BITE user comments - HoopsyLoopy
Comments by HoopsyLoopy
The Kensington Park, Ladbroke Grove
The Best Pub In The World!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everybody* Welcome.
*Strictly No Dogs,No Aussies and No Chelski.
25 Nov 2009 15:55
A hidden gem.You might not even know of this superb little boozer's existence if you were careering down the Acton stretch of the Uxbridge Road. Mill Hill Road a turning off the Acton stretch of the Uxbridge Rd. opposite Barclays and on the corner of an Asian fusion restaurant.80 yards down MHR,at the foot of a 10-storey block of flats,lies the pub.
It's first stand-out attributes are the excellent prices ; �2.90 Fosters,�3.00 Kronenburg 1666,�2.90 Guinness and House Double spirits @ �2.30. That's all not too shabby in this day-and-age.
The pub is about 30 metres across in a C-Shape.There is a good quality small pool table at an astoundingly cheap 50p.Killer is played on Fridays.The Juke-box is good value too ;- 5 plays for a �1 or 1 for 30p. There is a cosy separate snug for darts (with framed signed Bob Anderson photo!).
There are 3 tv screens here with all Premier and GAA games covered.
Last but certainly not least you'll get a warm,unfussy welcome from The Proprietor, Marie. There is areal community friendly feel to this pub - in the name of all goodness,visit it, pronto!
4 Aug 2009 16:40
A hidden gem.You might not even know of this superb little boozer's existence if you were careering down the Acton stretch of the Uxbridge Road. Mill Hill Road a turning off the Acton stretch of the Uxbridge Rd. opposite Barclays and on the corner of an Asian fusion restaurant.80 yards down MHR,at the foot of a 10-storey block of flats,lies the pub.
It's first stand-out attributes are the excellent prices ; �2.90 Fosters,�3.00 Kronenburg 1666,�2.90 Guinness and House Double spirits @ �2.30. That's all not too shabby in this day-and-age.
The pub is about 30 metres across in a C-Shape.There is a good quality small pool table at an astoundingly cheap 50p.Killer is played on Fridays.The Juke-box is good value too ;- 5 plays for a �1 or 1 for 30p. There is a cosy separate snug for darts (with framed signed Bob Anderson photo!).
There are 3 tv screens here with all Premier and GAA games covered.
Last but certainly not least you'll get a warm,unfussy welcome from The Proprietor, Marie. There is areal community friendly feel to this pub - in the name of all goodness,visit it, pronto!
4 Aug 2009 16:39
The more and more you see real decent non-exclusive Bush pubs disappear - (e.g. The Brackenbury as run by Michael and Margaret on Goldhawk Rd,The Princess Victoria ;beautiful Celtic memoribilia ripped out, gastro-elitist-poncidised for that totally inauthentic Pall Mall Club feel..-God,I'd like to burn it down..,The Eagle has been wine-barred with non professional class price exclusion policy,pints start at #3.30..) the more you appreciate unreconstructed ,for the people of-all-sorts gems like the Orchard. A family of long-term Publicans,has Jim PaddyHoops at the top...sorry forgot also amiable but not over unctuous missuses name..(Mary?) but real star of show is their sparkling friendly daughter 36 year-old blonde curly-haired Karen.The pub has a cracking jukebox,loud recorded retro (70's,80's,90's) hits at weekends,an immaculate pool table and most of all a COMMUNITY feel, (AND CLEAN BOGS!). The pub is BUSY and always will be,well equipped as it is to survive these impending dread economic times.
Most importantly of all,I want to get across this pub is not parochial,intolerant or class-bound.Whether posh or poor you'll not have an eye blinked.
20 Sep 2008 02:48
The spacious Corrib is the best place in West and North-West London for watching major football matches (well worth a 5 mile cycle from my W12 gaff).Even when the place is rammed,(120+),the highly efficient friendly staff will manage to serve you as quick as poss.Generously portioned food far better than passable.
Gibgabman (8/3/06) says its dark and dingy in summer;perhaps he hadn't noticed the wonderful Queens Park,two-hundred yards west?
