please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This is a GREAT German pub. Simple German decor, loads of choice of beers and best of all live music. The staff are also very helpful and friendly when deciding what beer to choose too!
It's a great experience for a couple hours where the live brass band get you involved in singing, drinking and cracking bad jokes. The music had us all standing on our chairs swinging away, not your ordinary night out but that's part of the German charm I think! The entertainment ends at about 10.30-11pm but normal music carries on playing so you can either carry on drinking or move on somewhere else!
I'd recommend this for a group of friends wanting a different and fun night out. The food isn't amazing but you come here for the entertainment and the variety of beers.
You'll need to book a table to ensure entry as we nearly missed out!
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Always worth visiting if I'm going to Craven Cottage or most recently, Stamford Bridge. Drinking a pint of Paulaner or any of the other imported lagers reminds you just how insipid most lager served is in English pubs. I bet the bottles are even better but they are a tad expensive.
The barmaid was exceptionally friendly and the low cut Bavarian top was very eye catching. I have to say I've always found the staff here really welcoming. I had a good sized and reasonably priced plate of bratwurst to soak up the beer while watching some football on the big screen.
It has to be said that the layout of the bar, in a converted shop, doesn't make the place feel very much like a Bavarian beer hall. However, everything else is spot on.
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Went here with a small group of friends and had an amazing time. My boyfriend loved it cause the meals are definitely to German standard and are by no means small portions. Not to mention the steins of great German beer, they also had alot of different bottled beer which I really enjoyed as I like to try different beers. And the band were fantastic, definitely dancing on the seats material, and the drinking games were so funny, I even got involved but didn't win...still got to finish my free boot of beer though - great stuff!! And I even got to practice my German with the staff, they were all really friendly. Thanks for a great night out
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Went here for my birthday recently and had an amazing time.
The staff, the food, music and atomosphere were sooo much great and loads of fun.
A hint, make sure you are hungry and thirsty and have your dancing shoes on.
As the birthday girl I was even made to get up for the drinking games, sooo funny!!
A GREAT NITE, THANKS. We will be back
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God, single pub reviews r us.
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The Fest Pub really knows how to celebrate the Beerfest.
You get the decoration, the dresses and of course the drinking games.
A very relaxed atmosphere, the oompah band and the friendly staff made our night definitely to an unforgettable one.
Oktoberfest in London...and it almost felt like being in Munich! Thanks for an amazing time!
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Called in here as part of a three day pub crawl, it was a Thursday afternoon and was quiet apart from one couple in. The barman was friendly and let us try what beer we wanted in our stein before we made a decision. It's a unique place as I know no other in London at all. The steins were nice but have to admit that my hangover from the previous night would not let me finish it. Thought I would have to commnt as an alternative review for a daytime/lunch venue rather than just the evening.
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Where to start...I love beer and love food!!
I came with a group of friends and we decided to go for the table/dinner package. This was a great option for us as it meant we had a table right in front of the band, although we did get picked on for the drinking games - hilariously funny!!
The food was amazing... and huge portions (this venue does live up to the advertising as the food and atmosphere is just like the Oktoberfest...great fun and lots of it!!)
The dinner also included a litre stein of great german beer so this was perfect to wash down the massive pork knuckle and perfect saurkraut.
Another bonus for us was that as we dressed up in german outfits we all got a free shot of Jagermeister.
Staff were all very friendly and attentive and mostly german (very authentic).
All in all we had a fantastic time, awesome fun atmosphere, great food with large portions, great choice of different beers, and really nice staff to boot! A fresh change from many other venues.
We all had a fantastic night, the place was packed and everyone was having a great time.
Another bonus is that this venue is in a lovely part of Fulham and easily accessible.
We will be back for more dancing on the chairs!!! Thanks.
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I arranged a stag do at The Fest for late July 2010, and I'd like to thank the manager and staff there for making such a brilliant and unforgettable night.
We chose the �15pp entry which included a stein of Paulaner on entry, pretzels for the table, guaranteed seats down the front and involvement in the drinking games led by the band.
It was a great night - we had 30 squaddies on the table next to us that only made it more raucous, with lots of dancing on the tables and benches and making sure we sent our stag off in the right way!
The management couldn't have done more for us, everything was as arranged and meant that everything went so smoothly.
They have a great variety of beer available, and the food is pretty hearty, great for lining your stomach before the fun begins.
The night we went had a full Oompah band playing covers of classics that everyone knows, and it helps create a brilliant atmosphere.
