The Black Lion, Hammersmith, W6

Official site of The Black Lion - www.blacklion.london

Official site of The Black Lion - www.blacklion.london

A mid-18th century pub, set back a little from the river with a spacious front beer patio/garden out front and skittles. The interior has a fairly authentic air about it with mixed furniture and a log-burning stove. Furniture is mixed with some high tables and chairs and a room to the rear. With burger nights and pizza nights, I don't think food here is neither dominant enought nor high-end enough to classify this place as a gastropub. Music was muted and a TV - thankfully off - was spotted. The crowd in here seemed to be of the rugger/rowing public school type. The barman was friendly enough and poured me a pint of Adnam's Ghost Ship at a steep £2.30 a half and it was OK, nothing more. Also on offer were Fuller's London Pride, Caledonian's Deuchars, Flying Scotsman, First Dawn and supposed in-house Black Lion ale. The Black Lion probably makes a great place to a watch the Boat Race but otherwise there's no compelling reason to return.

Earlier this week I paid my first visit to this pub for a couple of years. There have been a few changes since my last visit - some of the standard issue tables and chairs on the right have gone to be replaced by tall upholstered benches and tall stools, although there is a fair bit of comfortable seating on the left. The armchairs by the fire are still there, and a very welcome real log fire was on the go. It's still a gastropub, with the menu helpfully displayed above the the urinals in the gents. There's no pub grub of course, and prices are at typically gastropub levels. There were five pumps clipped, with the Thwaites Wainwright also having a helpful sign on on it saying something like "sorry, it's gone - you've drunk it all". The other ales on were Tribute, London Pride, Bombardier, and Old Peculiar. The Old Peculiar was as good as I expected, but I can't comment on the prices now as I didn't buy the round. But the biggest change here is that they've reinstated the ancient skittle alley. It's clearly been placed in the original area, but I doubt whether the playing surface or equipment is original. Still, It's the only one I know of in London. I was with a couple of chums up from the West Country, and they were mightily impressed to find a skittle alley and a real log fire in a London pub. We enjoyed our visit to his pub. The lady behind the bar was friendly and chatty, and I for one would be happy to drop in again sometime, although it's probably a more comfortable place for drinkers outside usual meal times.