The Bell & Crown, W4

Not quite as food oriented as the nearby Steam Packet but that’s obviously its main business, the layout and furniture reflects this in the front part of the pub at least. Further back gets more pubby with banquette seating and the long counter is rather neat. It’s also dog friendly. Then at rear there’s a conservatory set up for dining but the salt n vinegar smell permeates the place anyway. Two banks of four pulls along with the usual close grouped solos found in London pubs. London Pride appears to be the banker with HSB, Hophead (coming soon) and the stronger “Dark Star” beer noted in other Fullers pubs as the choice, I had yet another pint of Pride and it was adequate verging towards good so 2.5. Nice panelling, cut glass and plain plastered walls - no grey plague here apart from in the side room called the Cobblers bar - why?

This pub is a bit of a newbie compared to some of these riverside pubs, dating from only the early 18th century as the Bell, renamed the Bell & Crown in 1787, this incarnation arriving only in 1907. It’s as described below: multi-level, a fairly traditional interior with a good patina to the older woodwork, dark wood field panelling, duck egg paintwork, traditional furniture with oxblood studded banquettes. The bar array is less traditional, with a tubular steel gantry and modern back. Décor arrived in the form of trendy framed prints, then some taxidermy; customers were mixed, local and unobtrusive. A Fuller’s range, with a half of Hophead costing a stiff £2.90 and fine. This isn’t a half bad pub, but it really can’t compete with the Bull’s Head a short walk to the south-east.

This is a decent sized Fullers pub on the Thames Path, close to Fullers’ offices a short distance up the road. The bar is in the front part of the pub, with a nice servery down the right-hand wall boasting some fine woodwork features around the L-shaped counter and bar back. High tables and stools under the front windows provide basic seating options for drinkers, whilst lounge-style furniture emerge further into the room, which opens out a lot past the end of the bar. There’s a basic brick fireplace to the left, where the walls have nice panelling and a dark paint scheme and have been decorated with contemporary art and various classic board and pub game boards. A pillar towards the rear has some nice etched glass panes on it, and left of this is a door out to the riverside garden, with a modern etched glass pane in the door depicting a river scene. The space to the right leads you through to a separate dining room which has plenty more seating and a smart colour scheme, with a few seats in the rear section having good river views. The garden has a small raised decked area and a number of picnic benches along the path, although this wasn’t enough for a large post-work crowd, who also perched on the riverbank wall, which is very high above the river, so make sure you’re still steady on your feet before sitting here. With this being the Thames Path, it’s busy with walkers, joggers and cyclists, and so collisions are a very real possibility if you’re not vigilant moving around out here. Just the three cask ales available on this visit - Fullers London Pride, Gales Seafarers and Dark Star Hophead, with the latter coming in at £5.00 a pint. The Hophead was in pretty good condition and the barmaid was very friendly in spite of a packed crowd. This seemed like a nice Fullers pub which benefits from its prime location, but was nice enough inside to merit an extended stay regardless. The beer was in good nick, service was friendly and prompt and whilst there was nothing beyond the location to elevate this above your average Fullers pub experience, it was pleasant enough to recommend the short detour from Kew Bridge.

An attractively located riverside Fullers pub, very spacious inside, food is a big thing here and I did eat and it was very good though not cheap. There are two banks of four handpumps with just the choice of three ales on my visit, Pride, Seafarers and Dark Star Sunquake. Not a bad pub but not a place I'd hang out all day either.