please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This place is awful. To say the drinks are overpriced does not convey how much of a rip of this place is. £3.70 for a pint of Fosters!!!!! That is just the tip of the iceberg. Don't go near the food - likelt to be small, luke warm and tasteless.
Awful.
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Bloody hell - what has happened to this once quality boozer. In order to deter the regular legion of meths-supping tramps that frequent Brook Green (an area that thinks it's nice and upmarket but, hey, it's Hammersmith so it's not - fact, Young's have cranked the prices up and stopped doing the Special. They do sell the Double Chocolate Stout - at stupid pounds a bottle but at least it's chilled. I don't know - all Youngs had to do was clean the toilets - it was never a bad pub. It isn't now but just too poncey - stop it. Bring back the Special and sell proper beers.
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I've always really liked the Brook Green Hotel, mainly because it looks so much like a traditional English pub. However, each time I visit it seems to be getting less like a pub and more like a restaurant. I was staggered when I asked for a pint of Youngs Special to be told they don't sell it. I couldn't believe it, what's going on? Oddly though there were two enormous Peroni pumps.
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Trequites and Mr.Cole should note that the staff aren't as over-zealous as before. I noticed that on our first visit soon after the "upgrade", there were about half a dozen staff clamouring for our attention and over eager to serve!
These teething problems have since abated and the atmosphere (and service!!!) is less intimidating.
True, it's gone upmarket but as that kind of pub goes it's not the worst.
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Young's pub that does not sell Special. Discuss.
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Nice refurb but what did they finish the walls with? Gold leaf? I can't think of any other reason why the prices have gone up so much and (as per the previous two comments) they've got such a push on the dry take. Nothing terrible about the place and worth a pint if passing through but not worth detouring for.
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I can confirm the experiences of stevecole. When we went in and were scanning the handpumps for (nonexistent) Young's Special, we were approached by a waiter offering to find us a table for two. When we asked if we could get our own beer at the bar, he replied that 'we come and serve you at your table'. We made our excuses and left.
I don't know what Youngs are trying to do with their pubs, but our experiences of them since they stopped brewing and became just a pub owning company have been almost totally bad.
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I visited on the re-opening night after a refurb. It's trying to move upmarket. Over intrusive waiter service forced us to move on after just 1 drink. Another 'ok' pub ruined. I won't rush back
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Nothing spectacular but a good reliable pub. Friendly staff and decent enough (Youngs) beer. A regular haunt after (and sometimes during) work.
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Plesant enough Youngs open-plan pub - fairly typical of this part of London.
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New manager ,very keen and friendly. The Pub is now back on my regular visit list.
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What great place! Fantastic to see a traditional London pub AND to see a proper friendly landlord behind the bar (not a sight often seen)
Well done will be back!
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A real shame that this pub has gone from being a great place to spend an evening to a shell of a place. They have, for reasons that I cannot understand, pulled out the dartboard. They have cancelled the blues and jazz nights and seem to be aiming the pub at an ill defined target audience which is already probably gobbled up by nearby pubs anyhow.
I noted that the place seems considerably quiter post refurb. Yet another flawed pub refurbishment backfiring. I know that I will not be returning any time soon.
anonymous - 22 Sep 2006 17:42 |
Nothing like as good as it used to be - prices up, atmosphere down...
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I didn't know the pub before my visit, it was merely the convenience. However, it was fairly quiet for a Saturday evening - perhaps suffering from losing all it's regulars.
That said, I think the pub still shows plenty of potential (as long as it doesn't introduce Karaoke) - the food was good and the Youngs excellent.
