The Sun, Hounslow

Large pub with a wooden interior. 1 real ale and food served.

There was just the one real ale on when I visited at Wednesday lunchtime – London Pride at £3.30 a pint. Thai food is still the only option here. Stir fries are either £6.95 or £7.95 – top of the range prices for pub Thai food I would say, as the portions weren’t large, although the quality was OK. As in so many pub Thai restaurants, food and drinks are separate operations – you get your drinks from the main bar and order your food from the separate restaurant counter. This is what it used to be like in most pubs before they had computerised tills, but now it seems restricted to pubs with Thai food. But I have to say that the restaurant section is quite nice, with some attractive wood panelling on the walls, and although the tables are all set for diners here, the pub is easily large enough to accommodate a relatively small area reserved for diners. This is a big stand-alone pub right in the centre of Hounslow. Inside all the furnishings are scrubbed solid wood – including tall tables/tall stools, low tables with small square stools, and fortunately some normal tables and chairs for those who like to sit on traditional furnishings while having a drink. There’s an open fireplace in the middle of the room, where there would once have been a wall separating the public and saloon bars. Above the attractive wood panelling the walls are painted cream, and bear numerous wise sayings – e.g. “I would prefer to have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy”. A pool table is at the back on the left, and there was some rap music being played which made the garden very attractive indeed. In fact even without the “music” inside, the garden would have to be regarded as large and well maintained. It also has a chicken coop, which is an unusual garden feature. This pub is OK – the beer choice is nothing to write home about, and the interior isn’t particularly comfortable, but the lovely garden sets this place above its near neighbours. This pub is definitely worth a visit if you can sit outside.

This place has little atmosphere to speak of and it feels like the Thai restaurant has taken over. There is a pool table and some plasma screens for the Sky Sports, but I found it difficult to get settled. Maybe it is better on a sunny day when the huge beer garden can be utilised.