Dudley Arms, Paddington, W2

There were three ales on in here – Doom Bar, Hobgoblin, and something called “Dudley Arms Cask Ale” with the words “Joseph Tetley” on the pump clip. I had the latter, which was OK, but not cheap at £2 for a half of a 3.7% session ale. I also spotted a cauldron of mulled wine on the counter, which I guess is a good thing to have available on a cold December day. Food is obviously a big player here, with a number of tables laid for diners. I didn’t see a menu (they weren’t on the tables) but I did see a few meals pass by and they looked OK. This is a Grade II listed early 19th Century backstreet pub, although with the building work that’s sprung up around here since then it’s no longer in a back street. But there’s still some original Victorian tiling along the lower part of the left hand wall. It’s now been completely opened up of course, with the loss of the internal partitions leaving a central island bar. The majority of the room is carpeted, but with a large bare-boarded section at the back where the pool table’s located. Furnishings consist of a couple of “booths”, loads of normal tables and chairs, and a few tall tables/tall stools surrounding the pool table. There are a few prints on the walls, but otherwise nothing worth mentioning. This pub’s OK, if a bit corporate (e.g. black shirted staff). Despite the tables laid for diners it’s certainly does not fall in the gastropub category. It was doing a brisk trade on Friday afternoon, and seemed quite a vibrant little place. The ale choice is not exceptional, but it’s not bad. I don’t reckon it’s a destination pub, but a good option if you’ve got time to sneak out the back of Paddington Station in preference to the station pubs around Praed St.