Meg's reviews
Review of The George
31 Jul 07, 11:41
RIP George 
Now no longer The George, but a throbbing backpacker bar (with hostel above) called Belushis.
The George was the epitome of grungy pubs, though - despite repeated refits and carpet replacements, it never quite managed to cast off the impression of slight desparation. Situated in the heart of Hammersmith, its clientele were often just visiting or passing through (physically or mentally), and it wasn't a place which encouraged you to linger.
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Review of The Cottage
30 Jul 07, 17:21
A Total Mystery 
This is a recently-refurbished, fairly large pub and food place tucked away on a quiet Fulham street.
The decor is pleasing, with plenty of tables, some sofas and a secluded back room, as well as a large outdoor area out the back. It's clean and friendly, and it's always easy to get served at the bar...which brings me to the defining factor of The Cottage.
I have no idea how this place manages to stay open. Whenever I've been in there, it's been absolutely deserted. Don't get me wrong, this is no bad thing, and Fulham certainly has more than its fair share of rammed establishments, so being able to walk in off the street and straight up to the bar to be served is not only a first for the area, but a pleasant surprise. But it does make you wonder how long it will be able to last.
The food deserves a special mention, because it's impressive, especially the desserts - though I'm not sure that refried Nachos are a good idea...
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Review of The Halfway House
30 Jul 07, 15:22
A local pub, for local people 
The vast majority of people who visit this pub are regulars, who sit on stools pulled up to the bar, and make it difficult to get served. This pub used to have a reputation for nasty locals and violence, and while this has disappeared along with the old decor, mild suspicion about non-regulars remains.
They've got a fairly average selection of beers - a couple of bitters, though, which makes a change - and they serve basic homemade pub grub. But neither of these are huge draws, so the regular pub quiz is pretty much the only reason to visit unless you are a local, too.
Having said that, the atmosphere is light-years better since the smoking ban, so it might be worth checking out another one of their regular events, including music a couple of nights a week.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of The Queens Head
30 Jul 07, 13:26
I can see clearly now the fug has gone...
The Queens Head is an old pub which has over the years had various extensions added, so that it is now labythinthine and full of hidden corners and cosy crannies to spend an evening. It's an old building, so the roof is low, which along with the (ahem) decor, adds to the cosy atmosphere - plus there's a real fire in winter - while outside it boasts surely one of the biggest pub gardens in this bit of London.
The selection of beers isn't anything to write home about, but there's a huge wine list, and besides, most people come for the food. The QH offers a full and extensive menu, spanning classics such as bangers and mash (though I think they're called something like Hand-reared lincolnshire sausages with mashed potato and caramelised onion gravy) as well as more exciting things, and plenty of specials. The food is well-priced, quite nice and comes relatively quickly in the evening, though beware the lunchtime crush - if you order at the wrong time (after a big order has gone in) your lunch may take a while to arrive.
A while back, they used to do platters to share, which seemed like a great idea, but they're obviously concentrating on proper dinners now.
In all, it's a good local pub, and is big enough that you can usually get a seat, plus with good food and drinks, and the possibility of cosying up to the fire in winter and sitting outside in summer, it's got all bases covered. It's an old pub - I've seen a mouse there before, and there aren't many toilets - but it's run by friendly people, and has a large, loyal clientele.
However, I've given this pub 4 stars, rather than 3, because since the smoking ban was introduced, it's improved immensely - there was something about the low ceilings and the furniture and the carpets which used to make the QH the smokiest pub in London, which meant that wherever you were sitting - even in the non-smaking corner - there was someone sparking up not too far away while you were trying to enjoy your dinner. Nowadays, that's a thing of the past, happily, and patrons of the QH are able to once again taste - and enjoy - their food.
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