As we said on leaving at the end of the night - see you next year for the anniversary (if not before!)
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Best night out I have had in years!! I came here with a group of friends for my 30th birthday and this place was soo great. All the staff were mostly from German and all dressed in German Oktoberfest outfits and they looked after us really well. I am somewhat of a beer connoisseur and they had an unbelievable selection of beers that I havent seen anywhere else in the UK (believe me I would know!) The brass band was fantastic, they sang happy birthday to me and put on a great show. I will be coming back and having every birthday there from now on (if my wife lets me).
Great pub thoroughly reccomend.
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I was in The Fest a few weeks ago when a large fight broke out. The staff didn't know how to deal with this and it was really quite a scary situation. Talking to others in there that night, fighting is regular in this establishment. It just seems to attract this type of person.
Would not recommend at all - it seems its nickname of the "infestation" is very apt.
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I came to this pub for dinner last week and have nothing but positive comments! The food was delicious and reasonabily priced and the staff were charming! There are a great selection of beers! Would reccomend this place to everyone especially those bavarian lovers out there!
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I came back here for my birthday again this year and I had a fantastic time. We all dressed up in German outfits and the band had is up dancing on the tables and they even got the whole pub to sing happy birthday to me. It was so much fun I can't wait for someone else to have a birthday so we can go back!
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I was brought to this pub for my Hen do last month. I have to be honest and say it wasn't really what I had in mind however, it was a great night! Myself and my party were dressed in traditional German outfits and we competed in drinking games with stags in leiderhosen! The pictures are hilarious! We had the �25 party deal which got us a litre of beer, a pretzel, a huge meal and a seat in front of the band.
Th band were amazing, it was like going to a caberet. They played lots of super cheesy songs which was fab!
I would definately recommend this place for a big night out!!!
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Beer beer beer! You cant beat The Fest for variety, quantity and service of beer, and thats enough for a 5 star from me! Its always lively, and you wont get an experience like this anywhere else in London, guaranteed! Whether you go to take on the double knuckle challenge, or just to get hammered on international beers served by laides in traditional german dress, you'll definitely have a great time here....unless you have a few too many litres (yes,litres!) of Paulaner that is! If you've always dreamed about hitting Oktoberfest, check out The Fest to whet your appetite!
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An ok pub but when I went there on Sat there was a very drunk guy throwing up all the way down the stairs and a group of people throwing pepper and then beer over each other. Not the greatest of pubs and not very impressed.
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Anyone who gives a good review to this place must be paid by the mangement. Awful food, beer that tastes like the pipes haven't been cleaned for years and when i went there a fight broke out. BAD BAD BAD do not go to this bar people!!!
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This place could be fun and entertaining.... instead its bland and banal
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Oktoberfest fun!!! I've been to the Fest many times before and still love everything about it. Beautiful staff, steins and a great range of German beer. I can't wait for the Oktoberfest season to start and the warming up in the Fest.
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What an excellent night out! We were celebrating a friends birthday last Saturday and had a great time. The band was entertaining, fun and most important they are really good musiciens. My friend went on stage to do the boot, the staff was polite and the food quite tasty. Great atmosphere, definitely worth going!
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This pub is fantastic. The atmosphere is superb and the range of beers is great. The German band playing is great as well and really get the crowd joining in! Definately worth the night out!
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I went to the Oktoberfest in Germany for the 6th time last year and after last Saturday night I can honestly say that this is the closest thing to beerfest I have experienced outside of Munich. The beers were HUGE and the food authentic and in MASSIVE portions. Great atmosphere. The German band was litte loud when we were there but the drinking games were fun and it was really worth the effort! I give it a big thumbs up great fun!
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Never had the urge to come in here, the last time i waled past it the windows were cracked and there was no furniture inside, it didnt look particilarly appealing ill have to walk by again soon to see if it calls to me.
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I love this place - have been there so often and can't get enough of it. The steins are awesome, the german band is great and always get us singing along. And those bar ladies in those outfits - who would want to go anywhere else?
anonymous - 26 Oct 2007 16:41 |
This place is a dump. The staff are rude and useless and the food is disgusting. The beer tasted like the tubes had never been cleaned and the music was cheesy, loud and boring. The only good thing I could say about this venue was the door staff were polite. Just wish i could think of a single other nice thing to say about this dump.
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I have been to Oktoberfest in Germany twice and this place was great. We went there to watch the England rugby and they had a live German band after the rugby had finished. It was awesome.
We had some great German food and everyone was singing along with the band and dancing on the tables. One of the best nights out I have had in years. Big thumbs up!
