The Grove, Battersea

BenG, Sorry for not being very clear. By off the beaten track, I just meant that atmosphere was pretty chilled, and it wasn't jam-packed like some of the pubs nearby can get during the evening. Not empty, but a few locals who were up for a chat, and a barman who took it upon himself to entertain us for as long as we wanted, and got involved in our banter as the night progressed. To be fair, I've never been in for a drink by myself, but I've never found the atmosphere to be lacking when with mates. Maybe you caught it on an off-day. I live in Chiswick, but have been back so many times that I now consider the Grove my local, and Anton (the barman) a friend. Sure the decor is a bit tacky (and it looks like a bomb shelter from outside), and the Gents are pretty shocking (especially the graffiti on the walls), but it serves a great pint, and you can always feel welcome. Has made for so many great nights.

15 Jul 2007 20:23

The Salutation, Hammersmith

Don't use the right-hand side urinal in the Gents. The floor slopes.

17 Dec 2006 00:51

The Kings Arms, Oxford

Having been put off this pub at first by the prices and the clientelle (students wearing scarves, flat caps and smoking pipes - but then what do you expect in Oxford?) I have had to change my mind, largely because of the bar staff. I came here recently with friends, and sat in the front room in relative luxury for a pub. It was supposed to be No Smoking, but we were there quite late, and nobody else was in the room, so the barman brought through an ashtray and let us carry on. The evening was unfortunately interrupted by the fire alarm going off, but when we were evacuated, another barman told us that we could go home and take our glasses with us (as we all had almost full pints), as long as we brought them back the next day. We were made to feel like guests rather than customers, which makes a change from those all-too-common establishments which alienate their customers by their anally retentive "company policy".

14 Dec 2006 14:58