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Detail Pages
The Heron, W2
W2
W2 2DN
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Heron
Steps up lead to a tiled balcony and the entrance to the Heron, that doesn’t appear to be the most inviting of places from the outside. Through the entrance a door to the right leads down to a Thai restaurant, and straight ahead is the bar where the friendly governor was serving a couple of locals who were sat on bar stools. I counted three handpumps that were drawing Exmoor Ales’ Exmoor Gold, Greene King IPA and Weston’s Old Rosie cider. A premium keg range was also available alongside Carling and a Beavertown lager, probably Neck Oil. Looking around the pub there were a few more people dotted about and there was a steady stream of locals coming in through the door during my recent Friday afternoon visit.
In the right side of the pub are some tables and beyond is a covered decked outside seating area. To the left is a more seating and an old brick fireplace with a large ornate coat of arms mirror on the mantlepiece above. Pretty much every inch of wall has some paraphernalia on it, a lot of which is royal related. Mounted on the ceiling are framed commemorative plates, the nearest to me was a Charles and Diana plate. Sky Sports is shown and there was some background music playing. This is a proper local’s boozer and I thought it was very welcoming.
On 4th July 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5249 recommendations about 5217 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Heron
The sister pub to the Monkey Puzzle, this was built as part of the Hyde Park Estate in 1972, a rather swanky high-rise development just off Sussex Gardens, possibly still one of the capital’s most notorious hotspots for sex workers.
The first thing you notice on entering is the Queen’s guardsman in full uniform and bearskin in his sentry box. The second thing you notice is the Bass plaque to the right of the door, but once through it, this couldn’t be more different from the Monkey Puzzle. It’s a bit like a Swiss chalet coupled with a traditional country pub. The floor is modern with a Minton-style tiled bar apron, but otherwise this could be an old interior with woody bar front, with leaded stained glass pot shelf and simple wooden and mirrored bar back. There’s a real fire in a Ye Olden Style ornate brick fireplace, above which, is a bronze and gilded lion and unicorn royal coat of arms. Thereafter it’s an utter riot of knickknacks: a grandfather clock, clocking in machine, wooden aircraft propeller with clock at centre, glass fronted cupboard containing old beer bottles, more than 60 royal commemorative plates mounted to the white Anaglypta ceiling, a frame containing autographed photos of the cast of Are You Being Served?, regimental coats of arms, royal photos (none of Prince Andrew spotted), photos of celebrities, American flag, an old brass till, framed portrait of Churchill; I could go on. There’s also a photograph of the Handlebar Club, who meet here once a month. Lighting comes from traditional brass Victorian sconces, tassel shaded standard lamps and Tiffany ceiling lamps; the only thing that let the ensemble down was the football being shown on a small projector, albeit with the sound off, though no one watching. There’s Thai food served in a modern dining room downstairs, the staircase lined with photos of famous film stars of old. Customers ranged from the middle-aged to elderly, eclectic and rather eccentric, some rather pickled, one trying to have a covert smoke before being admonished by a friendly landlady, who greeted several local Americans on arrival. In all, there was a good, friendly atmosphere, with most people seeming to know one another.
Ales amounted to GK IPA and Exmoor’s Gold at a reasonable £4.70 a pint and perfectly drinkable.
In all, I really liked this place; it seems to offer far more joy than anything else in the area and I would be more than happy to return, but the ale choice and quality would get the score up by at least another point.
On 15th January 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Heron
This Hyde Park Estate pub doesn't look very promising, being located under an undistinguished housing block. However, the wood-panelled bar is much more appealing and well maintained. The walls are nowadays covered in memorabilia, particularly in the half set up more for dining (Thai menu), with the busier section having the TV screens, etc. Features a narrow front terrace and a decking patio beer garden to one side. Often just has Pride or Doom Bar available from the three handpumps, but it sometimes offers a guest beer from the Punch list. I quite like this place.
On 3rd June 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Heron
Interior as described below. 3 real ale taps 1 off the other 2 both serving doom bar. Food served.
On 2nd November 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Heron
There were three handpumps on the bar , but only London Pride was available (£3.50 a pint; £2 a half). There was no sign of any food on Wednesday afternoon.
This looks very much like a 60s estate pub. There's artificially distressed pine panelling everywhere, and a huge open and ornate exposed brick fireplace on the left. There was both a jukebox and a fruit machine, but both were switched off during my visit. Sky Sports was being shown on a large TV, with thankfully no music competing with the sound. The floor's bare-boarded and furnishings are normal tables and chairs scattered around the single room on the ground floor. There was a sign on the outside saying "Thai" - I appreciate brevity so I suppose it is meant to indicate that Thai food is available, rather any other facilities associated with Thailand. The toilets are downstairs at the front, and I saw some further seating down there as you approach the toilets, and perhaps this is where the Thai food is available?
This pub is typical of the characterless pubs that were produced in the 60s - it's a product of the times, but maybe in 100 years' time when there are only a handful of them left in London pub enthusiasts will acclaim them as pub masterpieces. Anyway, at least it does do London Pride, which is certainly better than nothing.
On 23rd November 2013
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]