The Express Tavern, Brentford

I've heard good things about this pub, but perhaps visiting it in the evening was not such a good idea. I'm used to quieter afternoon pubs these days, and the relatively busy nature of the later crowd was a little off-putting for me. Not just with Covid reluctance but the general noise and smell of food. The pub was comfortable enough, but I guess I found it a bit overwhelming. Overwhelmed for choice too, with 10 real ales and half as many real ciders lined up along the bar across two stretches of the counter. I went for the Bass first off, in honour of the prominent sign on the exterior, but it honestly wasn't very good. As a chaser I had Gipsy Hill Masher Best Bitter, which confirmed that my taste buds were still in working order. Date of visit: 9th February 2022

Photographed seven years ago and now approached at dusk, the fading light revealing new dreamy tangerine livery, the Bass neon signage looking great. It also sports a painted 'Ale - Cider - Food' frieze, which looks suspiciously like a take on the one on Kentish Town's Southampton Arms. The pub is well documented below and on CAMRA's pub heritage site; it has an interior of Regional Interest, though the current colour scheme doesn't seem to match that on the site, being now very blue or stripey; likewise, the flooring which now has flagstones rather than carpet, at least in the right-hand bar. Customers seemed older rather than old and possibly a Pugger in the left-hand bar. Ten pumps in operation with offerings from the likes of Big Smoke, Northern Monk, Five Points and of course draught Bass, so as not to contravene advertising standards. I went for the Five Points XPA, served by a barmaid who seemed unaware of 'express', though it was in great condition and reasonably priced for the ‘new normal’ at £4.60. Chosen as a quality hostelry to pen my one-thousandth review, it exceeded expectations and is a must-visit London alehouse, with an attractive, comfortable interior.