Crown & Sceptre, Shepherds Bush, W12

This pub dates from 1866, but I suspect that the interior and Chazzer’s green banded windows are the product of a 1930s’ refit. It’s very much a backstreet pub, which you’ll have no chance of finding unless you are a local, lost or both. The floor’s bare boarded with walls three-quarter clad with bare wood panelling. The bar structure is attractive carved wood, for once without silly shiny white tiles; furniture is conventional. Paintwork where applied is off-white. There are knickknacks and framed prints of the area from yesteryear; of note are two photos of George Cole, one with him standing next to Dennis Waterman; much of Minder – possibly even most of it – was filmed in and around Hammersmith, so I suspect that the pub may have featured in one or more episodes; there’s no real reason why any others would. In all, it’s a very pleasant interior, with conventional furniture, local mixed customers, many of whom were eating the apparently Thai food, which I couldn’t smell, for once. A Fuller’s limited ale range that included something I think was called ‘Atlantic’ at £2.50 a half, which for a Fuller’s beer was really rather nice; I think it may have been a collaboration, which would explain why. This is really a rather nice pub by any standards, certainly for a place in Hammersmith & Fulham, where for once you wouldn’t run out screaming after half a pint, where you’d be proud to take ‘er indoors – it could be so good for you!

Official site of Crown & Sceptre - www.crownandsceptreshepherdsbush.co.uk

Official site of Crown & Sceptre - www.crownandsceptreshepherdsbush.co.uk