The George & Devonshire, Chiswick, W4

Dating from the mid-17th century as the George, the current name arrived around 1823, the pub’s history being well documented to an oval fixed to the exterior of the Georgian grade II-listed façade, as photos to this website. A former haunt of Dick Turpin, this is the closest pub to the Fuller’s brewery but isn’t their tap; it’s also located in a rather unprepossessing location, opposite an ugly office block, ugly Chiswick flyover and ugly Hogarth roundabout. I was expecting something rather special but was met with instant disappointment upon entering: the floor’s bare boarded, walls are pale grey, there’s little décor aside from the odd mirror or occasional knickknack, filament bulbs, earthy locals – incorporating one American – mostly congregated round the bar, which far from being a showcase for Fuller’s ales, proffered just three pumps dispensing Pride, £2.70 a half and probably as good as it’s ever going to get, served by a perfunctory barman. Although this gets a ‘4’ for serving up a drinkable cask beer, I thought this was a pretty dispiriting place, the effort required to reach it only adding to the disappointment.

The George & Devonshire page on the Fullers website - georgeanddevonshire.co.uk

The George & Devonshire page on the Fullers website - georgeanddevonshire.co.uk

A substantial roadhouse located at the north-west corner of Fullers brewery and facing the charmless flyover above the Hogarth Roundabout. Retains a traditional two-bar layout, with the larger lounge bar now really a dining room by the look of things. All the customers were in the brighter public bar, with its pool table and darts board. Patio beer garden to rear. Chiswick, Pride and Discovery (£3.40) avilable from the seven handpumps distributed between the two counters.

As previously mentioned, this is a Fuller’s pub, serving Chiswick, Pride, the seasonal Front Row, and ESB when I was in on Wednesday afternoon for a post brewery tour pint. Entering through the first door we came to, we found ourselves in what must be the public bar, although I didn’t spot it being labelled as such. This room had a fairly down to earth appearance, containing a handful of normal tables and chairs as well as a pool table. Not missing an opportunity to explore further, we passed through an entranceway to the right and found ourselves in a much larger and slightly grander room, which I guess must be, or have been, the Saloon Lounge. In here were sofas, armchairs, tall stools and tables, some normal tables and chairs, an attractive grandfather clock, and most of the tables had menus on them indicating that they were still serving food. A chalkboard advertised the daily special for the following day, predictably Irish Stew, and the usual tatty St Patrick’s Day decorations – green top hats, inflatable “pints of Guinness” – were all over the place, as well as the Republic of Ireland flag hung over a fireplace. I didn’t think that there was anything special about this place, but it was a reasonably comfortable place to stop off for a pint. I’d drop in for another pint if I did another brewery tour, but I don’t suppose that I would make a special effort to pay a return visit.