The Moon Under Water (JD Wetherspoon), Hounslow

This is a relatively small, L-shaped branch of the Wetherspoons chain, located on a rather depressing High Street in the middle of Hounslow. The pub is carpeted down the left-hand side, where the single room extends some way to the rear, with bare boards to the right. The room is broken up by some chunky wood panelled and mirrored pillars, with more of the same panelling and mirrors to be found around the walls. A row of banquette booths down the left-hand wall offers the comfiest seating options, with each booth separated by some old school 'Spoons etched glass partitioning screens. High tables and stools fill the space opposite the bar and then regular tables and chairs appear to the rear and in the right-hand space. Old local black and white photos plus local history boards provide the majority of the pub's decor and a couple of active TV screens were showing muted news. The bar is in the centre of the right-hand wall and has a nice angular counter with a wooden rather than polished stone top, a basic canopy and a pump clip lined bar back. The bar has ten handpulls which were supplying the three regular 'Spoons ales and five guests. I tried the Southwark Mayflower Session IPA at a startlingly cheap £1.99 a pint, which was in decent shape - who can complain at that price anyway? The staff were a bit slow but friendly enough and there was a good buzz from a strong crowd on my Thursday night visit. Hounslow, like many neighbourhoods on this side of the city, is an underpubbed area that relies on branches of Wetherspoons to fill the cask ale void, so places like this are valuable despite their otherwise apparent mediocrity. In the grand scheme, this is a pretty standard 'Spoons, but for the locals it provides a much needed service and is your best bet for good beer in this part of town. Date of visit - 26th September 2024

Decent pint in this jolly multicultural Spoons directly under Heathrow's flight path. An early 90s Victoriana (1991, I see) of the lighter wood hue over an inverse J shape with booths running down the left hand side. Four guest cask with my Adnams Mosaic drinking well (NBSS 3.5). Silver haired duty manager was well on-top of things and running a tight ship. Worth its GBG’23 listing and, dare I say it, alighting at the station to try – it’s a tidy, pleasant, well-run Spoons. GBG'24 listed. 7.5

This is an early (1991) Spoons and is typical of the brand. There are twelve pumps which are not used to full effect as four pumps are badged with Abbot, two with Ruddles and one with cider. This left five devoted to guests which were Old Speckled Hen, Hook Norton Old Hooky, Windsor & Eton Knight Of The Garter, Milk Street Zig Zag Stout and B&T Golden Fox, a drink that was highly recommended to me by a very cheery bloke supping lager. I went for the Zig Zag Stout (£2.05) which was in very good nick and thoroughly enjoyable. It posed the question "Why does anyone drink Guinness?". This is GBG listed, I visited the two Fullers houses some twenty years ago and they were pretty poor which would account for the Spoons getting the GBG status. I have to say I quite liked it. There is a patio at the rear that could at a pinch be described as a beer garden.

Randomness Guide to London - Moon Under Water entry

Randomness Guide to London - Moon Under Water entry