Hambrough Tavern, Southall

This pub looks nothing special from the outside, in fact it looks a little out of place as it was rebuilt after being burnt down on 4th July 1981 after petrol bombs were thrown through the windows as a race riot was sparked off which led to 120 injuries, which included 60 police officers. The cause was a concert for skinheads, punk rockers and Rockabillies which the local Asian youth mistook for a white power event after some NF skinheads took it upon themselves to make there presence felt on the high street by smashing windows and scribbling and shouting NF slogans. This was already an area of heightened tension after a race riot two years earlier where a 33 year old teacher was killed. More recently this pub was called Mary’s Free House and the old unlit neon sign can still be seen under the Hambrough Tavern sign which was the pubs original name - back in the 80s anyway. I paid a first visit here on Thursday afternoon a couple of weeks ago and found an L-shaped pub with a pool table and plasma screens throughout for showing Sky Sports. There are no hand pumps, but the Guinness was well served by a friendly Irish woman behind the bar. Basic pub food is served all day and children are permitted before 6pm, but there are signs up stating that they must be under constant supervision by an adult, which is fare enough. There are some picnic tables out the front on a grassed area, but they are by the busy road so not very comfortable. I wouldn’t go out of my way to drink here again, but I’ve been to worse places in the area.