London's Pride, Heathrow Airport, Hounslow

I’d somehow convinced myself that this airside bar in Heathrow’s Terminal 2 was a branch of Wetherspoons, so it was a pleasant surprise to discover that it is in fact a Fuller’s pub (the name should’ve given it away). The set-up is much like any other airport bar you’ve even been to, but this place has been given a higher spec fitting than you’d normally expect, making it a pretty good place to waste away the dead time before your flight. Passing a greeter’s lectern, you move through row after row of standard seating which is ideal for those wanting to eat, past a screened off space to the right with more of the same seating, on into the rear part of the pub with high tables and stools in front of a long L-shaped servery which runs around the back corner of the premises. The bar forms the left hand half of the servery, whilst the right side is effectively an open kitchen serving area. The bar back has an imaginative timeline of the Fullers brewery along the top and the whole area was very smart and not too far from a genuine pub feel (albeit a corporate dining pub rather than a cosy, back street boozer feel). To the left of the bar there is a nice space with chunky tables through the middle, each with a power bank in the centre for those wanting to work on their laptops or charge their devices. This area was screened off by high shelves and had some impressive bookcases on the back wall, making it by far the best spot to bag if you’re just here for a drink. The full range of Fullers beers were available in various forms, with around four or five of them on handpull. I tried a pint of the Summer Ale, which was in reasonable shape and was a pretty good parting shot as I headed off to ale-free lands for a few weeks. I thought this was a very pleasant airport bar that has to be right up there with the best I have found on my travels. Whilst it does suffer from the obvious failings of all airport venues, it is nonetheless nice to see Fullers breaking into the market and if this place is anything to go by, further additions to their portfolio in other airports would be most welcome.

A better-than-average airport bar conveniently sited on the main drag in T2 Airside just by the main plaza, run by Fuller as the name suggests. There is a wide selection of Fuller's beers on draft, and the food is certainly a cut above the JDW fare elsewhere in the airport. I had a pint of Redwood, which was in excellent condition. There is free WiFi, a convenient departures board and a few power points dotted around for charging phones and laptops. The staff were especially pleasant, one even giving me a free refill of coffee when my flight was delayed. The main disadvantage, other than being an airport bar, is that it isn't cheap. It is what it is.

Official site of The London Pride - www.londonspride.com

Official site of The London Pride - www.londonspride.com

Airside Fullers Pub / Restaurant in the newly opened Heathrow Terminal 2 and I have utilised it on a couple of occasions when flying out of T2 in recent months. As airport bars go this is a cut above the norm and shows what can be done with a little bit of imagination. It obviously has the benefit of being a new build and Fullers have tried their hardest to add a bit of character to what are traditionally bland soulless spaces. It’s mainly functions as a restaurant for the transient crowds and the majority of the space as you enter is set to wooden tables and has waiter service. But there is more of a bar section to the left by the long serving bar with more comfy padded seating, which is what I utilise as I am usually only in for a quick pint and sandwich. For this section you have to go and order up the bar, but that has never been an issue on my visits and the food has been served within the advertised 15 minute target they claim. The bar supports six real ale hand pumps and five Fullers offerings have been available for my visits with Pride, Chiswick, ESB and Bengal Lancer appearing to be permanent beers and then whatever the Fullers Seasonal is. As you would expect from being in a shiny new airport terminal the beer and food are not cheap and reviews from Trip advisor from the “cold roast potato moaners” would infer that more often than not the staff struggle to achieve their time and quality targets. What I can say that for a pint and a sandwich before getting on an oversized metal cigar tube, it’s been good for me.