The Beer House, Paddington, W2

The Beer House is within a functional unit on the concourse of Paddington Railway Station so there is a constant stream of transient customers. A television on both side walls was airing muted Wimbledon Tennis whilst some background music played. The staff were polite and efficient, one took my order and another took payment. The bar counter supports four handpumps, unfortunately the GK Old Speckled Hen, GK IPA, Sambrooks Pumphouse and Sharps Doom Bar were all off. Beer House? I think not! I ended up with half a Stella which set me back a whopping £3.29, which was the most expensive of the day during a crawl around the area. I’ll not be drinking here again, and as I left I wondered why any of the other customers were in here. I came to the conclusion that they must have been holograms.

Official site of The Beer House - thebeerhouseuk.com

Official site of The Beer House - thebeerhouseuk.com

A square cabin like structure on the station concourse,the pine flooring ,muzak and small size makes it very noisy if there are a few punters inside.There are several high tables and drinking shelves,along with two banquettes ,but trade is very transient and the presence of several gaming machines with stools in front of them doesn't enliven the atmosphere,although the flatscreen with BBC 24 news was atleast on mute.There is a short pub grub menu,9 mundane keg beers and 4 handpumps offering St Austell Tribute (ok condition,ludicrous £2.45 a half !! )CW Old Speckled Hen,GK Abbott and IPA Gold.A less than exciting range,unless you are desperate for a drink,I can see little reason to return.

One of a number of small units on the station concourse, this is a modern, single room pub with windows on two sides allowing good views of the comings and goings outside. The pub has a laminate wood floor and pale green paintwork. High stools around the windows are joined by tables and chairs elsewhere and some leather bench seating around the walls. A plasma was at the rear built in to a unit displaying a selection of wine bottles either side. This was showing a news channel, but the volume was muted so it was not at all intrusive. I didn’t check the menu, but did notice a pile of pork pies on the counter and a board advertising some tapas style grazing dishes priced at three for a tenner. Beers on tap were Tribute, Greene King IPA and Old Speckled Hen. The craft beer of the month was apparently Meantime London Smoked Porter. The solitary cider was Symonds Founder’s Reserve which was slightly disappointing – seeing as a large proportion of their clientele are going to be from the West Country, it seems odd to have picked a cider from Herefordshire.