10 Oct 2007 04:27
The Drayton Court, West Ealing
I only went to comment on this pub cos I was outraged by exactly the same thing as the last commenter (spooky): �3.05p a pint of Guinness,this isn't the West End you know! In all other respects apart from Fuller's outrageous pricing policy this is an excellent pub.Large,spacious,comfy,clean.Cosmopolitan non-violent customers,helpful friendly staff,excellent standard pool table (both in cloth & player),good place to watch big footie games.Decent food arrives prompt and hot.Lovely wooden interior with tasteful sporting pictures on the wall.But sorry Fullers all this excellence is not worth a 20% premium on the price of a pint.
4 Jun 2007 03:02
Cracking wee cosy community pub,top juke-box (50's jazz,soul,blues,country and Irish)Friendly barstaff;-Helen with the fine wally jumblatts,ex-butcher Tony,butter-wouldn't-melt-in-mouth Princess Sally and Ladbroke Grove Young Publican Of The Year,beanpole baby Brendan.Titchy cheap pool table,easy-to-beat locals.Beer Garden for hot summer,well placed for Carnival and Norman Jay Good Times. May I humbly suggest that Scott's comment from 2004 below,'undead locals../..sinister'show that he may be suffering from Snobby Ex-Public-Schoolboy Swinging Notting Hill Wannabe Syndrome.Never trust a SESNHWS.
2 Jun 2007 21:00
Spot on werqpr,not a fan of white powders myself and remember Daniella Westbrook's collapsed personality and hooter but live and let live.This gaff is cheap and unpretentious although with a dark,atmospheric gangstery underside.If he was writing today,Graham Greene might well have installed Pinky and his mob as denizens of this boozer.Fans of Nigella Lawson and Toby Young ,i.e. monied Notting Hill refugees who have a great fear of the humble unwashed shirking and working Bush Born-and-Bred proleteriat might well want to stay away,right away.Never mind The Stokies trying to smash the place up.."WHATEVER THE SEASON,WE'LL FOLLOW OUR TEAM,WE'RE QUEENS PARK RANGERS WE RULE SUPREME..."
23 May 2007 16:49
The Coningham Arms, Shepherds Bush
Very heaven itself come down to earth and landed in The Bush.On the third day God created QPR and then on the fifth,feeling somewhat parched,he established The Coningham.Whatever Margaret Thatcher says,there is such a thing as society and its proved here with the community spirit amongst the ageing regulars.Please Margaret don't ever sell up.Coningham and Hoops till I Die!
23 May 2007 16:18
Too expensive (e.g.Guinness �3.00,KPH �2.60),no community feel (e.g.no pool team,no trip to races,few friendly-to-stranger regulars) ,full of KPH(barred) Rejects.Bar staff perfunctory-rapid turnover-just doing a job. Pool table standard not much kop. Admittedly packed good atmosphere for big footie games but not being a fan of The Russian Rouble Robbing Overpaid Mercenary Tarts and the preponderance of strictly armchair bandwaggoning CFC muppets in the manor,that is not much of a virtue. If you are not a snob go to the Kensington Park (KPH) over the road,towards the station.Cheap,friendlier long-term bar staff and Guv'ner,(the estimable Mr. Brendan Stack),lot of friendly-to-stranger eccentric character regulars and great pool table competition.And although it looks rougher than The Elgin there is far less chance of seeing,let alone being involved in violence-a lot of elders and less teenagers helps keep peace.Sorry Elgin your 80's heyday is long gone,K&C should have put a preservation order on your former crowning glory ,the unique circular leather raised seating in the corner,criminally ripped out by the Firkin mob.
23 May 2007 15:34
The Kensington Park, Ladbroke Grove
It is our solemn duty to impart some dreadful news ;-
(hold on to someone or thing and find the kleenex)
The Kensington Park shut its doors for the last time on February 16th 2010. It will be mourned by many friends. Flowers can be sent to its former Guvnor of 25 years standing,Mr.Brendan Stack,via The Western Arms (another pub of his), Kensal Road,W 10.
I'm 44 and, God Be Praised, I enjoyed 24 years there.I saw the best of it,now its gone.Irreplaceable.Adapt and survive, Darwin tells me. Poguemahone I tell him. It's just a matter of serving out time till I'm six foot below in the box now.
Bereft and inconsoleable.
7 Mar 2010 06:25