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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
The City Barge, Chiswick, W4
W4
W4 3PH
Pub Type
Metropolitan Pub Co (Greene King)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The City Barge
Another historic member of Chiswick’s riverside quartet, as the Navigators Arms, this one dating all the way back to 1484, during the reign of King Richard III, now under the reign of Greene King.
Another split-level pub, this less rambling than the Bulls Head and obviously subjected to some hefty modernisation, though touches such as wood panelling and leaded lights remain, probably dating from the ‘30s. There’s a herringbone parquet floor, shades of blue and white colour scheme, traditional furniture with some drum chairs. There are trendy framed prints or photos of yesteryear, lighting coming from a trademark spidery brass chandelier and filament sconces. Customers were all mixed locals, with a generally good atmosphere.
A cask selection offered two unused pumps then Wadworth 6X, GK Argy Bargy house ale and Landlord at a steep £2.90 half and ok.
This isn’t a bad place, but in terms of price, quality and authenticity, I’d take the Bulls Head next door in preference.
On 21st May 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The City Barge
Somehow I thought my visit here yesterday was to a new pub for me. But looking back at my notes, I can see I must have visited here in a crawl of Strand on the Green pubs many years ago. Nevertheless, I returned yesterday to find a modernised pub with nice views of the river Thames, which was noticeably low.
I entered from the street level into a bare boarded room, which serves as the bar. Stairs lead down to a more formal dining area and to the riverside terrace, where I sat. There is also an outdoor seating area on the street side. The pub enjoys its own car park here too.
The Argy Bargy pumpclip looked intriguing, but I was determined not to be lured into having a Greene King house beer. The 2 guest beers were Landlord & Grandstand, whilst another handpull was clipped with Lilley's Mango Cider, which I eventually chose. It wasn't cheap!
This pub has a location that will always be a decent selling point. But you will pay for it. Whilst I didn't look at the food, I'd imagine you'd need to be quite well off to afford a meal here.
On 28th August 2022
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The City Barge
A Greene King house based on the Thames Path,the stairway from the towpath in needed as spring tides will flood the path and the flood door may preclude any entrance or exit at very high tides,use the street level entrance.There are tables on the Path giving a pleasant spot.
Inside the main tap room is large,wide and quite faceless, with the bar running along the right wall,while at a lower level in the restaurant area unvisited by me.
Disappointingly although there were 7 handpumps only GK IPA,a house Argy Bargy 3.8% (probably GK crap) and an indestinct Sambrooks Wandle (NBSS 2).That's a poor selection.I didn't inspect the food menu .
If traversing the Thames Path,keep on walking.
On 4th September 2021
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The City Barge
CLOSED - This pub closed at 4pm yesterday ( 15/12 ) and is not expected to reopen until May 2014.
Greene King are planning to introduce an upstairs restaurant and to develop the downstairs interior. The Area Manager for GK has told me that "we are investing in The City Barge in order to provide an excellent Public House for both drinking and dining". Furthermore, " we are especially conscious of the need to retain the history and heritage of this site. Original fixtures and fittings will be retained and reinstated as far as possible ( including open fires, original bar frontages and 5 hand pulled local real ales )" - well, I suppose they would say that, wouldn't they ?
Just for the record, beers on during the final Sunday session ( I was there basically until throwing out time )included Twickenham Naked Ladies and Hardy and Hanson's Rocking Rudolph, both in fine form. Given that there had been a farewell, rather boozy, party the previous evening, which sadly, I had to miss, staff were as brilliant as ever.
This isn't the best pub I've ever been to by a long chalk, but I doubt it will be improving for the better, at least from the drinkers' perspective, when it finally reopens in May next year
Original review - October 2013
The City Barge is one of a cluster of three pubs at Strand on the Green, a small picturesque section of the towpath on the north bank of the Thames going eastwards from Kew Bridge. It’s a conservation area with many attractive cottages and houses facing on to the towpath.
On the wall outside the pub, a fascia board tells us that the pub was built in 1484 as The Navigators Arms, but was renamed in the 19th century when the state barge of the Lord Mayor of London had its winter moorings outside the inn.
