The Waggon & Horses, Kew Bridge, Brentford

Demolished.

Unremarkable Fullers pub, with an exterior exhibiting elements of brewer's Tudor and some extensive wood paneling inside (but quite light in colour, so giving quite an airy feel). The original rooms have been opened out at some stage, leaving plenty of room for a curious mixture of traditional and more modern furniture. Also has some tables out front (rather tatty) and a pool table. Three beers on handpump, including Castle Rock Harvest Pale (£3.00) as a guest beer.

This is a Fuller’s pub, but I only saw Pride, ESB and Chiswick on. I went for the Pride, which was OK. Anyway, this is now a one-room pub, but there are vestiges of its previous multi-room identity in the remains of some screens. There is still a fair amount of wood panelling in place, which looks to be original inter-war decor. But now it’s a pretty unremarkable pub. There is a pool table – but covered when I was in with the staff removing the remains of a buffet from it, presumably having been enjoyed by a private party. Not worth going out of your way to find, but OK if you get to the Express Tavern over the road at 3.05 PM to find it closed.

I’ve been frequenting this Fullers pub for many years now and seen it go from a very good bolt hole to a pub to be avoided and then back to a reasonable establishment. Three fullers’ ales are usually available on hand pump and there is also a standard draught selection. The staff are friendly enough and cheap food is served which ranges from passable to poor. It is a good sized pub with a plasma screen and Sky sports along with a pool table and a dartboard hidden away at the rear. There are some picnic tables set back from the main road out the front and there is also a basic beer garden out the back, but be warned that a pungent smell often whiffs over from the wasteland to the side of the pub during the summer. This place isn’t worth a special trip, but it is a handy stop off if alighting at Kew Bridge Station on the way to Griffin Park.

The Waggon & Horses page at the official Fullers brewery site - www.fullers.co.uk

The Waggon & Horses page at the official Fullers brewery site - www.fullers.co.uk