The Bulls Head, Chiswick, W4

One of four pubs located in close proximity along this stretch of The Thames, it has a traditional appearance with whitewashed stonework and several punters were making the most of the evening sun on the outside benches during our recent visit. Internally it’s clearly been renovated at some point, but nonetheless has retained many original features and is now a good mix of traditional and contemporary. It’s set over a few levels, and the flooring was predominantly sanded wooden boards with other smaller areas of brick style paving and carpet. There were a few old beams on the ceiling, as well as other supporting posts and inlaid timberwork which I assume may well have been original and some old brick walling in places. Elsewhere it was more contemporary with fresh plasterwork and some quite jazzy wallpaper. A stag’s head carved from wood was on one wall, as well as a few random pictures, some of which were quite arty and others that were quite old photographs. The menu offered a decent selection of pub grub dishes as well as a small specials board, and there should be something to suit most tastes. Unfortunately both mine and Mrs B’s first choice were off, and we heard someone else ordering a third dish that was also unavailable so they clearly have some stock control issues in the kitchen. The Duo of Chicken that I ended up with was ok, but certainly nothing special. Beers on tap were Radical Hoptimist Amber, Greene King IPA, Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, Abbott Ale and their own House Bitter. The solitary cider meanwhile was a rather disappointing Aspall’s. Overall, a pleasant spot and a friendly barman. Worth a visit.

A better prospect of a pub than the other three along this road, sadly the beer choice here was Greene King IPA & Abbot plus Landlord, put off by the pish in the City Barge I risked half of Abbot. It wasn’t as bad as I feared but still not that good. It’s a good looking pub inside with lots of different spaces on different levels and a riverside bit I avoided as it was dark. All sorts of old beams, tongue and groove, exposed brick and floor treatments make it quite interesting and certainly the most pubby of the four along the Strand, the City Barge estate pub notwithstanding. There is a definite dining pub vibe to the place though.

A historic pub this, dating from the early 18th century, grade II-listed and run by Chef & Brewery, who I though had gone bust in the ‘90s. Another of the three out of four Chiswick riverside pubs that require a walk up a flight of steps to reach the bar area and judging by the rambling, multi-area interior and seemingly old, exposed beams, I wouldn’t be surprised if much of the original pub remains. The floor is part carpeted, part boarded then walls are patterned wallpaper, duck egg green paint with some bare brick to at least one chimney breast. Lighting came courtesy of trendy glass shades with filament bulbs, furniture is mainly traditional with a few anachronistic modern pieces, décor comprising trendy framed prints. Customers were a mixed local bunch, the screaming baby an unwelcome touch. Ales offered were Abbot, GK IPA, Twickenham’s Full Lotus ‘Coming Soon’, then Black Sheep at £2.70 a half and in excellent shape, served by a chatty barman. This is comfortably the best of the four Chiswick riverside pubs and probably the best pub in W4.