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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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The Hero, W9
W9
W9 2JD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Hero
Visited previously as the Hero of Maida on 22/08/2022.
First up, I also prefer the previous incarnation. Feels like the interior has been sandblasted to remove any semblance of internal character so much so I was a little concerned I would be asked to wear a taupe smock so that my red and white spotted collared shirt would oils not be off putting to would be passers by looking to pop in here for a quaff in its internal blandness. Things I did like (which were here previously) were the high ceiling - OK that’s about it! The walls are crying out for something beyond the mirrors with the menus written on them. Feels like they have been plastered and are awaiting something else, but here they are, and here they will remain I suspect. The layout is also very unchanged (from memory - OK last visit was last venue on a very decent crawl in the area), with the bar against the wall opposite the front door and with a very large floor to ceiling bookcase housing spirits and pickled food. No sign of a ladder to get to the upper compartments so was tempted to ask for something in the upper levels to see how they would react.
OK there is a decent keg offering, listing Portobello Pilsner, the Pils from Lost & Grounded, one from Deya, Verdant Light Bulb, the super safe Kernel Table Beer, Kicking Goat cider plus Guinness and Lucky Saint. There are also three cask offerings (today and generally it seems from the bar counter set up), two from Allsopp’s (the IPA and the pale ale) plus one from Deya. I had lined up my cask selection only to be told there was no cask offering today as it is too hot. Pardon me, it is definitely not hot today. Hot is when I walk about in shirt sleeves and feel uncomfortable. Today is verging on putting on a light casual jacket weather. No cask today is I can’t be bothered to have my listed cask offerings available for purchase.
Found the reincarnation of the Hero as fundamentally disappointing. Will appeal to many in its cut back, basic interior styling. A pub by the bland for the bland. I’m off somewhere less beige next and hopefully with out pathetic weather based excuses. A 4 from me for what should be a decent pub is v v disappointing.
On 22nd July 2024
- rating: 4
[User has posted 631 recommendations about 631 pubs]
Tris C left this review about The Hero
The original Hero of Maida was a pub a quarter of a mile away on Maida Vale which closed in 1992, named after General Sir John Stuart, ennobled Count of Maida by King Ferdinand IV of Naples and Sicily after the victory at the Battle of Maida in 1806; it opened in 1809 and today, all that remains is a pole and sign frame to what is now a skin clinic; this ‘Hero’ was originally the Shirland Hotel, built 1878 and situated in a not very nice area, but on the border of the rather smart enclave of Little Venice, which I remember as being very down-at-heel in the ‘70s; how things have changed.
The exterior now features a dog to the sign and gas Windsor lanterns. The oh-so-contrived website paints a tableau of what to expect: as if in a painting by Vermeer, a girl dreamily lights a candle; a fish’s unblinking glazed eye looks up as if in a scene from Alien; a barman descends from the upstairs dining area carrying a tray of drinks, despite the bar being on the ground floor; an aerial view shows a quartet of diners toasting a fish pie, all to an abundance of knotty unpainted wood, shades of ochre and umber to rag washed walls and ceiling. With a quarry tiled bar apron, the floor’s dark bare boarded, furniture traditional. There’s a very substantial natural oak bar back, with jars containing eggs, fruit, vegetables and alliums pickling away, framing another picture of that mystery dog. Customers were mixed locals and abundant for a Monday, many eating, all making for uncomfortable acoustics.
Above the zinc bar top, the bronze-effect pumps and taps are too cool to have either clips or fisheyes, all wares advertised to a beer board, the cask options amounting to DEYA Creek Life, Allsopp’s Pale and IPA at £3.30 a half, but on very good form, served by a smiley barmaid.
I preferred this pub’s previous incarnation(s), finding the place now a bit pretentious, not to mention expensive. It does though add to the area’s limited drinking arsenal, making for a decent crawl with the Prince Alfred, Warrington, Warwick Castle and even the Carlton.
On 3rd June 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2207 recommendations about 2164 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Hero of Maida
Heavily gastroised,this street corner pub will always be popular with diners,and the very high ceiling and little in the way of wall decoration together with a wooden floor creates a noisy atmosphere where most punters seem to shout in order to be heard.Candles on each table seemed unnecessary while there is a first floor dining room if you want a calmer atmosphere.The seating is around the perimeter with two wings away from the bar which appear the best place to sit and sup.
Three handpumps offered Timothy Taylor Landlord,Sambrook Wandle and Tiny Rebel Cwtch (not on great form).Nothing special here,there are more interesting pubs not far away.
On 6th January 2019
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Hero of Maida
Reopened a few days ago as The Hero of Maida, taking its name from an Edgware Road pub of the same name which closed in 1992. The eponymous hero was Major General Sir John Stuart who defeated the French at the Battle of Maida in Italy, 1806.
As before, this is quite a grand affair but sensibly restrained - they could really have gone over the top here. As I recall, it's little different from before, probably to save money but also because the paint had barely dried on the former refurbishment before it closed. The exposed brick fireplaces still lack real fires which is a shame and there's an attractive zinc bar top. The polychromatic encaustic bar apron is still in situ, original or not I can't tell and the floor is covered with bare oak boards. The lower walls are dark grey field panelled, white paint above to the white ceiling with its ornate roses and recessed downlighters. Simple spherical lamps hang from the ceiling above the bar and further lighting is contemporary. Tables are basic and wooden; furniture consists of green leatherette banquettes to much of the periphery and wooden chairs with studded red leatherette. A multitude of prints of every kind of photograph hang from a wall and the pub's frontage can concertina open to afford a view of the estate across the road to the accompaniment of traffic noise which competes with the muted music on the stereo. There's a decked, two-tiered garden with unlit steps to challenge the drinker at night. Finally, lavatories are very modern but equally very small.
