The Rutland Arms, Hammersmith, W6

The low point of our evening, alarm bells started to ring as soon as we spotted the modern Taylor Walker logo. As you'd expect given the location, there were rowing blades on the walls but thereafter it was a by the numbers TW pub with dark wood panelling, a games machine and pictorial menus that wouldn't have looked out of place in an old Wimpey bar. There was muted music and a TV showing the news with the sound off. Furniture comes in the form of some high tables and chairs as well as leatherette armchairs and sofas. There are also some large lanterns over the bar. The floor is bare boarded with a tiled bar apron. Beers on offer: Greene King's IPA and London Glory, St. Austell's Spring Fever and Sambrook's Junction at a steep £2.38 a half which was flat and warm. I won't be coming here again, not least because the rather fine Blue Anchor is right next door.

Another scruffy pub décor wise.Busy with a young rowing crowd. Fullers -frontier lager and Portobello -pilsner on keg.Pride and Adnams -ghostship were on cask. My Ghostship was very average and a short measure at £2.10 for a half left a sour taste or was it the beer.Dud.

This is not one of my favourite riverside haunts - the service is just about adequate, the ale is OK but the prices are above average. What spoilt our last visit was the very noisy crowd of pretentuous sailing types who clearly thought they owned the place. Apart from that, why come here when the Dove is just along the riverbank?