The Cleveland Arms is under new management. The hops, pool table and dart board have been removed, and the walls have been painted a steely blue. In many ways it is an improvement, but the staff seems to be changing on a weekly basis, - and while they are an attractive young bunch they are inexperienced. You can buy a plate of charcuterie or smoked salmon, with a few hunks of bread with no change for a tenner. IPA has remained at a reasonable price, but all other beers are pricey. Also one pound -fifty for a weak lime and soda is exorbitant in my book. It's an attractive Victorian back street boozer and has been a friendly local for the Bayswater community for many years. In it's present form it is slightly pretentious, soulless, and a bit of a rip off, which is unfortunate.It's been a while since I've ventured into paddington and after a rough day popped back to one of my favourite pubs. Well it was an award winning ale pub with enough quirk to make it interesting, a bunch of locals who were always fun and staff who were happy to chat and give a little more than dump a pint in front of you.
All change! Soulless place now, hardly busy, think they call it a "pop up pub" it's all wrong, the staff poured me a pint and took my money. There the interaction ended. And £4.20 a pint for what was an averagely kept bitter? No wonder the gaff was quiet!My last pub of the day after a day out in Maidenhead and to be honest I was pretty much finished by the time I came here, so this review is based on notes only!

Nicely updated and very modern throughout, the tiles by the entrance are lovely and even the wooden flooring is trendy

Flowers hanging in basket’s outside the front give the pub a homely and welcoming feel.

3 pumps offering GK IPA, Timothy Taylor Landlord & Magic Ring’s Master…I opted for a pint of Brewdog’s Fake Lager while I sat at the bar trying to keep myself awake and write this review.

A decent pub that I shall revisit on an occasion when I’m not feeling worse for wear!

Walking from Vauxhall to Kew Bridge, I knew this would be at the half way point and couldn't resist a revist.

If you want a seat, I can recommend 12:03pm on a Saturday.

Superb view from the elevate balcony. Some photos at my walking blog - http://mappiman.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/200615-river-runs-through-it-part-2.htmlA good pub on the river, very busy on the Saturday we visited but the service was good and the beer (Fullers) was well kept, tucked down a little lane it's well worth seeking out.Made a river walk to this pub on a Sunday afternoon. It's a busy place and very foody but has a lovely area outside where you can sit with a view of the river. However, talk about serving short measures. I must admit I have never been served a pint so low down in the glass. I also order half of guinness for my partner - embarrassing! I though the barman was going to come back and top up after taking my money (given that one drink was a guinness) but he just turned his back and ignored me - amazing, Well not if you like short (and expensive) measures!!!

Had an East London Brewery cask beer which was ok and the only the one of interest on the bar. However the stupid price being asked stopped us having more than one round. At a more reasonable price we would have had two rounds and returned but hey a few days later we found somewhere selling Barki Star Hophead at £3My 2nd visit this year was a Thursday night just before a gig at the Empire.

Being close to Christmas and a Thursday I guess that was the reason it was very busy and loud. Most of the clientele seemed to not be there for the gig I was attending so I can only assume it is this busy normally.

Good ale choice again, I opted for Christmas Cave from Caveman Brewery. Bit of banter with the barman while I ordered my drink.

Contrary to the reviews below I still rate this pub but maybe I see or want something different in a pub to others.Went here for a friend's birthday. Very nice decor, good food, small but decent cocktail selection. Not enough bigger tables to accomodate larger parties, which is a shame, but otherwise nice.

Today Sunday 24th May after i have been to see Arsenal v WBA With Ben we went to the Sir Michael Balcon in Ealing and when we arrived Ben went up to the Bar and Laura Took Bens Order and Ben Ordered 1 Veg Burger and 1 Large Diet Pepsi for me and 1 Peri Peri Chicken and 1 Doom Bar for him and we went and sat at Table 28 and i watched Buses Drive up and Down The Mall while i was eating my Dinner and the Sir Michael Balcon is a very big Pub with lots of Tables to Choose from and you can even sit and eat outside and i will Return next Time i go to the Sir Michael Balcon. EXCELLENT. I'm here nearly every Sunday. At least 2 real ales to my taste, plus 2 or 3 others. I've ALWAYS found the staff to be professional, polite and extremely KIND to older customers: helping people with mobility problems to their seats, for example. The problem with many Wetherspoon reviews is a customer who expects 5-star food at 1-star prices. I'm neither the owner nor a shareholder, by the way. Just an extremely satisfied regular.Had 30 minutes to spare in Ealing before my train last week. So I thought I'd pop in. Ales weren't the most adventurous this time - Sharps Doom Bar, Sambrooks Wandle & Junction, Acorn Transatlantic IPA, Adnams Broadside & Explorer & Greene King Abbot. Ciders were Mr Whiteheads Beetroot Cider Hecks. There was also Thatchers Perry. When asked for a half of Perry, I ended up with a pint of Thatchers Gold! Ok for a swift pit stop.

Nice example of a period pub, complete with original bar partitions and restaurant out back where there once was a skittle alley... Beware of the local thug called 'Nick', he inflicted ABH to myself and to my friend who was pregnant at the time! Police were called, but the bar staff protected his identity when he fled (he obviously has previous). Otherwise enjoyed this pub for many years prior. Many specialist ales on draught and bottled, good selection of nibbles if you can't afford the restaurant. Nice both in summer and winter. Would recommend. Remarkably a pub which Youngs hasn't ruined! Four small bars divided by wooden screens and a larger saloon bar remain - a unique survival in London's pubs . It has been refurbished since I visited last ten years ago and somewhat improved. Youngs Ordinary in good condition. There's a dining room adjacent to the pub through which you go to get to the loos.As below, the high-ceilinged Victoriana is a joy to behold, with the front section of the pub suitably maze-like along with the gin palace air. Food portions look ample, and it was bedecked with the checked-shirted on a Sunday lunchtime. The only gripe is the prices - I was put off of selecting the superb Charles Wells/Dogfish Head New World IPA after seeing it priced at £5.04 on the drinks menu.

Sold for luxury flats. Shame on whoever facilitated this. 300 years of history. Pure greed. Glasgow Boy - Good chance I might of seen you there in 84/85 as my family were living on Inverness Terrace at the time. Wasn't my everyday local, but used quite a bit. Didn't like they way they opened it up when I was back in London, but things change. I read last year the property is up for 28M quid or something. Shame.

Cheers
Joe
USASpent most of my time in here from 1975-1985. Closed for ever earlier this month.