The Rising Sun, Isleworth

This is a Fuller's pub that had on London Pride, and Old Winter Ale (£2.10 a half). The restaurant area on the right hand side of the pub had all tables laid for diners, and there were one or two customers finishing their lunch on my mid-afternoon weekday visit. But as I sat on the "drinkers'" side of the pub on the left I didn't see a menu. It seemed less of the no frills boozer and locals' pub that previous reviewers encountered, being a bit more food led now. It looks great from the outside with its brewer's Tudor facade, and you can see the original multi-room layout from the three original doors. It's opened up inside now, with the horseshoe bar mentioned by others still dominating the centre of the room. For some reason the Christmas decorations were still up although we are now well past Twelth Night. It looked homely enough, and comfortable enough with only normal tables and chairs, but one thing I wasn't keen on was the music radio station playing, with some DJ's inane banter mixed with rubbish pop music. Personally I don't care much for music in a pub, but if they have to play something I reckon that something a bit more imaginative than subjecting punters to some radio staion should be possible. I reckon this pub falls firmly in the not bad but OK category. I wouldn't recommend seeking it out, but OK for a swift one if in the area.

Official site of The Rising Sun - www.risingsunisleworth.co.uk

Official site of The Rising Sun - www.risingsunisleworth.co.uk

This is a no frills locals boozer offering Pride (4 pumps), Stella, Carlsberg, Carling, Guinness and strongbow. I had to wait for a couple of minutes to get served as the governor had popped off to make a cup of coffee for himself. He apologised on his return and luckily I was in no rush. Unfortunately I had to wait in between two locals that have probably had no kind of formal education and have probably never left Isleworth. There is a plasma screen with the ability to show Sky and a fruit machine. There is also some outside seating just off the main road. In my opinion this is not a great pub and I wouldn't bother revisiting.