Bridge Park Hotel, NW10

According to CAMRA this is a genuine pub-cum-hotel, dating from the 19th century and grade II-listed. It’s situated in a generally pleasant location, a bit leafy and with many rather smart developments that have recently gone up. ‘Smart’ though is not something that applies to the pub, as along with the ugly front car park, the exterior is a bit of a shocker, with flashing coloured fairy lights and loads of boards advertising meal deals (see photos). The cheapest accommodation features shared bathrooms, but the thought of waking from my Badedas-induced slumber, yellow rubber duck at my side, only to find some bloke sitting next to me on the khazi doesn’t appeal. Lacking the requisite level of enthusiasm required to pass the door jamb, I decided to leave. For those willing to accept a basic keg array but in fun surroundings, the Ace Café is a short walk.

Visited 08/04/25 No cask. Basic keg offering of Guinness, John Smiths, Original and Dark fruits Strongbow, Fosters, K1664 and Inch’s (but off during my visit). Plusher hotel bar with higher ceilings than I was expecting. It is an L shaped, tiled throughout, venue with leather banquettes down both sides from the entrance and regular tables with attractive bucket type armchairs the other side thereof. The bar counter follows the right angle of the L shape. The area behind towards the back again had regular tables and the same type of armchairs and then some more traditional leather armchairs at the back. There were some tall stools at a ledge in the window in the back left corner to the side of the fireplace with an enclosed electric fire. Lots of pictures on the walls and the rear wall had a large mural of London scenes. A TV in the front corner by the entrance was showing wildlife (animals not locals) with the volume turned up and a TV in the rear was showing Sky News also with the volume turned up so totally competing, so sitting in the middle by the bar counter made for a very distracting swift pint of Guinness! There was an outside beer garden at the back but either closed off or only accessible to hotel guests, on a lovely weather day, so will have to stay a bit of a mystery as I am v unlikely to return to this one!

Official site of The Bridge Park Hotel - www.bridgeparkhotellondon.co.uk

Official site of The Bridge Park Hotel - www.bridgeparkhotellondon.co.uk