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Those regulars who were expecting to find a funky atmospheric blues club here on friday nights are in for a big disappointment: managerial ignorance has driven it out. The Blues bar is now operating on wednesdays at The Inn on The Green, off Ladbroke Grove, and on thursdays at the Turks Head, in St. Margarets, Twickenham. Go to www.brooksbluesbar.co.uk for more information
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How can you cancel popular nights like Blues, jazz, comedy and dj nights and replace this with Karaoke! and there's even talk of speed dating! What is going on????
anonymous - 12 Aug 2006 09:15 |
You will perhaps have noticed that all the good reviews for this pub were posted a while ago: before the recent change of management. There have not been any good notices since then. This new regime has demonstrated the disastrous effects of Youngs new policy of corporate managerialism. Apparantly now, all you need to run a Youngs pub is a lot of bullshit, backed up by an MBA. Intelligence, sensitivity, local experience, or even common sense are considered entirely dispensible. They have sabotaged a very popular, thriving live music venue, unique in the whole of London, and driven away at least a hundred loyal regulars: and for what? "Corporate Policy?" Does anybody know what they are doing? Rumour has it that the new Brucksfuhrer wants to put in a disco... Oh swipe me, what a managerial masterstroke! If there's one thing that Hammersmith is really in need of, it's more discos. Why, I only passed about seven or eight of them on my Friday night walk up Shepherd's bush Road from the tube station... Well, I won't be passing that way any more on a Friday night: I'll be going to wherever the Blues Club has moved on to, like all the rest of us regulars... So Long Suckers!
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Gone down hill fast.
anonymous - 8 Aug 2006 11:27 |
The Friday night blues club here was my favourite London Blues venue and I have played there and attended as a 'punter'. It was built up slowly by the talented couple who run it to the point where a previously under used space became something very special. For the last few months it has slowly been pressurised out by new local management. Now I have just heard that the club has to move (watch out for the new venue tba).
What do Youngs think they're playing at? This is just the kind of club which publicans give their eye teeth for. Well behaved drinking punters brought in at no cost to the pub. Apparently, the new management, fresh from Blackpool, think that they can do better. I think they are mistaken.
Well done, Youngs! An own goal if ever I saw one!
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This used to be a great pub. Now sadly, it's about to lose its weekly Friday night blues club. This was one of the best music venues in London: small, intimate and friendly. Apparently, it's all the result of a change of management. It seems that Youngs Brewery have found a new type of theme pub: the rudeness and stuff-the-customers pub.
Gone are the fine meals served under previous managers. Gone is the blues club. (A new venue is being sought, I'm told). And gone are me and my mates.
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Great pub, with cosy feel and lovely beer and food. I saw some amazing live jazz in the basement bar here in December, and was told it is going to happen on the first Tuesday of every month starting on March 7th. I'd recommend this to anyone wanting a fun night of top-class music, food, and drink in a friendly environment. More details on www.myspace.com/basementjazzsessions.
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Big pub, pretty full in the evenings. Thats always a good sign is you ask me
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The standard in this pub is very good. The bar staff are efficient and well polished, the beer is very well kept and the food is pretty good. The reworking of the Victorian features scores well too – the decoration refreshingly done. At times it can lack a bit of atmosphere, particularly at the southern end of the pub, but otherwise deserves a lot of praise.
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This is an excellent pub on SheBu rd. Came here on a Wed night and it was not too packed. Food was delicious, wait staff were great in all senses of the word. A nice place to enjoy good beer and food!
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Like any place this has it's bad points, but they are pretty well over once you've paid for your drink!!!! The beer is kept as well as any I've had at The Brewer's Tap (attatched to Young's Brewery) The Winter Warmer is currently at it's best & I defy anyone to find fault with the Bitter! I've not heard of anyone paying for a bad pint in this place. Also, pay attention to the Specials Board... Some strange soup de jours, but some good value meals & not always straight out of the "traditional pub food" category. Has a wonderful venue downstairs that calls itself a wine bar and a still-functioning hotel upstairs. I've never seen the Wine Bar open as a wine bar, but many great nights have been had at the Brooks Blues Bar on Friday night, the Comedy nights are amateur but good and every now and then a banging party can be heard on Saturdays. Staff seem to have been there ages, so there is a familiarity with most regulars that leave some regular-wannabes a little green! Keep it up guys & girls!
