The Griffin, Brentford

Probably the best known of the four street corner pubs that surround Brentford FC, The Griffin is a fine, smallish, traditional brick built community local. A horseshoe shaped wooden bar retains its gantry and coloured leaded glass. Etched windows bearing the Fullers griffin logo motif and large drape curtains contribute towards a cosy and traditional feel. Like many pubs, it was originally two bars, but it’s been knocked through with no real loss of character or atmosphere. Round one side is a dartboard with a splendid collection of trophies on a large shelf above. Curiously, in the corner here is an unusual small statuette of a coloured footballer wearing what I took to be either West Ham or Aston Villa kit. Note also the large old Fullers mirror here that is rarely seen nowadays. Ralph and Sue have been tenants here for some considerable time and a framed photograph shows Ralph standing outside the pub back in 1998. There’s also a collection of framed cigar packet labels. Comfortable fixed seating line the walls, but most of the regulars appear to favour stools at the bar. It’s a Fullers pub, but only ever seems to offer the London Pride. This ensures a good throughput and quality is reliable, but it’s a pricey pint - £ 3.50p. On my recent Sunday lunchtime visit, one of the regulars was celebrating his 92nd birthday and a small group of family and friends were enjoying the pub’s hospitality and an impressive looking spread of sandwiches and nibbles. I remember thinking at the time that, if I ever get to 92, let’s hope that good honest unpretentious community locals like this are still around. Don’t let the pricey beer and absence of choice stop you from calling in if you get the opportunity

One of Brentford's numerous football pubs, this place has all the trademarks of a classic footy pub; well-drilled, efficient team of bar staff, big screens for Sky Sports, space at a premium and so on... Unlike a lot of pubs near football grounds, this one seemed like it might be worth a visit on weekdays too. A good range of Fullers ales were on offer, but as mentioned by pretty much everyone else, they're charging £3.20 for a pint of Pride, which was enough to convince me to try one of the other pubs in the area when I visit next season.

A well known fact is that Griffin Park is the only football ground to have a pub on every corner and this is one of them, although on match days I always use the New Inn which is on the opposite corner. After this visit I will be trying this place out next home game as I’m a fan of Fullers pubs and I found the staff and locals to be very friendly in this one. They were all geared up for St George’s day with flags up around the bar which added to the atmosphere. There is a beer garden out the back which I did not visit, but I did have a smoke on one of the picnic tables on the path out the front. Fullers seem to have started putting their prices up and this one seems more expensive than most, but I still think it is worth a visit.