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What an awful place - made a total mistake going here. Only an ok place to visit if you are a drunk thug who is keen on fighting and causing trouble. Really not a place for girls to go unless you want to be completely hassled by the likes of this kind of man. Won't be going back!!
anonymous - 26 Jun 2007 12:41 |
Great place. Good Munich beer (3 varieties of Paulaner) � available in 2 pint steins. Good atmosphere and friendly bar staff. Shows sports on the big scream. Also has pool table.
Havent been in there on a big night, but apparently, it can get very drunk. And surely that's the way it should be.
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Whilst wandering round Fulham with a friend looking for somewhere to watch the football I stumbled across this place. An Aussie-bar themed on the Munich Beer Festival - well its an interesting concept to say the least. Have never been to Munich for the beer festival, but I have lived in Germany and its safe to say the bars at the other beer festivals I went to weren't like this! However, the beer is quite authentic, by which I mean there are beers on tap that you've never heard of and can't pronounce, and whilst the food was basic it wasn't the worst I've been served. As it was a Sunday there was the obvious entertainment on - jelly wrestling. The opportunity to watch slightly chubby Eastern Europeans slip over in a paddling pool seemed to attract the more unsavoury elements of Fulham, so I'm not sure I'd recommend it on a Sunday after 7. Anyway, to sum up, its probably not a bad place to go with a group of blokes for a beer swilling evening, but not the place to take a girl on a date.
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lots of drunken ozzies having a good time with the german beer
anonymous - 14 Sep 2006 17:29 |
Very confused - in there over the weekend - not a bad place , but a German theme bar full of Aussies...was the Slag and Matress closed ????
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OK - I see citygirl is slightly irritated.
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Beer out of steins? In Fulham? Served by Aussies in t-shirts with lederhosen painted on? Fabulous!
Come here on a weekend evening with your friends and be prepared to stand up all night....and sit down, and lean to the left and to the right, forwards and backwards, blah blah, etc. Silly Bavarian fun in SW6.
Safety in numbers.
Some aggressive ubiquitous Saffas here one night, should have stayed in Zulus and picked their fights there.
Else, a good fun evening.
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OK, I play in a band down here and I have to say that the staff and management here fall over backwards to keep people happy. Yes perhaps it is mainly frequented but Aussies but come on, who the hell cares what nationality the punters are, as long as there's a friendly and honest atmosphere. At last there's somewhere in London that has good live bands playing on a regular basis as opposed to the 'jukebox' bands that you normally hear playing at the awful and filthy Walkabout chain.
Go for it The Fest, you're doing fab.....!
anonymous - 16 May 2006 15:26 |
ha ha ha we obviously have a difference of opinion from everyone on this pub so heres my two bob's worth - dont really like Aussie pubs myself but this little 'ripper' as they call it was just that, great little pub to have a chilled out beer in with no Aussies in sight I have to admit as a matter of fact I was there for their pound night on Thursday where you can swill as many pints or shots for �1 each between 8pm and 10pm, you can get hammered for a tenner! Lots of young Chelsea kids in there smashing back shots before jumping in mum and dads BMW, funny!
The resident DJ was cracking! Playing all sorts of wicked tunes, have to agree with 'ole citygirl on this one chav dude, you might have to go to pubs that are more your own age?
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Funnily enough I was at the fest on Tuesday night, with the 8 other people in there, being a Tuesday night there usually isnt a raging crowd in there so by no means not the best night to judge any pub and I actually saw a very out of place, head-up-his-own-ass looking chav-man sitting at his table with his nose turned up, at what I have no idea as you cant really say anything bad about a pub you spend 15 minutes in, oh yes it must have been all the Aussies in there, all 2 of them not to mention 2 English guys playing pool and 2 eating meals plus myself oh and also the gorgeous German waitress and Irish chef who were also there! Your reviews on this website are so far from accurate I have to question whether or not you even know what a pub looks like, your comments on alot of pubs throughout London are ridiculous and laughable to say the least, if you have nothing nice to say dont say anything at all or better still if you're such an expert buy your own place and we'll all come and review it and when I say we I mean everyone English, Aussie, German, Polish, Kiwi and who ever the hell else is pissed at you for pissing all over their hard efforts to make a living because trust me theres a few! You should change your name to 'bitter old man' instead!
anonymous - 12 May 2006 13:45 |
I went to the "Fest" pub last night - is this an abbreviation of "infested" or "infestation" as this abbreviation is wholly accurate.
