The White Bear, Ruislip

Located on a confusing five-way mini roundabout, just over from The Orchard Beefeater, this self-styled 'pub and brasserie' is partly-described below, but I was fortunately spared ETA's experience. The front bar was intimately-lit on my early evening visit and seemed to have an olive colour scheme. With smart fireplaces on either side, this area was commandeered by couples (which is probably the intention), with the restaurant area more sparsely populated. The bar area is bare floorboarded with a stone-tiled bar apron which tapers towards to the front entrance. Muzak was rather bossa nova-esque, so all very Louis Balfour. An OK ale front, with Sharp's Doom Bar and Atlantic, TT Landlord and Tring Santa's Little Helper, but the overriding feeling is of a place to take a potential date to rather than your Camra brethren.

A pleasant looking Victorian roadside pub with a carpark and small garden behind, the pub is mainly geared around diners and consists of a single large L-shaped bar. It is owned by the White Brasserie chain. There is a front bar, pleasantly decorated in country-pub style, and a restaurant area at the back. On entering (at around 9:30pm) we were completely ignored by the 4 members of staff present (an Asian, a bearded troll, a vocal young female and white boy) who were squabbling over who got what tips. While trying to attract their attention we noticed 4 handpumps with the usual selection of Pride, Doombar and 2 other ales on. We didn't get to try the beer – the Asian rudely informed us that he had just closed the till and wouldn't be serving any more. The pub appeared quite comfortable, but as there was no beer on offer (and surprisingly no other customers) and it was clear we weren’t welcome there didn't seem to be any point in staying. We won't be back.

Official site of The White Bear - www.whitebearruislip.com

Official site of The White Bear - www.whitebearruislip.com