The Grange, Ealing Common, W5

Tris C left this review about The Grange

Serving residents of the rather smart, large houses in this upmarket enclave, what was the Grange Hotel dates to at least the mid-19th century, built on the site of the former Cricketers’, this incarnation rebuilt in 1871 on the south-west edge of Ealing Common in a rather striking neo-Gothic style.
The interior too is neo-Gothic, with some lancet-style windows with leaded stained glass at the top; the now very smart left-hand conservatory has fine touches, with very striking cast and wrought iron ceiling beams and ties, topped with a leaded glass lantern. The pub is on split levels, an ante room home to a very fine neo-Gothic carved stone fireplace. There’s a pale boarded floor with some kilims, paintwork a predictable smoky blue or burgundy and a white matchboard ceiling. Much of the furniture is low and lounge in style, with some slightly Islamic patterns; lighting comes from downlighters and hanging clear spherical lamps. Décor amounts to framed eclectic prints and large potted palms; overall there was a slightly ‘colonial clubroom’ feel to the place. Customers were fairly mixed in age and undoubtedly local, some perhaps having just visited the fairground on the common.
A slightly less predictable ale line-up than usual for a Young’s pub, with Special then Dorking’s Red India alongside Proper Job at an extortionate £3.05 a half and very good, served by a professional barmaid.
This is a perfectly pleasant place to while away some time when enjoying Ealing Common – it’s vastly superior to the Greystoke – but it loses a point for the higher-than-central-London pricing.

On 7^th May 2023 - rating: 6
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