It reminded me of a pub from Sydney.
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Citygirl - i will check out this pub again and write an updated review.
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Had a birthday there not too long a go and also went for their febfest festival very impressed especially with the table service and personal attention we got from management did have an german feel to it but also being an aussie iwas surprised to see so many different nationalities there too ive definately been to worse pubs theyve got good brew too
anonymous - 9 May 2006 17:28 |
Totally agree! The Octoberfest pub is so much more than an aussie pub, ive been going there since it opened last September and have seen it become more and more popular with a wide range of people, good food and awesome beer help alot and this place has it in bucket loads, oh my god, how I can I forget the Jelly Wrestling days these guys put on cant even describe how good it is, see for yourself, first Sunday of every month!
Coolest, friendliest management team around, props to Nath and Jodes keep up the good work!
Laters!
anonymous - 9 May 2006 17:00 |
After hearing so much about this pub I decided to venture on over from the other side of London hoping it was'nt going to be a waste of my time as some of the reviews on this site are less than flattering and to my surprise I found that 'the fest' is one of the most authentic German theme pubs in London, the food is amazing, their live bands absolutely rock and as for this being a strictly Aussies only pub, bollocks, I dont know where the other reviewers on this went but it wasnt to this pub, ive been there on a number of occasions since and ive been constantly surrounded by English and speaking with the locals/regulars they confirmed this aswell, yes, it does attract Antipodeans as well but look where it is! Fulham is the upper class Shepherds Bush with most of the Aussies who live there having good jobs, good pay and good flats to live in so the Aussie clientele of 'the fest' (which are usually the minority) have impressed the hell out of me! One comment below mentioned 'go to munich and see the real deal or dont bother' well just to let all you know, I met the owner who has been to Beerfest in Munich 5 times! Oh and 'cav man' you clearly hate the Aussies and this website is for reviews of pubs not the nationalities of human beings so if you have an opinion on a pub I suggest you write about that instead of slagging a country you've obviously never been to! You're name says it all mate!
Big supporter of this pub it has loads of potential and is definately not a 'walkabout wannabe'
PROST!
anonymous - 9 May 2006 16:20 |
This pub is great in true Oktoberfest fashion it provides as awesome night out with everything from Pork knuckle on the bone to beer girls doing table service, I went to munich last year and for me this is definatley as close as you can get until the next one in munich. AWESOME A MUST DO.
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Tedious tedious tedious - go to a proper pub: there are so many of them around
anonymous - 31 Mar 2006 17:33 |
This was a traditional German oooops I mean Aussie pub. The males generally prefer to urinate on the floor as a result you needed a snorkel to go for a leak. The bogs were overflowing so people sha t in the corner of the cubicle.
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The Fest is a new pub by all accounts and as every pub experiences, it has teething problems. They are now starting to put on some really professional bands on Friday evenings so it's definitely worth a visit!
anonymous - 24 Feb 2006 19:14 |
My friends and I got the �10 tickets and planned our Febfest outing. I have been to the Beer Halls in Germany and this place was not to be compared. There was no where to sit as they only have a couple of tables, there is hardley any shelving to put your heavy stein on, they repeated the music so many times over that by the sixth repeat we decided to leave. What was worse was the Oompah band started and played one of the songs we'd already heard 5 times. They ran out of Fosters 3 hours into the event and as far as an aussie theme - there wasn't one it's not very well decorated or themed for a Beer Hall from Germany.
I suggest - either go to Germany and see the real deal or don't bother at all. There are plenty of other pubs to sample, I won't be returning to this one.
anonymous - 20 Feb 2006 12:21 |
What an awful place. Even worse than the Oktoberfest itself. More Aussie than German. Overpriced. Dirty. Avoid.
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Was really looking forward to this place, having been to the "real deal" in Munich last year. With an oompah band and Paulaner beer in 2 pint steins, on paper it was a good night.
Unfortunately, despite the blue and white checked flags, there is more of an Aussie theme to the place. Nothing against Aussies at all, but why have a huge Australian flag behind the bar of a German theme pub? The beer was OK, if a little warm, but HUGELY over-priced at �6.30 for 2 pints. The oompah band did pretty well (impressed by the trumpter who was clearly a bit of a screamer) although their repertoire was a bit limited.
Biggest disappointment was the gents toilets. Am used to scummy facilities but wading through over an inch of wee ? Disgusting. On the other hand, about as authentic as the bier tent's loos in Munich...
We may go back to try out on a less busy night if there is such a thing.
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