Ales: Timothy Taylor's Landlord, Adnams Ghost Ship and Thornbride's Jaipur at a relatively reasonable £4.40 a pint and very good too.
This is a decent place, better and slightly more homely than the previous incarnation though certainly no boozer. It does however probably have the best and least expensive ale selection in the W9 area, so that's worth something.
On 9th May 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2207 recommendations about 2164 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Truscott Arms
Bright and airy gastro-pub with large windows, a high ceiling and light decor. 'U'-shaped bar with tables in a mix of sizes, supplemented by a few benches out front and a split-level decking / patio beer garden to the rear. Relaxed atmosphere. Wandle, Moncada Notting Hill Blonde (£4.40) and Redemption Big Chief available from three of four handpumps.
On 3rd May 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Truscott Arms
Built in 1878 as the Shirland Hotel the Truscott Arms now functions a Craft beer Gastro pub. Never visited in any of its previous guises so can’t judge if this version is an improvement or not. It’s not the type of place I would personally choose to linger for an evening, as the minimalist décor and liberal use of Farrow and Ball pastel shades with an overuse of Grey, especially on the outside, make it a fairly characterless sterile place. However on the plus side the large windows do make it bright and airy.
But a very good beer offering from the new wave of London breweries, both craft and cask, and an interesting bar food menu (the full Gastro menu is served in the restaurant section upstairs) , makes it worth a visit.
As previously mentioned one end of the bar has four ale pumps which had Redemption Trinity, Sambrooks Wandel , and Moncada Notting Hill Blonde, along with one from the Hackney Brewery available if I remember correctly. And at the other end were banks of craft ale taps with a focus on Camden and Meantime brewery offerings. I stuck with the Redemption Trinity, which was well kept, but the other half tried the Meantime Yakima Red on the only grounds that she wanted to see a red beer. For the record its more amber than red , but a decent hoppy brew.
There is also a small courtyard garden outback, but this was being renovated when we visited , with new decking being laid.
So more restaurant focus than pub, when compared to the Craft Beer Co. outlets, but still good to see a former Victorian boozer still functioning with a focus on London beers.
On 19th May 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2236 recommendations about 2098 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Truscott Arms
The previous poster sums up this one rather nicely, but I would add one or two points. The ales on handpump yesterday were Truman's Runner, Sambrook's Wandle, Redemption Hopspur, and Moncada Notting Hill Blond. The Moncada Blond was in excellent shape, but served in a dimpled pint mug, with no choice given although they did have straight glasses. There were also numerous keg fonts with offerings from breweries such as Camden and London fields. Not sure of the price of a pint, but my pint plus Mrs R's pineapple juice was £5.50. So, not particularly cheap. Food in the bar area was fairly limited, and at different ends of the scale they had sausage and mash for 10 (the menu didn't say so but £ presumably) and biltong for 4.75. Food led pubs don't stint on the adjectives, so I think they might find room for a £ sign.
The main room takes minimalism to new heights, with just one mirror and two chalkboards as decor. One board had the bar menu, but the other, rather bizarrely just had on it "now the letters are just right".
Although I found this pub rather uninteresting and clinical, lacking in warmth, I did find the barmaid quite friendly when we were talking about things like the bar counter top (pewter I think) and she kindly took us upstairs to have a look at the restaurant and its impressive ceiling decor. Although this is not the sort of pub that I would usually frequent, the ale selection is good, and on the basis of a single pint so is the quality.
On 17th April 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Truscott Arms
Once the Shirland Hotel and now recently reopened as the Truscott Arms, etymology unknown. Perhaps named after the eponymous clairvoyant?
This is quite a spacious corner pub with a central bar, high ceilings, some original mosaic flooring and several floors employed for other activities such as private hire and dining. The interior is contemporary with paint no doubt supplied by Farrow & Ball, all accompanied by a muted jazz soundtrack; mercifully there was no TV. Opposing end chimney breasts are bare brickwork with empty fireplaces. There is also a decked garden to the rear. The lavatories were very good, but then they were brand new. The pub is quite food led with ordinary dining undertaken at table; there's no area devoted solely to dining at ground floor level so thankfully one feels as if one is drinking in an actual pub for once and not in a restaurant which sees serving beer as an inconvenience. Tables are mixed in size ranging from small for an intimate tête-à-tête to large for groups.
This pub also seems serious about its real ale. I counted about 12 pumps and taps mainly serving beer from the Camden Town brewery, and one premium cider; in fact I didn't see any evidence of lager or stout, not even in bottles. The menu is gastro but restrained; one gets the impression that this is first and foremost a drinkers' pub. However, on my visit in late March, English asparagus was on the menu. Really? I'd love to know where they get English asparagus in March...
In general I liked this pub (though the staff were rather average) and would certainly come here again if in the area, particularly with a large group but probably only if I couldn't get a seat in the Warrington; this place is superior to the Elgin up the road and far better than the Red Squirrel around the corner. Some extra décor to make the place a little more homely wouldn't go amiss as the interior's a little barren and it would be nice to see the fireplaces in use, even with gas-effect fires.
On 9th April 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2207 recommendations about 2164 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Idlewild
Imagine what a pub would be like if that posh nob Raef Bjayal from last years ‘The Apprentice' was to open a bar and you've got this place down to a tee. Black leather on the furniture and the walls painted matt black with gold picture frames hanging up with no pictures in them, just black wall peering through. Silver trays lying behind the bar waiting to be used for change delivery and enough limes to go into direct competition with Del Monte.
Of the three ale pumps two were unused and the Honeypot on the other had given up the ghost. I should have stuck to the lager of which there was a selection of premium and standard.
A boozer this aint.
On 13th March 2009
- rating: 3
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]