Warwick Arms, W14

This is a small, intimate place with the rear laid for dining but clearly people could drink there if so desired as no-one was eating, so thankfully the pub wasn’t stunk out with the smell of curry. The interior is very woody with wood panelling employed almost universally throughout, with some etched glass to surviving partitions; there’s a boarded floor and white ceiling. What is really striking though, is the myriad knickknacks that abound on shelves and hanging from the ceiling: copper pots, porcelain bedpans, musical instruments, brassware, saddlery, flintlocks and more, paired with eclectic framed prints. Furniture is completely mixed, but all traditional. To the rear is a lit log burning stove and tiny bare brick snug, the whole populated by friendly mixed locals. What wasn’t so idyllic was the awful buzzing noise coming from a fridge behind the bar. This is a Fuller’s pub and despite the uninviting prospect of ESB, Jack Frost and Pride, just the Pride was on offer, no clips being reversed due to this being an outlet with the ridiculous pumps where clips can’t actually be reversed; I opted for a bottle of Punk IPA at a horrifying £6.00. This is a lovely pub, but the choice – or lack of – real ale, brings the score down; why couldn’t this place stock the vastly superior Dark Star alternatives? And get the fridge fixed?

A very cosy little pub with traditional furnishings, totally covered in assorted bric-a-brac and topped off by the most splendid aroma of curry, which is highly recommended. There are some tables out on the side pavement. Draught ales were London Pride, ESB, Castle Rock Harvest Pale and three from Lancaster Brewery.

Official site of Warwick Arms - www.warwick-arms-kensington.co.uk

Official site of Warwick Arms - www.warwick-arms-kensington.co.uk

This is a Fuller’s pub that had on ESB, London Pride (£1.75 a half) and Discovery. The pub seems to double as an Indian restaurant, with the menu the same as you would expect to see in any Indian restaurant. Curry night is every night in here, and not just on Thursdays. They do daily specials, consisting of a specified curry plus rice or naan for £4.95. They also do some of the more traditional pub grub as well. The pub itself is the sort of place that I like. It’s mainly simply furnished, although some of the tables are fairly hefty, and there is a sofa and a couple of armchairs by the fireplace at the front. There’s an attractive brewery mirror over the fireplace, and everywhere else there is assorted bric a brac on the walls, or hanging from the ceiling – such things as copper pots, chamber pots, horse tackle, muskets and pistols, and even an accordion. At the back end of the pub the walls are exposed brickwork. There were only a few other punters in during my midweek lunchtime visit; a few people enjoying a meal and a couple of obvious regulars enjoying a chat over a pint. There was some music being played at low volume, thus not inhibiting conversation. I like this pub a lot, and would be very happy to pay a return visit.