The Royal Standard, Paddington, W2

I suppose if you’ve got a pub named Rob Roy there’s a temptation to make it Scottish themed, and that’s what’s happened here. There are signed and framed shirts of Scottish football teams, a framed print of the Declaration of Arbroath 1320, and two framed framed programmes for Scottish national team matches, presumably to commemorate games that they’ve won. This is another basic pub in this area. However, some wood panelling on the walls (looking to be from an inter-war refit) has survived, as well as the fairly downmarket matchboard bar counter. There’s a dartboard, and furnishings are metal framed tables and bouncy tubular framed chairs. There were however a couple of ales on, although nothing to get excited about – Doom Bar (£2 a half), and GKIPA. There was no sign of food on Friday afternoon. I suppose there must be a call for a Scottish themed pub in London, and I guess it might as well be here as anywhere. But there’s nothing special enough about this pub to induce me to make a return visit, although if you like very basic unpretentious pubs you might like this one.