The Heron, W2

Steps up lead to a tiled balcony and the entrance to the Heron, that doesn’t appear to be the most inviting of places from the outside. Through the entrance a door to the right leads down to a Thai restaurant, and straight ahead is the bar where the friendly governor was serving a couple of locals who were sat on bar stools. I counted three handpumps that were drawing Exmoor Ales’ Exmoor Gold, Greene King IPA and Weston’s Old Rosie cider. A premium keg range was also available alongside Carling and a Beavertown lager, probably Neck Oil. Looking around the pub there were a few more people dotted about and there was a steady stream of locals coming in through the door during my recent Friday afternoon visit. In the right side of the pub are some tables and beyond is a covered decked outside seating area. To the left is a more seating and an old brick fireplace with a large ornate coat of arms mirror on the mantlepiece above. Pretty much every inch of wall has some paraphernalia on it, a lot of which is royal related. Mounted on the ceiling are framed commemorative plates, the nearest to me was a Charles and Diana plate. Sky Sports is shown and there was some background music playing. This is a proper local’s boozer and I thought it was very welcoming.

The sister pub to the Monkey Puzzle, this was built as part of the Hyde Park Estate in 1972, a rather swanky high-rise development just off Sussex Gardens, possibly still one of the capital’s most notorious hotspots for sex workers. The first thing you notice on entering is the Queen’s guardsman in full uniform and bearskin in his sentry box. The second thing you notice is the Bass plaque to the right of the door, but once through it, this couldn’t be more different from the Monkey Puzzle. It’s a bit like a Swiss chalet coupled with a traditional country pub. The floor is modern with a Minton-style tiled bar apron, but otherwise this could be an old interior with woody bar front, with leaded stained glass pot shelf and simple wooden and mirrored bar back. There’s a real fire in a Ye Olden Style ornate brick fireplace, above which, is a bronze and gilded lion and unicorn royal coat of arms. Thereafter it’s an utter riot of knickknacks: a grandfather clock, clocking in machine, wooden aircraft propeller with clock at centre, glass fronted cupboard containing old beer bottles, more than 60 royal commemorative plates mounted to the white Anaglypta ceiling, a frame containing autographed photos of the cast of Are You Being Served?, regimental coats of arms, royal photos (none of Prince Andrew spotted), photos of celebrities, American flag, an old brass till, framed portrait of Churchill; I could go on. There’s also a photograph of the Handlebar Club, who meet here once a month. Lighting comes from traditional brass Victorian sconces, tassel shaded standard lamps and Tiffany ceiling lamps; the only thing that let the ensemble down was the football being shown on a small projector, albeit with the sound off, though no one watching. There’s Thai food served in a modern dining room downstairs, the staircase lined with photos of famous film stars of old. Customers ranged from the middle-aged to elderly, eclectic and rather eccentric, some rather pickled, one trying to have a covert smoke before being admonished by a friendly landlady, who greeted several local Americans on arrival. In all, there was a good, friendly atmosphere, with most people seeming to know one another. Ales amounted to GK IPA and Exmoor’s Gold at a reasonable £4.70 a pint and perfectly drinkable. In all, I really liked this place; it seems to offer far more joy than anything else in the area and I would be more than happy to return, but the ale choice and quality would get the score up by at least another point.

Official site of The Heron - www.theheronpaddington.com

Official site of The Heron - www.theheronpaddington.com