The Swan, Hammersmith, W6

This is a large, ornate pub close to Hammersmith tube station and handy for the Hammersmith Apollo. The pub is currently run by the Nicholson’s chain and in keeping with many of their London pubs, a good job has been done in retaining the character and historical details whilst still being able to cater for a contemporary market. You enter into the large main bar area with a high decorative ceiling and large ornate pillars through the centre supporting a series of broad arches. The servery is over to the right and has a typically traditional dark wood counter and canopy plus a smart mirrored bar back. There is a lot of high stool seating in the centre of the room with comfier banquette and chair options around the perimeter. Windows along two sides have some really good semi-circular stained-glass panes which I thought looked particularly good with the light flooding in from outside. Several TV screens were showing a live rugby match which had drawn a pretty large crowd on a Saturday early evening, but the sound was off, so the intrusion was fairly minimal. The pub runs through to a plainer rear room beyond the far end of the servery, which has exposed floorboards and a few standard tables and chairs. Large display cabinets full of glass ware and topped with old editions of the Good Beer Guide take pride of place back here and there was another Tv screen showing the same match, this time with the sound on, although ironically, no-one seemed to be watching it. A few more ornate pillars, bits of stained glass and other bits of nice trim could be found back here, but the effect was diminished having come from the far more splendid main bar. A great staircase leads up to a first floor dining room, although I didn’t get to have a proper look up there. The bar supports a wide ale range, far surpassing the offerings in many Central London Nicholson’s pubs. Options on this occasion were Fullers London Pride, Hog’s Back TEA, Rudgate Instant Pleasure, Hobson’s Mild, Sharps Doom Bar and Nicholson’s Pale Ale. I tried both the Mild (excellent) and the Instant Pleasure (middling) and we also decided to grab a bite to eat here and found decent portions of traditional pub fayre. This is a pretty nice pub that is worth a quick look round just to enjoy the interior, but merits a longer visit thanks to a good ale selection. The pub will remain on my radar thanks to its prominent location but must rank up there as one of Hammersmith’s finest pubs regardless.

Rebuilt in 1901, this is an enormous late Victorian/early Edwardian edifice, named after former brewers Stansfeld & Co's Swan brewery in Fulham. Indeed the pub's exterior is bedecked with S & Co roundels and stained glass. Cavernous inside with arches of a wide span and partitions along with a grand staircase - this really is a gin palace. Largely packed on our visit and very noisy indeed, the very friendly barmaid served me with a very good half of Koma's Off The Wall. I forget the price but I'll be it wasn't cheap. There were many other interesting ales but it was too busy for me to record them. This place is worth a look just for the interior alone, but it's packed and noisy. It's also not in a great place as the area outside tends to attract many who are less fortunate in life.

This is the best pub in Hammesmith for beer choice.Nicolson seasonal range but always something drinkable. Can get very busy after work but worth the hassle.