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The Carpenter's Arms, W6

91 Black Lion Lane
W6
W6 9BG
Phone: 02087418386

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Carpenter's Arms

Dating from 1871, this does as mentioned look like a traditional corner café on approach. It was the watering hole for those looking for a drink close to adjacent St. Peter’s Square, where in 1973 the offices for Island Records opened; the pub’s website cites the potential for visitations from the likes of Bob Marley and the Wailers, Aswad, Cat Stevens, Robert Palmer, Steve Winwood, Grace Jones and U2.
It would seem to be all change here since the previous reviews, because this is now essentially a rather high-end restaurant and not even a gastropub; I was the only drinker at 8.45 on a Saturday evening, customers all being rather middleclass families or couples, who probably live in the lovely Georgian townhouses which dominate this rather genteel area.
Otherwise, the interior looks a bit like a rural French bistro, with the occasional modern touch and where pork scratchings and a pickled egg costs £3.50. Annoyingly, staff were wearing masks which depersonalises the occasion; face coverings don’t protect the wearer, only the person in front of them and as I’m fully vaccinated, I don’t need the protection. Another restaurant touch here is that it’s table service only, the assumption being that the customer would prefer a tab rather than paying after each round; nevertheless, the waiter was friendly. Of note, is that electronic gizmos’ use is forbidden; joy!
A large number of wall mounted beer mats hint at times’ past, otherwise one pump was unused, then it was Twickenham’s Naked Ladies at a reasonable £4.90 a pint and in very good nick.
I would love to eat here if I could afford it, but this isn’t a pub in the true sense anymore; the Cross Keys is within spitting distance and is a more traditional boozer.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

On 6th February 2022 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Rex Rattus left this review about The Carpenter's Arms

There was just the one kandpump on the counter, but thankfully it was in use, dispensing Adnam's Bitter (£1.90 a half). They clearly do food as a I saw a couple ordering a dessert, plus I could see some bread by a hatch to the kitchen in the corner, but there were no menus out when I dropped in at around 2.15 on a Wednesday afternoon.

Inside it has a bit of a cafe feel about it with red plastic topped tables at the front, but down at the back there are some banquettes, complete with cushions, plus some scrubbed wooden tables and normal chairs. The floor's scrubbed bare boards; there's a black and white tiled splash area in front of the bar, and there are a few miscellaneous prints and old black and white photgraphs on the walls. There is also the inevitable large vase of flowers on the bar, and at this time of year there's some Christmassy bits around the place as well. There's also a garden at the back.

A notice outside says that this pub has won a Time Out award this year as community pub of the year. That's fair enough I guess, but I hope that sort of award reflects a local community customer base. This is a decent enough little side street pub. The beer choice isn't very adventurous, but it struck me as a comfortable enough place to stop off for a pint, if not the ideal place for an evening session. Something to note is that during the week it sticks to traditional opening hours i.e. 12 - 3, then 5 - 11. I would probably visit this place now and then if I lived nearby.

On 13th December 2015 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Carpenter's Arms

Funny looking place, slightly reminiscent of an old-fashioned corner cafe from a distance. The inside was also far less fancy than I was expecting, given its reputation as a gastro-pub. In fact, with no menus visible, it was only the hatchway opening through to the kitchen which gave any indication of the foody focus (which is evidenced by its website having the menu updated daily). Relatively plain furniture and decor. Only one real ale - Adnams (£3.55 for a rather average pint). Best point was the patio beer garden which proved quite pleasant in the sunshine

On 11th May 2011 - rating: 5
[User has posted 8061 recommendations about 8061 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Keith Oswin left this review about The Carpenter's Arms

The Carpenter's Arms tries to fall between the two stools of being a pub and being a restaurant and does neither especially well. The drinks are average and overpriced, the food very much for the well-heeled St Peter's Square set. It probably doesn't help having the Cross Keys a few steps away. Worth a look but don't expect to be a regular.

On 6th September 2010 - rating: 4
[User has posted 18 recommendations about 18 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Roger Button left this review about The Carpenter's Arms

Tucked away down a side street on Hammersmith’s outer regions the Carpenters Arms comes across as a bit of a hotchpotch of a pub that doesn’t really seem to know who it’s aimed at.

The bland interior gives the impression of a down at heel ex-boozer turned dining pub but the odd mix of fixtures, fittings and décor give it a randomness that doesn’t really have any wide appeal. The furniture is of a second hand shop nature and the long leather seating arrangements feel like being in the back seat of an extra wide Cortina. An unrelated series of pictures mix it up with a few brewery oddities and plain mirrors but it just doen’t all seem to go together in any shape or form.

Judging by the newspaper clippings on the wall, the place does have a good reputation for food although there were barely half a dozen people in there on my visit, none of them eating and no tables specifically laid out for any potential diners or menus to hand. On the drink side, just the one ale, a barely drinkable Adnams at £3.40 a pint will hardly get the beer tickers rushing through the door.

At the rear is an enclosed patio with benches iunder large umbrellasa and there are a couple of benches to the front. I think this is a pub best filed under curiosity only and whilst it seemed like a friendly enough place, I can’t imagine I would find myself back again.

On 8th June 2010 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve C left this review about The Carpenter's Arms

This is a pretty small and narrow pub that seems to have an emphasis on serving up food. There were about 10 people in when I went yesterday afternoon and the average age must have been 70. If this pub is aiming for the affluent Chiswick geriatrics it is succeeding. I was a little tentative upon entering as I wasn't sure if this place was a restaurant, but upon noticing the Adnams, Guinness, Amstell, Addlestones Cider and Kronenburg I was put at ease that it was in fact a pub. The barmaid was very polite and it was nice drinking my well served Amstell in the beer garden with the sun shining.

There are a few arty farty pictures on the walls and I noticed a picture of a Harp lorry (surely there must have been a better subject to take a picture of!)

This isn't really a place for people that like pubs, but maybe if it is still there in 50 years time I'll pop in and have some food and banter with the locals.

On 5th June 2008 - rating: 5
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]