The Rylston, Fulham, SW6

Dating from at least the mid-19th century, this was originally the Norman Arms, rebuilt for Watney’s in post-war estate-style by at least 1971. The interior is very contemporary, a bit like a wine bar or trendy restaurant, all of which can be seen on the pub’s website gallery, but it sounds unchanged since the previous reviews. Customers must all be local and along with some very pickled older drinkers who thankfully left as I arrived – not because of – then some younger, trendier types, who probably don’t hanker after the banging places a few hundred yards to the east. There’s food, but it’s along the lines of Chicken Parma and pizza, certainly not gastro. Ales amounted to two reversed pumps, then Rosie Pig cider and Tribute at £2.30 the half and ok. This isn’t a bad pub, looking rather out of place here. It’s fine if you live locally and fancy a late pint, but it’s not a place to actively seek out.

Official site of The Rylston - www.therylston.com

The former dire-looking Norman Arms has had something of a makeover, and no longer gives the appearance of a scary estate pub that you would cross the road to avoid, although nothing much can be done about the sheer ugliness of the building itself. Inside, it has been partly furbished to leave a 'L'-shaped layout, one branch of which has been optimistically set aside for dining. Limited decor, with a few large screens showing sport. Smartened-up patio beer garden. Just one of three handpumps was in operation, offering a rather indifferent pint of something unmemorable (possibly Doom Bar). Overall, it is obviously attempting to move upmarket - although almost anything would be an improvement - but the customer base doesn't seem to have changed that much (and it is still felt necessary to have door staff in the early evening).

Official site of The Rylston - www.therylston.com