The Pilot, Gunnersbury, W4

Dating from the late 19th century, this pub features a horse to the sign; quite why I know not, given the proximity to the Thames where boats were piloted. I doubt it’s changed much since the last review: this is a typical Fuller’s pub (they all are in Chiswick), with a semi-modern ‘gastro’ interior featuring a metal bar top, with predictable and repetitive bare brick bar back and tubular steel racking, herringbone parquet floor, dark blue or white paint job, a lonely potted palm, filament bulbs and board games; TV sport was shown with the sound off. Customers were as unmemorable as the ale line-up, with no Dark Star option, a half of ESB costing £3.00 a half and fine. This is an acceptable pub, made less so for lack of a Dark Star option. Luckily, all you need to do is keep placing one foot in front of the other for a few minutes until you reach the Express Tavern.

This is still a Fuller's pub, which had three of their ales on - Gale's Seafarers; Spring Sprinter; and London Pride of course (£4.04 a pint). This is essentially a two-room pub, with the bar area as you enter, with a second room off to the right and rear of the bar. This second room had all the tables laid for diners (paper knapkin, knife & fork), as was at least one of the larger tables in the bar area. So, food is the main player here. Sandwiches were between £7 - £8.50 - there was no cheese or ham here - cajun chicken and lemon mayo was the least unusual filling. Main courses are £10.50 upwards. I had the beefburger (suitably adjectivised - £10.50), as the only thing resembling pub grub. Obviously it came on a lump of wood, and had rustic chips (i.e. nobody bothered to peel them first - but at least they're made from real potatoes) in a little metal basket. In fact it was quite good quality, but unfortunately they had run out of English mustard. There were several other gastropub indicators present, such as large jars of nuts, pickled peppers(!) a basket of upmarket crisps, and a vase of lilies on the bar counter, as well as small sprigs of flowers (more lilies) on all the tables. There were some mirrors on the walls, but additionally there were a number of paintings (some original, not prints) on them as well. When I was in a group of four mothers with babies in buggies came in, but, wonder of wonders, not a peep came from any of them (the babies I mean) during my visit. But it shows that this is the sort of place where mummies can take their small charges, or perhaps where the resident mummies can afford to lunch in a gastropub. There is a garden at the back with several picnic tables in it, as well as a small covered area at the back, presumably for smokers during inclement weather. I also saw a basket of blankets near the door - they certainly look after those who want to sit outside. At the other side of the garden was a very small room called the "Garden Room. It looked as if it might be undergoing redecoration, as it wasn't in use, but there were still a bit of furniture lying around in it, as well as large picture of a ship on the far wall. I actually quite liked it in this pub. The staff were friendly, the food was good (as was the pint of London Pride I had), and there are no fruit machines or other similar pub nuisances. It still retained a bit of its pub atmosphere, despite the predominance of the food operation.

The Pilot page on the Fullers website - www.pilot-chiswick.co.uk

The Pilot page on the Fullers website - www.pilot-chiswick.co.uk

It seemed a lot smaller in here than what I remember from my last visit a couple of years ago, but maybe I just got bigger! Honeydew and Pride were available alongside 5 premium lagers, Carling and Guinness. There is a pleasant looking patio garden at the rear off the pub, but with walls on all four sides I don't think that it is very scenic. It is very food orientated, but unlike other pubs of this ilk I wasn't made to feel uncomfortable just ordering a pint. Although the barmaid was very busy with a delivery she came over and served me straight away with a smile and a thank you. In this day and age with the competition in the pub/restaurant trade as it is you would think that this would be the norm, but unfortunately it is not. I'd go back in here again if I was near, but I'll never pay £2.00 for a packet of crisps again, be them homemade or not!