John Bull, Chiswick

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user reviews of the John Bull, Chiswick

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

I’ve been into the John Bull a few times on a Saturday to watch the football and see the results come in. I’ve found the lager to be good and the barman to be very friendly even if the décor is a little shabby.

This pub is a music venue with a stage and chairs on the dance floor that I’d imagine disappear when a band is playing. Not really my cup of tea, but I do enjoy an afternoon drink in there.

It’s not the sort of pub I’d imagine office workers from the business park next door enjoying, so I can understand the mixed reviews. Maybe they should all head down to the bar in the recently opened hotel as I have heard that it isn’t too shabby in there.

Strongers - 19 Mar 2007 15:14
Not sure what previous reviewers want !.I visited with friends for live music on a saturday night. yes decor is a bit rough round the edged but informed by staff that fit out is due.Larger was comming up well and the staff were friendly enough.will return for music in near future.
the_surrey_beer_nomad - 2 Mar 2007 07:03
The JB, what can I say!! A very average watering hole. But on the plus side - it looks like a palace now compared to pre 2002 and the overhaul when you really did take your life into your own hands if you dared put 50p on the pool table.
ham - 2 Nov 2006 17:36
Looks like Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen got hold of £200 and managed to transorm the place into the depressing hole that it now is.
As for getting food on a Friday lunchtime- basically the system is watch the barmaids walk round cluelessly until you catch their eye and then eat whatever they're carrying as asking them to actually bring what you've ordered is far too complicated. Nice business park round the corner though and the kiosk does an excellent muesli pot in the mornings.
anonymous - 2 Nov 2006 17:31
Based in an excellent location next to one of the largest business parks in London and directly accross the road from a tube station, the John Bull is a massive dissapointment.

Like the shops across the road, this place looks like something transported straight out of the 80's and has a dingy, dark interior with average bar service. Despite being a sausage fest at the best of times, this place still manages to attract a lot of my recruitment consultant workmates who maybe one day will wake up to the fact that there are better pubs in London to frequent than this one....
cwoolf - 2 Nov 2006 17:16
Used to go to the John Bull alot few years ago the music side was great...the pit...wentright down hill BUT have to say been back recently a few times and do feel music side picking up advertise some more where else in chiswick and surrounding areas is there live music apart from The george/globe support live music and hopefullly will kep it alive.
anonymous - 5 Oct 2006 00:57
"the John Bulls a hit!" ,..............Fcking keyboard giving me typo's!..Sorry, forget about that "a" and take out the spaces.

Rank..i spoke to my astonaut uncle about this gaff, and he told me that the atmosphere here reminded him of that little walk he took in the sea of tranquility.
kmcs - 30 Aug 2006 15:44
One side of this place is a music venue , the other side is a rather good pub - wonder which one you were in........doh !!!
squatter - 31 May 2006 16:16
Wierd place. Think the inside of a strip joint but no girls or punters. There's even a stage.
This place is very dark, seems like everything in sight is painted black.
Therefore, decor: Dodgy
Atmosphere: None
Service: Poor to middling - grumpy Eastern Europeans
Food: Very boring
Says something like "a good place to chill" outside, more like "a wierd place to avoid".
algis100 - 30 May 2006 16:40
Great Pub for live music and clubbing. Come back The Pit
PurpleRocker - 12 Mar 2006 14:09
Watched the rugby here on Saturday - superb screen and excellent atmosphere - thoroughly recommended !
squatter - 7 Feb 2006 11:45
i'm of the opinion that a good night is what you make it. i had a good night once with a couple of friends in a draughty shed in an allotment in just outside frimley green, because i was in a good mood.
the john bull (now known as the jb bar and grill or something) is ok, because you can gather with a really large group of chums and enjoy live music, such as the incomparable covers band, LoudMouse, for example. you can order beer and snacks and dance your arse off in the very large space that is provided. for me, this outlet is just fine. i quite like the bar staff (especially the miserable russian ones) and i know in advance when the pub is about to shut, so i'm never disappointed. see you there soon, readers. february, 18th, 2006 perhaps.
anonymous - 6 Feb 2006 17:34
It's like visting a student union bar....nuff said....
the food is cheap, not that bad, and the beers are all mainstream - every cheap lager under the sun it seems.... decor sucks....its ok for quick drink but that's about it...oh and whilst it has 2 bars you can only get service at one of them....pointless...
Flawed - 22 Dec 2005 10:34
have to review my earlier comments about this place. the plans for this places demolition are on hold at the mo & it has been quickly done up. small bar to the left fine for a quick drink on your way up the high rd (or to the tube) & large bar/club on the right good place to see some interesting live bands or during the day to watch various football matches.
have staff who have been there for the past year or so excellent.
millym - 14 Nov 2005 09:38
The choice of music said it all, it accomodated my taste for alice cooper, iron maiden and metallica quite nicely.

my chums and i visited this venue a couple of weeks ago, in the hope of finding a decent drinking hole to quench the thirst of us chiswick park workers. i have to say i was disappointed in the price and choice of food on offer. it seems obvious they are trying to pander to what they think are overpaid chiswick park workers, but we already have a overpriced wine bar in the middle of the park in which to see and be seen, where can we go to bitch about our colleagues in peace? with a pint of fine lager and a packet of pork scratchings

john bull, you have sold out ,stick to your roots and the death metal. rock on!
gerryofwalthamstow - 10 Mar 2005 15:06
I would like to make a complaint about your staff on Friday night. We ordered drinks at the last round at 11.00pm. Then at approximately 11.10pm these drinks were swapped by your staff. I made a public outburst - As I was disgusted in such behaviour. I found it totally insulting - there was no warning nor was there at anytime a gentle hurry up or reminder for us to hurry along.

I have a witness who is a regular local chap who will confirm I was not intoxicated nor was a rude.

I wish you and your team great success in the industry - I'm sure you will survive with providing that type of service.!!

beelee - 20 Sep 2004 10:08
This fella below has done it an injustice. It's not the most welcoming of places but it does enough. In fact, the side where they have bands has a lot of potential but it seems to have been taken over by the rock nights they put on at the weekend.
Good for: Seeing the Dylan Rabbit play on a Tuesdays. Alas no more it seems.
thenationofjames - 2 Dec 2003 13:39
hideous! crap food!grotty inside! enough said!
millym - 25 Jul 2003 20:47

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