The Stonemasons Arms, Hammersmith, W6

This is a mid-19th century pub, which until 1997 was known as the Cambridge Arms. So gloomy is the lighting in here, that on arrival I thought it was closed. The interior has obviously been mucked about quite a lot, with the bar to the slightly raised right-hand half. There’s dark grey wainscoting then walls are magnolia, with a white ceiling; to the rear is a snug of sorts, with bare brick walls. Décor comprises eclectic framed prints and pot plants, with some tasselled standard lamps, other lighting coming from filaments, the hanging lamps above the bar dimmed down to the level that they may as well have been off. There are no fixed TVs, but there was one on a monopod, wheeled out for selective events, in this case the Six Nations. Customers were hard to evaluate, as there was just one other, an elderly bearded gent who may have been asleep, not that I can say I blame him, the mood music being somewhat soporific. Despite being a Fuller’s pub, there was just an unused clip then one for Pride, me opting for a half of Neck Oil at £3.40, served by an inexplicably enthusiastic barmaid. This place vies with the Grove for the title of Hammersmith’s Most Boring Pub, but I think this just makes it to second place; the Dartmouth Castle down the road knocks this place into a cocked hat though.

Official site of The Stonemasons Arms - www.stonemasons-arms.co.uk

Official site of The Stonemasons Arms - www.stonemasons-arms.co.uk

This pub is unchanged since the previous reviewer's visit. It's still a Fuller's gastropub. In need of something to eat, I did chance my arm here and ordered a club sandwich (at £7.50 a pop), which somewhat inevitably came up on one of those ridiculous slate slabs, which was only slightly larger than the sandwich. The sandwich was OK though. There were just the two ales on - London Pride of course, and Fuller's Summer Ale. There were four of us, and all four pints were served woefully short. Top ups had to be requested and were not provided automatically - and the barmaid wasn't going to top up the shortest measure pint because she thought it had already been started on! What does that tell you? She made a token effort to put a bit more beer in the glasses, but no real effort to fill them up. If you like gastropubs, then you may like this pub. It could not be more different to the pub which we had just come from - another Fuller's pub, The Andover Arms. I have no plans to return.

This is an upmarket Fuller's pub and the only one I can recall seeing with black writing on the sign instead of the usual red. The interior revealed an L-shaped space with the far end down a couple of steps containing tables set for dining with cloths, wine glasses and so on. Wood floors, light walls, regular seating at reclaimed domestic dining tables and the current trend for mismatched chairs. Backed leather stools at the bar. The dining end has a few small tools in glass cases on the walls, other art includes a selection of pencil drawings and there is a stone greyhound on the end of the bar. I didn't see menus mid afternoon however there clearly is food, wine seems more important than beer too with an extensive list on a pair of chalkboards. For a Fullers pub the beer range was poor, just Pride and Jack Frost, JF at £2 a half. My visit saw the other three punters drinking coffees. There is a private dining room upstairs and a few outdoor seats. Not my sort of pub, but it will suit some and it is at least open.