The Warwick Castle, W9

Going through an exterior make over at the moment.... all scaffolded up. Still open and interior as I remember it. All wood paneling, big Bass mirrors and an ornate fireplace. Getting to the bar a challenge. Which is a good thing to say, as means its popular. Trumans Swift was pretty average condition on latest visit. Blogged visit at http://bit.ly/2oErY9B

Tucked away down a pleasant little mews style side street, handy for both Warwick Avenue tube station and Little Venice, this is a smart, two room, Grade II listed pub. On approach you can't fail to miss the marvellous Victorian lamp with its huge elaborate bracket, and as you enter, you pass through an attractive lobby with a nice mosaic floor. You emerge into the right hand side of the pub with the servery along the left hand wall. There is a lot of nice dark wood in this room, notably on the bar counter and back, as well as the tongue and groove panels on the opposite wall. The front windows have some fine etched glass and a few nice stained panes, with a limited amount of seating underneath allowing you a closer look. Standard tables and chairs run down the right hand wall, passing a nice period fireplace and old pendulum clock as they go. A frieze runs around the top of the wall,s which have been decorated with a mix of old and more contemporary paintings plus the odd brewery mirror, whilst the ceiling is very decorative itself. A rear space, partly hidden behind a section of partitioning wall, has a couple more tables and modern wallpaper. To the left of the bar, there is a small lounge with limited seating around four or five tables in a compact, smart wood panelled room with a lovely, detailed fireplace. Music played unobtrusively throughout my stay and there was a good buzz from the locals who were in on my Sunday afternoon visit, despite many of them migrating out to the pavement at the front of the pub. There were four ales available on this visit - Sambrooks Wandle, Sharps Doom Bar, Greene King IPA and Truman's Swift (£3.70). I gave the latter a try and thought it was a perfectly passable pint served up by a friendly barman who was very patient dealing with a dithering group of tourists. I found this place very relaxing and spent longer than I'd intended supping my pint and reading my paper. It has a fine interior that perhaps gets overlooked when compared to some of Maida Vale's more ornate pubs, and offers good beer and a friendly welcome to boot. I'd certainly be happy to make a return visit.

Another Grade II listed London CAMRA listed Heritage Pub in Maida Vale, which may not have the internal opulence of some of its near neighbours but still retains some nice period features, stained glass panels and an interesting bar counter, and the large external lantern remains from the days when pubs needed an external light for people to home in on down the dimly lit back streets. Sharps Doom Bar and Cornish coaster, plus Greene King IPA & Sambrooks Wandle were on for our visit and a well-kept pint of Wandle was enjoyed on one of the seats to the front of the pub. Although, like all other establishments in Maida Vale is does offer an above your usual pub grub food menu, the Warwick still retains a more pub than restaurant vibe.