The Greenwood Hotel (JD Wetherspoon), Northolt

Located in what seems to be quite a residential neighbourhood somewhere between Greenford and Northolt, this is a large pub converted by Wetherspoons from a lovely old hotel. The restrictions put in place by the pub to comply with Covid regulations meant I found myself seated in the lobby-style space that you find yourself in when entering via the corner entrance, making it tricky for me to get a good grasp on some parts of the pub. This lobby area is of a decent size and has smart floorboards, high wood panelled walls and a very pleasant curved bar counter to the left, beneath a wide arched canopy and with a mirrored dark wood bar back topped by an integral clock. The area’s most striking feature has to be the lovely stained-glass skylight in the centre of the room which has a large ornamental light fitting hung from it. Seating is restricted to a few tables with comfy padded chairs and a padded banquette next to the entrance. One of the tables, which I found myself sat at, has a large snakes and ladders board painted on it, which rather sadistically had at least three snakes between squares 91-100. Moving through into the front room, you find a wide but quite shallow space with similar décor and furniture, but with some high tables and stools along the front wall and a long bar counter to the rear, also with some nice curved ends and a truncated gantry. From the lobby, you can also access a large rear dining room which is mostly carpeted and has standard table and chair seating plus a few short-padded bench booths. The room is split in two by a low partitioning wall topped with some enormous vases overflowing with flowers, and I spotted an open kitchen to the rear of the room. Another doorway to the rear of the lobby was signposted as the ‘Jug & Bottle’ – no doubt a reference to this part of the building’s former use, but sadly not somewhere I was able to explore on this visit. A large tarmacked area outside the front of the pub has been converted into an al-fresco seating area which a couple of hardy souls were braving on a cold autumnal evening. A quick sneak round to the front bar revealed three ‘Spoons regulars and four guest ales, some of which were double clipped in the lobby bar. Having had a delicious pint of Mauldons Black Adder in a Wetherspoons in Horsham the week before, I decided to have another here and found it in just as good condition. The table service system didn’t work too well for those of us without apps, as there weren’t many people working the bar and those that were seemed busy serving all the app orders, forcing me to approach the bar after ten minutes of waiting, in order to get someone’s attention. Having said all that, the staff were very friendly and helpful – there just weren’t enough of them. This is a really impressive Wetherspoons, benefiting greatly from the grand old building it occupies but also from a sensitive conversion, friendly staff and some good quality beer. It’s the sort of pub that merits repeat visits, with more rooms and features to be discovered each time and the usual ‘Spoons rotating guest ale policy ensuring decent new beers each time. An unexpected find in a part of London I’ve never associated with good pubs or beer.

Very imposing roadhouse, dating from the late 1930s, and built by Courage (as indicated on some of the tiling). Substantial, staple-shaped main bar to the left of the original main lounge bar entrance, then the rear Dining Hall (also with its own counter) off to the right, the side Green Room (with a former small servery of its own), small ex-'Jug & Bottle', etc. Although modernised by Wetherspoons, many original features remain (with some impressive Art Deco lanterns) and the place still operates as a hotel. Also has tables out on the front patio by the former main entrance. Total of 18 handpumps on different parts of the counter, with mostly standard offerings supplemented by the local Enefeld London Pale Ale (£1.99) and Kelham Island Pale Rider. Overall, a hugely impressive building, and had the staff been more attentive it would have scored a '9'.