The Italian Job, Chiswick, W4

This compact little shop converted bar claims to be the UK's first Italian craft beer bar and offers up to twelve beers from Italian micro breweries as well as a simple menu. Our visit coincided with the bar's 1st birthday celebrations, so the place was absolutely packed and probably not representative of a standard evening. For instance, a DJ had set up over on the left hand side of the room, forcing other tables closer together and obviously resulting in fairly loud music which may not be par for the course here. Standard tables and chairs ran down the right side and through the centre of the bare boarded room, with the servery running along the rear wall, virtually completely obscured to me by a large throng of customers with nowhere else to stand on such a busy evening. A few paintings hang from the walls and the décor has a vague Italian theme, although the whole thing is fairly understated. The staff were exceptionally helpful given the circumstances, helping to find people chairs, moving tables and bringing beers from the bar to cut down on the crush at that end of the room. Several people were eating from the basic menu which seemed to focus on burgers and pub snacks, although a blackboard listed some very nice sounding specials that wouldn't look out of place on an Italian restaurant's specials board. We visited on a freezing cold February evening, so customers were reluctant to make use of the handy overspill area outside the front of the bar where a few limited seating options can be found. All beers are listed on a board to the left of the servery, detailing the name, strength and short description of each brew, which I found very helpful, having heard of precisely none of the breweries involved. I was unable to get a look at the bar but presumed that all beers were keg offerings. My pint of Birrificucio Del Ducato Machete certainly was, but it also turned out to be a very good, flavour packed IPA style brew which went down very well. This is an interesting little bar with a fun and exciting USP, making it worth a look to anyone interested in trying something a bit different on the beer front. We found the place very welcoming and friendly despite the apparent chaos of their birthday party and I enjoyed my drink and wouldn't have minded staying to try a few more had we not needed to move on. A good bar which is worth consideration if you're in the area.

Rather small one room bar with exposed brick and a few cheap looking table and chairs.10 Italian craft keg beers and 2 cask Italian cask beers but I would be surprised if it was real ale.Tried 2 of the kegs (one a mild) and both good.

Official site of The Italian Job - www.theitalianjobpub.co.uk

Official site of The Italian Job - www.theitalianjobpub.co.uk