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The Old Pack Horse, W4

434 Chiswick High Road
W4
W4 5TF
Phone: 02089942872

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Pub Type

Fuller's

Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Old Pack Horse

Dating from the mid-18th century, this pub has had five Pack Horse-themed names, up to and including the current incarnation, built in 1910 (or 1905?) by esteemed architect Thomas Henry Nowell Parr, inhouse architect for Fuller’s; indeed, the eagle eyed will spot a trio of red stained-glass Fuller’s ‘griffin’ brewery motifs to the clerestory windows (see photo). Otherwise, it’s grade II-listed and features on CAMRA’s list of pubs with historic interiors, this being of Regional Importance.
The interior can be seen on CAMRA’s and the pub’s websites, being well described below, though sadly there’s been the inevitable ingression of tedious smoky blue paint and worse still, there’s a horrible BrewDog-style glaringly bright illuminated beer board. Customers were a mixed local bunch, many enjoying the Wednesday quiz in the central room.
As this is still a Fuller’s pub the ale range held few surprises, with the seasonal Red Fox, salvation in the form of Hophead at a reasonable £2.55 a half.
This isn’t a half bad pub and probably one of the best in W4.; The predictable, tired paint scheme is a shame and the ugly beer board let the side down a bit, but it’s certainly a must-visit if in Chiswick.

On 15th November 2022 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Old Pack Horse

Nice looking Fuller's pub on a corner, with finely detailed façades and plenty of original features in the three bar areas (one of which is part of the Thai restaurant section). Pleasant little beer garden out back, and (as on my previous visit some eight years ago) I found a friendly atmosphere too. Decent range of real ales on handpump: Pride, Oliver's Island, Summer Ale and ESB supplemented by Weird Beard Mariana Trench and Finger Puller from Long Arm Brewery.

On 25th June 2017 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8061 recommendations about 8061 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Old Pack Horse

Close to Chiswick Park station and with views out across Turnham Green, this is a fine old Grade II listed Fuller's pub dating back to 1903. The pub has a spectacular exterior, with tiling, pillars, balconies and fine decorative work all present and correct. Inside, a multiple room layout has been retained and the décor, which comprises plenty of smart wall panels and exposed beams helps the place capture a sense of its undoubted grandeur. The left side of the pub had a bit of a public bar feel to it, offering simple seating set-ups opposite a well proportioned servery that looks like it is potentially an original feature. A TV in this room was showing some live rugby and a crowd of men were stood in the room, engrossed in the match. The main bar area is to the front and offers some comfier looking seating under beautiful etched glass windows with another fine dark wood servery along the back wall. As with the rest of the pub, there are a number of fine partitioning walls embellished with stunning decorative glasswork here, with one such example leading you into the lounge area down the right hand side of the bar. Some more comfy seating options can be found in this cosy space which has an attractive tiled fireplace on one wall. Beyond is a sizeable Thai restaurant, which was actually the reason for our visit, where we were treated to some excellent and reasonably priced top-quality Thai food. The restaurant is a bit blander than the rest of the pub, with formal seating and a modern paint job, but it sits under a spectacular cupola, and is therefore worth a quick look nonetheless.
The pub had three Fullers staples - London Pride, ESB and Oliver's Island - on handpull plus one guest ale which was a well kept Five Points Red. An interesting 'Suggest a Guest' scheme allows regulars to have a degree of say about what beers they get on and 5p from each pint of guest ale sold goes to a local charity. Some craft keg options were also spotted and there were some bottle options beyond the usual Fullers range.
This is a fine old pub that seems to be in good hands and well looked after, offering good beer and a comfortable and interesting traditional environment in which to relax. The food certainly surpassed our expectations and we also found the service to be very good. This is a stand-out Fullers pub in an area saturated with them and I wouldn't hesitate to call in again.

On 2nd April 2016 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Malden man left this review about The Old Pack Horse

A superb looking building in a prominent corner location opposite Turnham Green, glazed tilework, elaborate gables, etched glazing, some of which may be a more modern replacement but certainly in keeping, some looks art-deco which would be an interim fit out in a Victorian building, nice wood panelling. As mentioned the flooring and old door locations show that this was once a multi-roomed pub as the old gin palaces tended to be. Nowadays the main front room is the bar area, the rear right side is a more formal Thai restaurant; the food looked and smelled excellent. There is also a small snug area.
Mainly normal seating with what looks like some old Singer sowing machine tables but with the odd armchair and sofa too, there is a nice old fireplace to the far end which has bench seating around it.
There is a sign above the bar stating "Empire Bar", from the former local Empire music hall, a row of old theatre seats are installed and there are a selection of old theatre flyers. Other decor of interest includes glass jars and demi-johns on the window shelves.
Fuller's beers, we are in Chiswick here, Pride, ESB, Oliver's Island, Fire Cracker and Honey Dew on keg.
An excellent pub with a fantastic exterior and a reasonably preserved classic interior.

On 1st January 2016 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


john gray left this review about The Old Pack Horse

Good looking Fullers pub with new signage after recent make over.Good range of Fullers beers but the blackboard advertises guest ales although its usually Butcome when i have called in.Reasonably priced Thai food (for a pub).Cosy pub.

On 17th February 2013 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about The Old Pack Horse

A very fine exterior with glazed tiling,and original etched glass windows this large Fullers house also has a Thai restaurant at the rear of the premises.I entered by the side door from Chiswich High Road,through a wooden lobby into the main bar room with a long ,elegantly curved serving bar extending around much of the interior which devides into sections.To the right on the way to the restaurant is a lounge section with a large fireplace ,while around the other side is an area described at The Snug,again with a coal affect gas fire in the hearth of a large fireplace.The carved wooden bar back is a noteable feature and dotted around the interior is a lot of ephemera from The Chiswick Empire ,including some theatre seats attached to one wall.A large curved banquette in purple velour is attractive and table lights were evident throughout the interior.Outside there is a small courtyard with a patio heater.
There are three banks of handpumps but also a useful chalkboard listing six Fullers ales ,London Pride,ESB,Seafarers,Bengal Lancer,Jack Frost ,Triators Gate(£3.65) on my trip with the Black Cab Stout having just run out.Ale quality is very good ,bear in mind the closeness of the brewery,while the solitory rotating guest was Butcombe Bitter .Quiz night on Wednesdays,and there was jazzy musak on offer.It's popular and lively .
Fullers pubs are pricey but that wouldn't bother the well healed residents of this part of London.I appreciated the ale range and quality and ,given the interesting exterior and interior ,I would say this is about the best Fullers pub among many in this part of town.

On 17th January 2013 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Rex Rattus left this review about The Old Pack Horse

One more Fuller's house in the heart of Fuller's country. Unfortunately no Chiswick on, but the Pride was good. I was in the Sutton Arms recently and the guv'nor told me that you couldn't buy a pint of Chiswick on Chiswick High Rd – looks like he is probably right.
Food is mainly Thai and seemed reasonably priced but they did have an “English Menu” including Chicken Cajun; Chicken Kiev, as well as Irish and Mexican coffee. The music was a bit too loud for my liking, but that's just my opinion.
All things considered I think that this is a pretty decent pub retaining numerous original features, including an extremely attractive fireplace in a separate alcove. Quite happy to visit here again.

On 3rd November 2008 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve C left this review about The Old Pack Horse

The relaxed atmosphere, friendly governor and the perfect sound level of the music made my short stay in here very pleasant. The lounge like area with the fire blazing was an excellent touch. It was 3 quid a pint which seems pretty average for this area. If I'm around this area again I will definitely try for a longer stay.

On 24th April 2008 - rating: 7
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]