Bars & Pubs

By Ben McFarland

Goldhawk Road is a street festooned with 'Oirish' craic-dens, Aussie tank-houses and the 'characterful' Shepherds Bush market; it's an area that gentrified 'Shay Boo' would prefer wasn't there. But The Goldhawk is safer, with less Setanta Sports and more slouch than boozers nearby. With leopard-skin lampshades, low-slung sofas and stools, bead curtains and the odd fern and chandelier, it flirts with retro-kitsch but doesn't quite go the whole way. There's a porch out the front that's popular with 'Hoops' during QPR matchdays.The beer's jolly good. Kuppers Kölsch and Budvar Dark line up alongside London Pride and Deuchars IPA on draught, while thrillers in the chiller include a pair of Erdingers, Chimay and Pacifico Clara - an easy-drinking lager traditionally quaffed by Mexican fisherman. As well as a bountiful back bar and wine list, there's freshly squeezed juices for abstainers.

Regulars include west London's too-cool-for-school crowd; students in Danger Mouse t-shirts and beanies, BBC types, the odd Antipodean. For entertainment there's regular live music, a cracking quiz, Monopoly, Scrabble, a small terrestrial telly and, best of all, a chalkboard adorned with a 'word of the day'. Food stretches to olives and dips, calamari, organic burgers and the like. The Sunday roasts have gained a committed local following.

Time Out Issue 1955: February 6-12 2008