The Blackbird, Earls Court, SW5

This is an unusually compact Fullers Pie and Ale house just over the road from Earls Court tube station. Like most pubs in this particular chain, it is a bank conversion but sadly it doesn't have the grand interior associated with the chain's higher profile pubs. The pub is laid out as a large single room with a mix of tiles and wooden flooring around a centrally positioned servery with a dark wood bar back which incorporates some nice intricate carving, a selection of beer related quotes on a blackboard and some integral clocks. A large marble pillar stands on the corner of the bar counter and similar columns can be found partly recessed into the front and rear walls. Most of the room is painted a deep shade of red with a few old pictures and mirrors dotted around, whilst the front and side windows boast a limited amount of stained glass in the arched top section of each window. A series of high table booths have been set up along the front wall, whilst similar seating options can be found in the open spaces elsewhere around the bar. To the rear is a fairly small, carpeted dining space with standard tables and chairs and a lot of old photos on the walls, denoted by a sign hung from the high ceiling. I made the fatal error of failing to spot this sign as I wandered into the area to find a seat, at which point I was rather rudely ushered out by one of the waiting staff who berated me for not spotting the sign. Suitably chastised, I fortunately found a recently vacated table elsewhere, allowing me to peruse the pie based menu and listen to the soundtrack which was getting lost under the hubbub created by Chelsea fans enjoying a quick pint before heading to nearby Stamford Bridge. There are quite a lot of handpulls on the bar, but most were doubled up, so the range was actually pretty limited for what I would have thought is a high profile location. Options on this visit were London Pride, Chiswick and ESB (£3.99) plus a guest of Castle Rock Harvest Pale. The ESB was okay but not exactly in great shape. I was really disappointed with this place - the promise of a grand interior was never realised, the beer range was limited and quality decidedly average whilst the service was rude and quite frankly, off-putting. I imagine this place gets enough passing trade that it can get by on the bare minimum. I doubt I'll return - if you want to see how a pub should be run, I suggest making the five minute detour to the excellent Finborough Arms.

Official site of The Blackbird - blackbirdearlscourt.co.uk

Another busy and decent Fullers pub.My Bengal Lancer was in good nick. Usual beers from Fullers but no guest ale.

Decent enough standard London Fullers Pie & Ale pub out of a former bank conversion, with a wooden floored area around the central horseshoe bar and then a carpeted dining area beyond. It is ideally situated when exiting Earls Court underground station and I wonder if the food pricing menu is adjusted to suit, as we were looking for somewhere to eat and it may have been an incorrect perception, but everything seemed a bit above the standard menu rate. For example the lowest cost option on the pie menu was £11.95 and I don’t remember forking out that much for Fullers pies before. Anyway my pint of Bengal Lancer was well kept as was the wife’s half of Pride, but these also seemed to be on the pricey side . So the beers were up to nick , but cannot comment on the food on this occasion as we moved on for that.

Official site of The Blackbird - blackbirdearlscourt.co.uk

Fullers pub close to earls court underground station. A horseshoe bar with a dining area at the back.