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The Sir Frank Whittle (JD Wetherspoon), Hounslow
Heathrow Airport
Postal town: Hounslow
TW6 1EW
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Sir Frank Whittle (JD Wetherspoon)
Visited previously as the Big Smoke Taphouse on 02/10/23.
Pint of the cask New World Session Pale and a half of the Session Golden Ale from the Ukrainian brewer.
Cask here was the usual Abbot, Doom Bar and GK IPA then the New World Session Pale from Elgood's, the Old Blighty amber ale from J W Lees and one from a Ukrainian brewer Varvar Brew brewed at the Hook Norton Brewery called the Session Golden Ale. Usual keg offering, Thatchers Gold, Stella, Bud Light, Angelo Poretti, Leffe Blonde, Budweiser, Corona, Coors, Carlsberg, Staro, K1664, Guinness, Seven Brothers Easy IPA, the Sumo hazy pale from Mad Squirrel, BrewDog Punk IPA.
Newly opened JDW venue, the venue having been remodelled since its previous incarnation. The bar counter is now along the wall furthest from the windows looking out at the airfield and so to the immediate right of the open T2 airside entrance. The venue is bare boarded and there is a densely packed section of tall tables in front of the bar counter. Lots of lanterns suspended from the ceiling and so the area around the bar counter is nicely lit. As you move further from the bar counter there are some regular tables and chairs, but space is a premium here, so all tables are pretty densely packed. Supremely busy on my late lunchtime visit ahead of a flight. Prefer other airport JDW's to this one!
On 28th October 2026
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2153 recommendations about 2103 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Big Smoke Taphouse
Notional taproom, airside in the Queen's Terminal, but rather more interesting than most such transient bar/restaurants. Usual semi-modern look (albeit a bit darker than some), but open to the atrium on one side, and with a view across the airport on another. Unlike my previous visits when there have been five, only four of the brewery's beers this time: Cold Spark citra pale ale, Flight Mode pilsner, Electric Eye pale ale and Medicine Man 'West Coast' IPA (£7.25) plus the sparkling 'house' cider, Stella, Guinness and now Mahou available from the pair of T-bar fonts.
On 27th June 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 9258 recommendations about 9258 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about Big Smoke Taphouse
Much as described below, this airport bar is better than many but suffers from lack of real ale. The keg selection is the same as previously, which was to be expected. It's a good enough place for a pint while travelling, better than many, but it is what it is.
On 25th March 2024
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3872 recommendations about 3830 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Big Smoke Taphouse
The Big Smoke Taphouse has an island bar that is lined with bar stools. Double sided televisions above, that were showing muted Sky Sport News, faced into the bar and out to the open plan seating beyond. Live football is advertised. By the entrance are branded T-shirts for sale alongside some other tat. Banquettes run along the large mirrored rear wall that has a door to the left which was supplying a stream of waiters with food. The bar supports six Big Smoke keg products alongside Stella and Guinness. The Stella line could do with a clean, especially at £6.90 a pint. This place is more of a bar when compared to the Fullers place upstairs, but there is no cask.
On 30th January 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 6829 recommendations about 6790 pubs]