please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The pub was clearly a run down old fashioned affair which has had a makeover with the inclusion of sofa's, hippyish wall hangings etc. A large room houses a stage and the pub does host alternative evenings such as belly dancing. Not a bad selection of beers at the bar and an okay menu including platters for sharing. These are nice, except being rather stingy with the toasted pitta!
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Further to the last report from 'Strongers', the real ale handpump is now in use with Pedigree on today. The place seems to have something of an identity crisis, with 'The Gunnersbury' name at the front, the old name of 'The John Bull' still on the eastern side, 'JB at the Gunnersbury' on the A-frame board on the pavement and 'JB Bar and Diner' printed on the menus. Anyway, its good to see the owners putting in an effort with the refurb, and it certainly looks better inside than I was expecting from the exterior view.
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Passing this pub earlier in the week I noticed that the name has now changed to The Gunnersbury so I decided that I would revisit, which I did late yesterday afternoon.
Before entering my attention was drawn to a sign on the window that was very informative about the owner�s intentions and what was going to be done to the place. Apparently the main aim is to restore the building �back to its Victorian glory� which I think is fantastic. Back in the 1860s there used to be a large ironwork balcony on the front which is going to be re-introduced and the picture looked impressive.
The inside has been decorated and, although a tad bland, some new table and chairs have been brought in making the place seem much cleaner and lighter. The general layout of the pub hasn�t changed as there is still a pub-like section around one side and a big hall around the other that I think will still be used for live music when required. The big half of the pub has signs up everywhere for J B Diner and I�d imagine if the food is any good the office workers from Chiswick Park will start using the pub making the owners a pretty penny. There is also a beer garden out the back with some tables and chairs.
The TV set on the table at the back is still there and I would hope that the projector screen is still in use for the sports.
I enjoyed having a couple of drinks in the smaller pub-like half and was foot tapping to some Motown, which the governor saw so turned the music up a bit. He was very polite and I�m fairly sure that he is the governor that has been there for ages.
The Guinness was good and San Miguel, John Smiths Smooth and some standard lagers were also available. There is an ale pump but unfortunately it is unused.
This place still needs some work which I think is ongoing and they could try and put a toilet seat on the bog if they are trying for a different clientele. If you�ve been in here before and didn�t like it I�d give it another try as you have nothing to lose.
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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 d�cor 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.
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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.
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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.
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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....
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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.
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One side of this place is a music venue , the other side is a rather good pub - wonder which one you were in........doh !!!
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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".
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Great Pub for live music and clubbing. Come back The Pit
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Watched the rugby here on Saturday - superb screen and excellent atmosphere - thoroughly recommended !
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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...
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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.
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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!
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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.
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hideous! crap food!grotty inside! enough said!
millym - 25 Jul 2003 20:47 |