It’s a rather plain looking exterior, but a noticeable feature is a bank vault style sturdy steel door which keeps the river at bay at high tide, when the towpath floods .At very high tides, enterprising customers sit on the outside picnic style tables themselves at the front of the pub as the seats can be under water. It’s a great place to be on a sunny afternoon, with splendid riverside views in both directions and just the occasional rattle of a train passing over the railway bridge on its way to or from Richmond ( Underground District Line and London Overground )
What would appear to be the original part of the pub is a small area on the right as you go in with a quarry tiled floor and some bench seating. Above the bar are a number of old photographs showing The Beatles being here in 1965 when a sequence in the film “Help” was shot on location here. To the left of the entrance is a larger seating area, the walls of which have several fine framed paintings of the pub in days long gone. A collection of pump clips above the bar counter here gives a good indication of the wide range of ales that have been on over the years. There’s a TV on the far wall, but I’ve hardly ever seen it being on.
A flagstoned staircase on the right hand side leads up to a newer upstairs bar in what appears to be an extension to the original building. This is mainly used for dining and has a rather standard chain pub interior. There’s a separate bar counter here, but it’s seldom staffed, necessitating a walk down the stairs to get served for both food and drink. This upstairs bar has a separate entrance from the small car park behind the pub – this entrance being particularly useful when the towpath entrance is closed at high tide.
Greene King acquired this pub a number of years ago – it was a Courage pub in the 70’s and then had a spell under the Spirit Group banner if my memory serves me correctly. Greene King IPA and Old Speckled Hen are the standard offerings, but there’s usually at least two non – GK beers available – in recent months, these have included beers from Twickenham, Sambrooks, East London and, from further afield, Hydes and Skinners Betty Stoggs. Quality is generally good in my opinion, although the pub never seems to get into the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
In July 2013, the enterprising and enthusiastic manager, Paul, arranged for a Beatles tribute band to perform from the pub’s balcony overlooking the river one Sunday afternoon. This was a great success and certainly attracted a good crowd to a pub which, unfortunately, often seems quite quiet when compared to The Bell and Crown and The Bull, the other two pubs close by on this section of the towpath.
Greene King are not everybody’s favourite pub company by a long way, but there’s no question in my mind that this pub has vastly improved since they acquired it. It’s the most pubby of the three pubs on this stretch of the river and, taking everything into account, is the one to go for.
On 19th December 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The City Barge
This Greene King pub looks like it originally comprised two separate buildings in a terrace, both quite plain, but with a great riverside setting next to Thames. Two bars on different levels, with traditional furniture and decor. Some patio seating out front on the riverside path, with more wooden benches to the rear. Three handpumps on each counter, offering IPA, Old Golden Hen and Olde Trip (£3.20). Overall, a nice spot for a pint if in the area.
On 15th September 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The City Barge
Very comfortable 2 bar pub. Has a bar on an upper level with one on the river Thames level. sells up to 3 real ales and has an outside seating area overlooking the River Thames.This pub is on the Thames towpath where there are several other pubs to be enjoyed especially in the summer.
On 2nd February 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The City Barge
This pub has a great location overlooking the river, with a handful of tables outside on the towpath where one can spend a pleasant hour or so enjoying a pint and watching the swans swim by. But the river will come up over the towpath when there is a high tide, so be careful not to get your feet wet! Clean and comfortable inside with seating on two levels, including a largish sofa. Nothing special in the way of ales – Pride, Adnam's and GKIPA. All in all a pretty decent pub, but for me not the best pub along the Strand.
On 6th August 2008
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The City Barge
For some strange reason my department at my firm always go here for the Christmas party. We always end up in the downstairs bar with the dart board and quiz machine. The food that we end up with has been exactly the same for the past 4 years, it is good but unimaginative.
I can't grumble about the service as I have always found it polite, but it can get a little annoying having to ring the bell in the lower bar to get a member of staff to come down when they know that 30 people are coming for a party.
Unfortunately for the City Barge, even though the lager and cider is very good, I would have to walk past the Bell and Crown to get to it and that isn't going to happen.
On 22nd March 2007
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5233 recommendations about 5201 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The City Barge
The City Barge is a decent pub that is set in an ideal location facing the river Thames.
Once inside i went into the front bar which was almost empty,probably because it was in the winter.
The pub was a free house when i visited it,there were two real ales on the bar,i had a drink of London Pride,which was a decent drink at £2.52 a pint,the other beer was Bombardier.
I was happy enough having a drink here,but prefered the Bell and Crown (Fullers) just along the towpath.
Pub visited 13/3/2004
On 13th March 2004
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]