The Kings Arms Hotel, Ealing Broadway, W5

A splendid looking late Victorian or Edwardian corner pub, updated with a wall removed leaving a main front room and a rear one with gaming tables. The L shaped counter is in the front room with a set of three pulls in the middle, a T-Bar either side, nothing outstanding, it did have that Jeremy Clarkson stuff on. The cask choice was Pride of course and a nice beer from Windsor & Eton, Eton Boatman. Wood on cast iron tables plus a few taller wooden ones and even banquette seating under the front windows. Lincrusta and cream walls, board floors and a decent old counter remain, but the counter has been cut at some stage so may not be the original, the windows are modern clear replacements. A mural of an old Guinness Toucan ad and a bear adorn one wall, there also is a screen and a machine.

Dating from at least the start of the 19th century, the current building dates from 1897 and is quite an attractive backstreet structure. The interior can be seen on Google, but otherwise it’s a more traditional boozer, modern bare boarded, white walls and field panelling with a cartoon of a toucan balancing a pint of Guinness on its beak. There’s a games machine and large dining room to the rear – the smell of barbecue sauce making me feel hungry – then beyond that, there’s a poo room, possibly with darts. There was some sort of open mic-cum-karaoke night going down (see photos), which provided welcome ancillary entertainment, a more traditional and rather sozzled customer base clapping enthusiastically between acts. The ale front amounted to a disappointing unused pump and Pride, then Windsor & Eton’s coronation-themed Return of the King, which would have made Prince Louis yawn, let alone this experienced casketeer, though it arrived courtesy of a smiley barmaid at a rather pricey £2.85 a half. This is a decent place and credible crawl fodder, making for some alternative amusement in the area, but the lacklustre ale choice was a pity; the lack of a Twickenham ale (especially Naked Ladies) would have got the mark up a notch, but it’s certainly worth including on a crawl, or for a longer stay for the entertainment.

Official site of The Kings Arms Hotel - www.thekingsarmsealing.com

Official site of The Kings Arms Hotel - www.thekingsarmsealing.com

friendly pub just behind the shopping centre.4 handpumps with regional brewers beers but Twickenham often feature.Good place to watch Sky football with well kept beer a plus.