The Grange, Ealing Common

This place used to my local, as it is literally 30 seconds from my falt, but I have given up on it.

This Grange is more like a cr�che with a restruant attached, full of babies and children.

I'd say the "pub" aspect of this place doesn't feature very highly in the way in which the pub is run at all.

The food is medocre and overpriced. Meals are between �9 and �13, starters around �6. Ive eaten here and it's OK, but if you want the same quality pub food but at a lower cost you'd be better off nipping down to The Castle Inn about 10 minutes walk away which is about half the price and just as tasty, OR go next door to Charlottes Place to the restaurant, which has food at the same price but it about 10x as nice.

The beer as already mentioned is overpriced, they often serve larger and beer in the wrong glasses, or it is flat. I've complained about the beer served here about 5 times now, before I learned the error of my ways in coming here, and 4 of the 5 times the bar staff have been really moody about it although have never refused to change the pint. (listen hun, if your beer it flat, then it's flat. I'm not paying �3.50 a pint for flat beer). The wine is OK, but again overpriced.

There's always loads of unattended kids (usually running around and making loads of noise) especially in the summer, and until quite late (past 9pm). In the winter they run in and out leaving the patio doors open, it makes the whole pub freezzing but I've never seen any of teh staff (or parents) say or do anything about it. Last time we came there was a child of 4 or 5 running around us and actually climbing onto the sofas on which we were sitting. The parents and bar staff did nothing for 10 minutes, until we politley gestured to the parents to take their kid from climbing all over us.

It's a shame because this place has a great little paved garden in the back, and actully looks nice inside and out and has stunning veiws over the common. It has really good potential to be an excellent family pub but at the moment jsut lacks in everything.

My adivce would be to nip 10 minutes down the road to The Castle Inn, if you want a nice quiet pint with good food served at a reasonable price, OR go to the Rose and Crown (also about 10 minutes walk) which serve excellent food, and seem to have stuck the right balance of, family pub, quiet boozer, and good food. It is still less costly than The Grange.

There are better options then The Grange in the area if you want a nice family pub, or a quiet drink, or good food.

Only go here if you have kids and want to go to the pub, and have minimal responsibility over your kid. Bad for everyone else I'm afraid.

27 Feb 2009 13:21