Fountains Abbey, Paddington, W2

A Taylor Walker pub standing on a street corner.Obviously Victorian,the pub has retained some features such as the glazed tiled fireplace with portraits but sadly the fire was not lit.Along one side the wall is mirrored and there are wooden room deviders and our course a high ceiling.Sadly around the bar there are a lot of high tables and two very obvious Sky flat screen with the Manchester derby on full blast.As you might expect in a London boozer virtually everyone in the pub supported either United or City. Up a long wooden staircase is a large first floor square room with two even larger screens and many dining type tables.This was meant to be the area where footie fans could congregate but the management had decided to screen the match on the ground floor as well. I was with a large group for a lunch which was surprisingly good and didn't exhibit the dead hand of foodservice,my roast beef was succulent. There are five handpumps with GK Abbott,Youngs London Gold,London Pride (fair condition),Doom Bar coming soon and Old Rosie cider.Not a selection to get the pulse racing but that's typical of the chain. I am sure that if the footie wasn't on,the pub would have seemed more civilised and with decent food,I wouldn't rule out a revisit to a part of the capital sadly lacking great real ale pubs.