The Waterway, W9

Nice enough place, looks more like a restaurant than a pub, but that maybe what the locals want. I went in with trepidation (not really, I just wanted to use that word). Anyway I was not sure if I could go up to the bar, as they had a lady on the door, who looked like she would only let you in if you had a reservation. I made it to the bar and had a doombar, it tasted like a lager, very gassy, ice cold and left a poor taste in the mouth, even though it was poured using the usual hand pump, there were gas bubbles rising right to the end. Theyy charged me £4.25 for the privilege. Guess what, I only had the one

This relatively modern build "bar & restaurant" has a superb location next to the Grand Union Canal, with plenty of seating at the front right by the canal towpath. inside I was greeted by a young lady doing sentry duty at a lectern, presumably to usher diners to their tables. The right hand side of the room is taken up by tables laid for diners, with the left hand side occupied mainly by well worn banquettes and normal tables and chairs, but with a clutch of sofas next to the fireplace on the left, which had a real log fire alight. There was a massive TV on the chimney breast (switched off) with another on the right hand side of the bar area showing some snooker, but muted so that we could hear the low volume background music. So far so good, if you like modern build characterless bar/restaurants. But this one has its location as a massive redeemimg feature. Unfortunately the wheels came off when it came to the real ale. There were two handpumps on the counter, clipped for GK IPA and Doom Bar. The Doom Bar came up rank and undrinkable, and on my gesturing towards the GK IPA pump the barmaid came clean and said that he thought that was no good either. I took his word on that one! But I wonder if he thought the Doom was also undrinkable? Anyway, he gets a point back for offering me Purity keg Longhorn IPA as a replacement, which was actually very good, and easily the best bet of all the keg stuff available. Ale quality (or the lack of it) does seem to be a recurring theme here.