. Yes it sells excellent beer and gorgeous Belgian beers too (mmm...Kriek!!) I also think that as most people who drink regularly in the Mag know each other as friends, you feel more relaxed while you are enjoying a good pint.
You can't rate the Magpie & Crown out of anything - it's just a fab pub with fab people.....by the way..Esther, bloomin' cheer up! And also how does "Miranda" know about the hinges on the male's toilet door? Maybe she has a secret and likes the smell of men's urinals? How can you slag a pub off like that and say it's decrepit especially on the net? Maybe she should complain to Gordon and Steve instead of on this site. Other than that - keep up the good work guys, and please keep selling twiglets!
Pandora - 8 Aug 2003 15:57 |
Now that they have two superb German beers on draught from Paulaner, the Magpie has a complete range of draught ales and lagers and caters for every taste- this really is a drinkers' paradise!
Gordon and Steve are always knowledgeable and the locals are friendly.
The loss of the Karaoke has increased my rating somewhat!!
Roger - 6 Aug 2003 21:14 |
Yes, the beer is great, but this is the kind of pub that has given real ale a bad name. The outside tables were falling apart, the door to the gents was on its hinges, the whole place felt decrepit. As a paid up CAMRA member I guess I would agree that it's more important to care for the beer than the fixtures and fittings but surely not to completely ignore them? Frankly I would rather drink in places where I don't have to eschew a second pint because I'm afraid of what might be in the Ladies, however good the beer is. See you at the GBBF this week then!
Miranda - 5 Aug 2003 09:12 |
4 Draught Foreign Beers
4 Draught English Beers
And Cider or Perry.
What more can you ask?
Ok and Pub Games, Quiz Night and no longer Karaoke.
THis should be "The ideal Pub" see August's London Drinker!
I'd give it 9.5 out of 10
Tim Cosgrove - 28 Jul 2003 12:53 |
Not just a great real ale pub- those of us who like a lager, a homely atmosphere and a game of pool are also easily satisfied by this local boozer. Cheap spirits and Sky Sports also play their part.
Nick - 23 Jul 2003 21:09 |
And there's more, Afflingem, (abbey) @6%, Paulaner, (Munchen and weiss)The Magpie and Crown is the only pub in the country to sell Paulaner on draught.
Robert - 23 Jul 2003 04:04 |
Top quality boozer. The Hoegaarden is the cheapest in the country and there's a good selection of bottled Belgian and German beer. One of the few pubs I know that actively promote stouts, porters and milds. The Grand Union Honey Porter that they had on the other week was superb, it sold out in midweek in less than 48 hours - and those idiots at CAMRA will tell you that there's no demand for dark beer in the Summer! I'd give it 8.5 out of 10.
Michael - 1 Jul 2003 08:34 |
Great pub, great choice of drinks and great company. The newly introduced food bar provides some interesting dishes. Mainly pub grub food but with interesting variations and a "Dish of the Week" which changes every 7 days.
An excellent pub to visit.
Tony - 25 Jun 2003 13:01 |
The 4 real ales are constantly changing. I have personally sampled over 1200 different ales over the years in this pub.
Bob - 19 Jun 2003 05:03 |
Four real ales from micro breweries. Draught Hoegaarden for only £2.70 a pint!!! The Quiz on Thursday nights is not to be missed.
Graham - 13 Jun 2003 03:32 |
Old fashioned 1930s pub plonked right in the middle of Brentford High Street. Its ok but not particularly friendly for strangers. Sells 4 real ales and some German lagers.
Simonf - 12 Jun 2003 11:04 |
A very good pub in what's otherwise a beer oasis. At least one interestig beer. The pub is lit almost entirely by compact fluorescent lamps which gives a slightly harsh lighting effect, but it's worth a visit for the friendly landlord and the good beer. I am awarding a "7/10" rating to this pub.
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One of the "Pubbiest" pubs I know. Consistantly good beer, good crowd, good fun.
David - 12 Jun 2003 10:02 |
Excellent beer, 1 room pub with round bar. 1930's style building right on the high street. Guest beers available. CAMRA recommended. Watch out for the hanging monkey!!!!!
Graham - 18 Apr 2003 10:31 |
