The Rocket, Acton Central, W3

This place still brands itself as a gastropub, but when we were in early evening last week it looked a bit like a foreign bar. But three handpumps were clipped - one was Old Peculiar but the barman told me it wasn't on. English clearly wasn't his first language and didn't understand the question when I asked if it was ever on. But a manager type heard and came over to explain that it had been on the previous day. Not much use to me, but after half an hour or so he did reverse the clip. The other ales were London Pride and Sharp's Atlantic (£1.90 a half). The main bar area as you enter has mainly normal tables and chairs, but with a few sofas at the back. An archway at the back on the right had large red curtains each side of it, and led to another room where all the tables were laid for diners. But menus were on the tables in the bar area where we sat, and featured stuff like lamb shank, and fish & chips, both at £12. There were chandeliers over the bar counter, as well as ceiling fans down the centre of the room (not operating, nor needed, on a cold and miserable December evening. This struck me as a glitzy bar with little pub character.

Official site of The Rocket - therocketw3.co.uk

Official site of The Rocket - therocketw3.co.uk

This is a gastro type pub that was very quiet on my weekday visit, but the two barmen were very friendly. Harveys Best was available alongside some nice Pride and a selection of standard and premium draught. It is a good sized pub with a long bar running down the side and there is also a projector screen that was rolled up on the back wall, although I doubt that this place has Sky. I would say that this place is worth a visit and I’m not a big gastro pub fan.