The Chippenham Hotel, W9

Chippenham Hotel official site with menus and event details - chippw9.co.uk

Notwithstanding what I said after visiting this pub back in 2008, I paid another visit yesterday. The pomegranite themed Victorian tiling is as impressive as ever, and the pub deserves a visit for that alone. But now real ale has been reintroduced, making it a far superior pub than hitherto. Of the four or five handpumps, only two were seeing active service yesterday, but the pint of Doom Bar I had was so good that I suspected that the pump might have been mis-clipped. I failed to make a note of the other ale, but it can't have been anything very exciting or I would have gone for it in preference to the Doom Bar. There was a basic one-sheet menu, with lamb stew and bread for £5.50 and sandwiches for £3.50. This one has gone up in my estimation, and may the trend continue.