Talli Queen, Shepherds Bush, W12

This is a magnificent old pub down the Uxbridge Rd. Some excellent original faience tiling remains, as well as a detailed terracotta frieze with the name of the pub set into it. It looks very impressive. Inside it's been largely opened up of course, but there are one or two heritage features remaining. There's a central island servery with a large bar area to the front and left of it; an open to view kitchen at the back on the left, and a dining room at the back on the right, reached via an entrance with some concertina screening. Both the bar and the dining room contain rather ornate fireplaces, with wood (or perhaps wood effect) pillars to either side. The one in the bar has some nice tiling surrounds as well. The bar counter looks original as well, and there remains three entrance vestibules. There's a clutch of sofas in front of the fireplace in the bar area of course, but the majority of furnishings are banquettes and normal tables and chairs. It was comfortable enough for me. The dining room has a skylight at the back, indicating that it might well have been a billiards room in a previous incarnation. There a few seats out at the front, separated from the pavement by a bit of screening, but inevitably too close to the busy Uxbridge Road to be very relaxing. Now to the beers. There were three real ales on with a fourth pump having a reversed clip. GK IPA, Jurassic Brewhouse Citrus Maximus (the clue is in the citrus - it's a lemon beer) were available, but swerving that pair I went for the tried and tested Harvey's Best (£2.05 a half). It's a bit gastro in here of course, but not ridiulously so in my view. "Small dishes" range from £6.50 for the gammon, egg and chips, to £9.50 for the steak sandwich. Main course are from £10 for the Cumberland sausage and chips, to £16 for the Angus flat iron steak, etc, etc. A note at the foot at the menu warns customers that a (discretionary) 12.5% service charge applies in the table serviced areas (presumably in the dining room). Even though it's not the sort of cosy pub that I prefer, and even though it's large and opened up, I still really liked it in here. It's easily large enough to sustain both a bar area and a dining room. It wasn't particularly busy mid-afternoon on a Thursday, I had a comfortable seat by the window, and my half of Harvey's was just fine. I would be happy to return.