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Probably the best pub in the area, as previously mentioned. Friendly staff, good beer selection including the full range of Young's bottled beers. Good food as well, and remember to check the specials board.
anonymous - 25 Feb 2005 11:53 |
This pub is, as Ali G would say, "Massive". What a pleasant find. A warm, Victorian, wooden pub, with huge windows, lots of natural light and a great bar. The accomodation here is excellent value: super ensuite rooms. 50 sovs a night plus a good breakfast is hard to beat in the Big Smoke. Staff are friendly and seem to enjoy working there. Given that the area between the awful Hammersmith and Shepherds's Bush is bland and disappointing (witness the sad strip of Brook Green) across the road, it comes as a pleasant surprise to find this pub in fighting fit shape. The only downside would be the tendency for lots of hobbos to hang around the area bad-mouthing folks, but surely they would not be allowed in?
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A splendid example of how a pub can be updated without being spoilt. Very impressively ornate bar back with glasswork. High ceilings. Reasonably warm and welcoming atmosphere. Youngs beer was on reasonable form. They are doing a BBQ for Australia Day - January 26th
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A perfect London pub. Gorgeous Victorian architecture, attractive fresh decor, comfortable furniture, lovely high ceilings, lots of space. Well-chosen soul music played at low volume. Welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. And a full range of Youngs beer, well kept.
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We enjoyed a superb stay at the Brook green hotel,The Room was of high quality,superb breakfast and the service from all staff was excellent.I have already recommended this venue to friends who Im sure will agree.
joanne ward - 4 Oct 2004 15:26 |
a really great pub with a good atmosphere and surroundings and a good set of regulars.I discovered this pub when I was looking for a decent pub when attending fulham's games at loftus road. I went there before and after every home game and never had a bad pint - or a bad experience. it is very much a rugby pub but that shouldn't stop other sports lovers going there. unfortunately, fulham has moved back to craven cottage so I have not been back since the end of last season. if I am in the area, I will be sure to drop in for a pint.
gearbox - 4 Oct 2004 12:38 |
During the time it took to ingest the brief half I had time for on my recent visit here, I concluded that this was a pub to which I would like to return. The high celings are marvelous as is the the decor in general. Service was polite, music palyed at a decent volume. Wouldn't want to see anything gimmicky introduced mind. It's larger then life presence on Shepherds Bush Road resists informality and instead beckons the serious drinker.
Good for: Winter afternoon sessions.
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Awesome Chips. Good Food. Avoid during Rugby or Big Footy games.
Did I mention the chips? Santa is a regular - dont sit in his seat!
Great pub.
TimXOCognac - 7 Feb 2004 11:23 |
This is a very well run pub. The landlord has raised the standard of the food since he took over; keeps his beer well; and appears to be always looking for new ways to enterain and involve his customers. (On Christmas Eve, he organised what he thought was going to be small carol singing event with beer but which became an enjoyable highlight for everyone in the pub.)
For major sporting events, such as the Six Nations rugby tournament, a large screen is erected for people to enjoy a few beers and the game.
The basement, Brooks Blues Bar, is home to a comedy club on Thursday and a jazz and blues club on Fridays.
Brendan Martin - 15 Jan 2004 15:14 |
nice pub but the food is expensive, as are the soft drinks. In fact, probably the most expensive soft drinks in london.
ian - 1 Jan 2004 19:23 |
Converted a couple of years ago, the interior is a refreshing reworking of its Victorian heritage. The pub has a lot of room, high ceilings and outside space for the summer. Beer is predominently Youngs derived and well kept , though I'd welcome more variety. Food was good, if not spectacular; staff are well trained and smart. FYI, it still runs as a hotel too. Worth a visit.
Ali - 27 Aug 2003 18:10 |
