Chiswick!

If you look at a map of Hounslow, Chiswick is the bit that juts out to the east. Although many who live there wouldn't thank you for reminding them, most of Chiswick is part of Hounslow borough and therefore merits inclusion here. On my previous visits I had formed the impression that Chiswick was an agreeable sort of place; ideal if you like coffee-shop chains, and fey, twee tat shops. I hadn't been that impressed with the pubs there but as I had only visited All Bar One and the Packhorse and Talbot (what's a Talbot?) who can blame me? Wetherspoons were also conspicious by their absence. However armed with my A-Z and advice from some helpful people on the ChiswickW4.com forum I returned to Chiswick. I visited some very agreeable pubs and even found one that I was too nervous to go into.("Jack Stamps Beer House" (sic) - I think the missing apostrophe has been nicked by the nearby market traders who, in time-honoured tradition, were selling "Flower's" and "Apple's".)

Anyway without further ado here is my guide to some of Chiswick's pubs...(Hope you like the new page layout btw)

 The Old Packhorse:
 Magnificent old Fuller's boozer. Acres of oak panelling and what appear to be original fixtures and fittings give this place a traditional "real pub" atmosphere, with plenty of diverting memoribilia on the walls. The Thai food that the people on the table next to me were enjoying looked delicious too. George Orwell once wrote a newspaper article about what his perfect pub would be like, and called it the "Moon Under Water" (the inspiration behind Wetherspoons pubs). I think old George would approve of this place.

 The Duke of Sussex:
 Well, haven't Firkin pubs changed? I remember them from my youth as being ideal places for a night on the pop being full of video games, giant Jenga games, a wide choice of beers and laddish songs on the jukebox. Sometime over the past few years they seem to have grown up (shame I haven't!) This place had the look and feel of a Pitcher and Piano with huge windows, bare floorboards, quiet background music and a lack of appalling "Firkin" puns on the walls. But I was a little taken aback by the sign inside the bogs reading "CCTV in operation"! Is that allowed?! Nice view of the big trees on Acton Green from here.

 The John Bull:
 This place is opposite the British Standards Institute (and just next door to a kind of of modern glass sculpture depicting giant ice cubes) and so you would be forgiven for expecting some sort of overpriced gastro-pub. Nope. What you do get is a music pub similar to the Rifleman, or the late, lamented Red Lion in Brentford. It was a little quiet when I visited in the afternoon but I sure it gets "lively" in the evenings. I plan to come here one evening soon to find out. According to the cuttings from the Standard on the walls, this place also has a very successful pub quiz team.

 The Birdcage:

 It's obvious from the flags what sort of pub this is. Nothing wrong with that. What I do take issue with is the following post on ChiswickW4.com's forum from a person signing themself as Jeffrey Ostick, manager of the Birdcage. It is in reponse to a comment from a customer complaining that the presence of groups of "straight girls, lesbians, and straight couples" were ruining his nights here:

Thank you for your comments regarding the Birdcage.
You can be assured that I will be instigating a more high profile door policy from now on and although I cannot avoid the presence of females who are brought in as guests of Gay Men etc, I will ensure that parties of "straight girls" are NOT allowed in.
If any couples who fall through the net are found to be "SNOGGING IN THE CORNER" they will be informed that it is inapropriate behaviour and will be asked to leave.
We are in the process of applying for extended hours on Friday and Saturday Nights and to this end we had already planned a stricter door policy.
I would like to meet up with all who are concerned regarding this matter and if you make yourselves known to me on your next visit I will be pleased to discuss all your concerns.

Sorry, but I just don't think this is acceptable.

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