Bars & Pubs

There are plenty of Fuller's pubs to choose from in Chiswick, but the Old Pack Horse is among the finest. The unimposing frontage of this down-to-earth boozer doesn't do justice to the large bar area inside, which is divided into three main areas, with plenty of cosy corners to hide away in. Unlike many a Chiswick pub, the Pack Horse has resisted gastrofication, remaining a traditional, well-run boozer that just happens to serve great Thai food (out of the separately run restaurant at the back). The bar offers the usual array of well-kept Fuller's ales: ESB, Discovery, Swing Low and London Pride. The clientele here is more eclectic than other pubs in the area, a mix of local workers of all ages, families, couples and regulars enjoying a pint and the paper on their own at the bar. It's popular but not so crowded on a Friday night that it's impossible to get a seat. The traditional decor incorporates chintzy-kitsch curtains and carpets and stained-glass windows, with open fires and leather sofas. Old black and white photos of Chiswick High Road, alongside posters of the Empire, cover the walls.

Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9