The Express Tavern, Brentford

Classy old pub at the northern end of Kew Bridge, too many reviews to add much but its multi room charms and eclectic decor won’t disappoint many. 10 pumps of mostly interesting small breweries beers, the biggest name being Molson Coors Bass then a step down a lot to Harvey’s Sussex Best. I didn’t recognise any others apart from Five Points which was in good condition as expected in a GBG listed pub. A few odd looking or gobshite customers but then it’s London. On a second visit a day later it was different staff and they were aloof or mardy, the beer was still ok apart from the cloudy Bass.

Excellent pub, though managing to visit the same time as a Brentford home game meant I struggled to take things in as it was a tight squeeze. Very impressive exterior what with its illuminated Draught Bass signage, leading to a tight front bar with a snug off right and a room to your left leading to a modern conservatory extension. Plenty of cask at the bar (too many for a normal day?), Bass for me (NBSS 3.5) in a plastic cup and a perch on the wall in the well-appointed courtyard garden where fans from both teams were mixing happily, with the pub putting on a BBQ to cash-in. I’d like to revisit at a quieter time to take-in the CAMRA Inventory angle, my bad for not checking the fixtures. Anyways, I saw enough to be impressed.