The Churchill Arms, W8

First time in here for many years and virtually nothing has changed apart from the Thai food offering and prices of course. A couple of Fullers beers and a couple of guests were on including a very nice Park Saw Pit. The chat and general ambiance were good at 11.30 on a Saturday Morning. Top pub.

I suspect I was in a day or two after Blackthorn, as the only change to the beer list was Fuller's Wild River on for Butcombe Haka. The Wild River had just come on and was in good condition. The Churchill Arms is a pub I hadn't visited for at least 15 years until Thursday this week. It doesn't appear to have changed much since our last visit. The exterior still has a wonderful array of greenery, whilst the interior is still just as cluttered with knick knacks as before. We sat on the left-hand side of the pub close to the gents toilets, where there are pictures of Irish football and rugby teams, along with pictures of every US president until around 1970, amongst soda bottles and plenty of other ephemera. We did wander around to the far right-hand side of the room to place an order for some Thai food. In this corner, is the kitchen itself and a desk with the restaurant staff. Beyond there is a separate restaurant for diners. I believe this is in a conservatory. Although you can choose to eat the food you have ordered in the pub itself, as we did. This is still a classic London pub and attracts both locals and tourists searching for that quintessential pub experience. Whilst the beer and cider range lacks a little, due to the tie with Fuller's, there's still plenty here to admire. It still rates as one of my favourite pubs in the capital.

A prominent street corner pub that regular pops up in guide books due to it’s striking exterior covered in foliage, this changes to hanging baskets later in the year and Christmas trees in December. It really is quite a spectacle, and fortunately the inside doesn’t disappoint either. The pub is arranged in to a U shape internally with the bar counter in the middle. The right hand leg of the U seems to extend further back, possibly in to a restaurant and/or conservatory, although I did not fully investigate this. The remainder of the pub is very traditional, attractive, and crammed full of bric-à-brac. There is red patterned carpet on the floor with dark wood panelling on much of the walls, leaded windows on two sides and a surprising amount of standing area at the front of the pub as well as a selection of tables. It makes a pleasant change to find up a pub not cramming in as many tables as possible for diners. The main feature though is undoubdetebly all the knick-knacks that fill every square inch of space on the walls and the ceiling. These include a large selection of chamber pots, buckets, watering cans and wicker baskets hanging from the ceiling, strings of flags as well as larger flags on the walls, plenty of pictures of Churchill, a model post box, a toucan Guinness advert, a cricket club notice board and trophy cabinet, all manner of pictures and newspaper cutting, many WWII related, lanterns, further foliage on the window sills… I could go on all day. There was also a small fire blazing away to one side which was a nice touch, and this added to what was already a very cosy ambience. Beers on tap were ESB and London Pride from Fullers, along with Twickenham American Nut Brown, Butcombe haka and Siren Yu Lu. The only negative about the whole place was the cider selection, which was just a disappointing Cornish Orchards. Other than that though, a cracking pub and well worth a visit.

Lively and popular traditional pub, with a great atmosphere and chatty clientele on a Saturday night. I’ll have to try it again when slightly more sober, it seemed like a real gem. Fullers ales plus guests, I stuck with the Pride which was on top form.

A shrine to Churchill and WW II,the external floral display is outstanding and brings in a lot of visitors.Just after the Platinum Jubilee ,the union jacks were still on full dispay and the interior is very authentic,carpeted throughout with lots of dark wood panelling and two wings either side of the main bar.The ceiling is full of war time bric a brac which adds to the atmosphere ,and with lots of photos hanging in the windows,panes full of books and frosted glass the interior is slightly dark but not gloomy.The Irish theme has been toned down,it's there if you are very observent. At the far end of the right leg is a wait to be seated restaurant called the Operations Room with hanging foliage throughout.The food is Thai and can be consumed anywhere,yet most of the bar area was taken up by drinkers,a mix of tourists and older regulars.Very friendly barmaids always helps. Tied to Fullers so featuring their London Pride and ESB but with guests on my trip of Mad Squirrel Red Dawn,Siren Yulu Pale and Adnams Eastern Edge (NBSS 3,but malty and not to my taste).However thats a decent line up,I can see why it's a GBG regular and it's worthy of a longish stay.Very comfortable and traditional,it's well worth investigating and should not be missed for the interior.

Really nice exterior with numerous hanging baskets. The interior is covered in bric a brac with a British/Irish vibe going on. Pretty standard Fuller's beer selection.