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Beer of the Week (w/e 15th March 2026) with trainman
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Central Bar (JD Wetherspoon), Shepherds Bush, W12
Shepherds Bush Green
W12
W12 8PH
Pub Type
J D WetherspoonReviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Central Bar (JD Wetherspoon)
Visited 10/03/25
Varied cask offering as usual and comprising stalwart's GK IPA, Doom Bar & Abbot plus Twisted Sister a Ruby red ale from Dizzy's, Bess a strong brown ale from Thornbridge plus their Jaipur, London Pride, Boudicca a Porter from Brains and Marzen a lager from Fyne Ales. Extensive keg offering of Worthington CF, Angelo Poretti, Stowford Press, Bud Light, Carlsberg, Guinness, Corona, Stella, SB original and dark fruits, Leffe, Carling, Bud, Punk IPA, Shipyard Pale Ale, Big Sea west coast IPA, K1664, Staro and Coors.
Quite small Spoons on the first floor of the shopping centre, ostensibly a long rectangular room with floor to ceiling glass windows at the front and opposite the bar counter at the rear wall of the venue. Entry is on the extreme right end of the rectangle (as you look outwards) and it is fair to say that the multitude of tables and chairs are densely packed in here. There is a bunch of fruit machines to the immediate right of the entrance and the area in front of the bar at various points along its length has some large pillars set between the tables and the bar counter. The venue was extremely busy on my visit but I quite enjoyed it as an old school Spoons vibe.
On 8th March 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1340 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Mild Drinker left this review about The Central Bar (JD Wetherspoon)
Located inside a shopping centre, this one definitely already doesn't win any awards for its looks. Once inside it's a very tight affair. Drinks take an age to come and when they do they are served in a plastic glass. Definitely the worst Spoons I've ever been in. Nothing to recommend unless you're in the vicinity and desperate for a drink.
On 26th April 2025
- rating: 2
[User has posted 108 recommendations about 108 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Central Bar (JD Wetherspoon)
Inside the W12 shopping centre ,on the first floor with a bar feel overlooking the Green,this 'spoons is unusual and not that large but popular never the less.Lots of high tables opposite the bar,some lower level tables elsewhere ,it's in the 2025 GBG which drew the visit.There are table signs warning of bag snatchers and so close to the tube station implies there is a transient customer base although a lot of the punters seemed to have been there on a session.
The trio of Doom was expanded by Abbot Reserve but there were some decent guest beers from which I chose Thornbridge Jaipur IPA in NBSS 4 form.With a paucity of ale options nearby this would be an obvious target for any real ale drinkers unlucky enough to find themselves in this hectic part of London.I would return.
On 3rd January 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3126 recommendations about 3126 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Central Bar (JD Wetherspoon)
I've started to warm to Spoons but this place has sent me crashing back to earth.
This is housed in a shopping centre - so has no architectural merit.
The usual JDW complaints about filthy tables are present in abundance. The positives - quick ordering from the app and keen pricing are also present.
But how can you have a Good Beer Guide Pub serving pints in plastic glasses by default?
Maybe I can trade vouchers for glassware.
On 20th September 2022
- rating: 2
[User has posted 1772 recommendations about 1745 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Central Bar (JD Wetherspoon)
Fairly typical Wetherspoons, with its most notable feature being the particularly uninspired name. However, as you would expect, there is the usual good-value food and you can usually get a reasonable choice of beer from the two banks of five handpumps Central, although there was a modest selection on this visit, but the Liberation Colney Hatch festival ale (£2.39, and in decent shape) filled a post-gig gap. If you can get one, the window seats also offer an interesting view out over Shepherds Bush Green from first-floor level.
On 8th November 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 9063 recommendations about 9063 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Central Bar (JD Wetherspoon)
Located on the first floor of the W12 shopping centre and opposite the tube station, this is a handy large modern bar. Not a lot of character, as you might expect from a new building, but perfectly adequate for purpose. The long glass frontage is an ideal place to watch the world and the traffic go by. A moderate selection of beers were available on this visit, although sadly nothing dark.
On 30th October 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3892 recommendations about 3824 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Central Bar (JD Wetherspoon)
This 'spoons is situated on the first floor of the West 12 shopping centre. It's as ordinary a 'spoons as I've been in, with all the usual sort of furnishings crammed in. I doubt whether you would visit here just for the quality of the pub - I was in here because a couple of my companions were after a quick bite to eat, and thus it performs a vital service for anyone who may be required to visit the shopping centre.
It's a 'spoons - the beer was as good and cheap as I expect from a 'spoons.
On 6th March 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2617 recommendations about 2531 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Rydings left this review about The Central Bar (JD Wetherspoon)
One of the better spoon,s and being a none smoker was easy to get into not the army of smoker,s to fight your way threw at the door hole
On 1st April 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 122 recommendations about 122 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Central Bar (JD Wetherspoon)
Decent Wetherspoons with a good selection of guest ales.Nice to sit and watch the street below from the large windows.Crap for smokers as you have to leave the shopping centre to have a drag.Its a drag.
On 3rd May 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Central Bar (JD Wetherspoon)
This Spoons is situated above an Argos and Poundland on the first floor of a ghastly shopping centre called W12. The shopping centre didn't seem to be very successful from my brief perusal of it, possibly because the massive Westfield Centre across the road is in direct competition.
I assume the pub dates from the opening of the W12 in 2002.
It's a long narrow room with windows overlooking the hustle and bustle of Shepherds Bush on the right and the bar on the left. The pub had a mix of customers on my morning visit ranging from the lager swilling daytime Spoons Sun readers to young mothers with their offspring.
There are two banks of five pumps. On the nearest as you enter there was GK IPA and Abbot, Hobgoblin. Adnam's Gunhill and the American / Adnam's Jack D'Or IPA available soon. On the second bank there was GK IPA and Abbot, Adnam's Old and Broadside and Sambrook's Junction Avaliable (sic) soon.
I went for the Adnam's Old (£2.29) whiich is a beer I have not tried for quite some time. I found it remarkable that it tasted exactly like Broadside!
I have to say that Shopping Centre pubs do not appeal to me but at least this place was cheaper than I expected it to be. I can't see a return visit happening.
On 15th November 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]