The Elm, West Kensington, W14

Facebook page of The Elm - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Elm - www.theelmfulham.co.uk

Facebook page of The Elm - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Elm - www.theelmfulham.co.uk

Dating from 1874, this was rebuilt soon after in 1889 to be refurbished around 2019, being de-shamrocked in the process, as this is no longer an Irish pub. This is a small, narrow place, which now looks like a style bar. I had a good view of the pub, as no one else was in, perhaps put off by the rainbow flag motif to the entrance. It’s bookended by the Clarence, Goose and Old Oak, all of which were banging; the Old Oak was holding a well-attended disco on a Friday night, the poor barmaid sat in a corner, fiddling with her phone. The floor is modern boarded and there’s a mirrored bar back with tubular steel shelving. Walls are ‘wasabi’, bare brick or clad with scorched planks. Furniture comprises a few tall tables and chairs, then booth seating. Décor is thin, with pot plants, framed prints and framed knickknacks. There’s trendy hanging light fixtures and semi-industrial sconces, with tealights on tables; Country ‘n’ Western played at a moderate level throughout my brief stay. There was no real ale and indeed not much of anything else, many taps capped with glasses, so obviously there aren’t enough customers to shift it. Still, there was Amstel at £2.70 a half. This is a bit of a sad place. I walked back past it an hour and a half later on the way home and at 10.00 pm, the lights were out and it was closed, the Old Oak still partying on; I don’t hold out much hope for this pub’s survival.