The Gardeners Arms, Uxbridge

Little has changed since Steve's review over seven years ago, although the games room to the left has been resurrected with a pool table taking centre stage. Just the one pump offering CW Bombardier Glorious English, although the pump clip was turned around by 180 degrees, with the neighbouring pump having a pink flourescent star-shaped piece of paper affixed to it proclaiming 'Bottle Bombardier £2.75 Waggle Dance £2.75'. A pint of Amstel was a similarly-bargained £3.20 for a pint. A chalk board beyond the bar offered an Indian food-led menu and a group of four lads were tucking into what looked like decent grub, if the smell from the kitchen was anything to go by (it got my mouth watering). Inspiring, but harmless.

This isn’t the friendliest local’s boozer that I have been into, but there are a couple of ales in the form of Pride and Courage Best alongside the usual draught suspects. It was also good to see a dartboard and there is also a plasma screen for showing the football on Sky Sports. There is another room which was once a games room going by the old sign on the door, but this is now a room with tables set for dining which was empty on my early Saturday afternoon visit. There is also an advertised beer garden out the back which is in fact a yard which faces a car park. This is a basic pub on the edge of town and I’m not surprised that the freehold is currently up for sale if all new visitors get the same welcome that I received.