Picture of Magpie And Crown, TW8 8EW

Historical version 24 of Magpie And Crown, TW8 8EW (view current version)

  • 020 8560 4570
  • 128 High Street, TW8 8EW (streetmap) (osm) (gmap) (bingmap) (streetview)
  • Noon-midnight Mon-Wed; Noon-1am Thu-Sat; noon-midnight Sun

Free house in Brentford.

They serve interesting real ales, and usually a real cider too (Lewis M/D in October 2007, Happy Daze in June 2009 — though note that following an early-2010 change of landlord, they may no longer do real cider, according to the BITE comments linked below). The handpull selection changes often, and a chalkboard above the door is kept up to date with details and prices of what's available.

The interior is quite traditional. There's a beer garden out the back (with a cycle rack) and a few benches out the front. Prior to the change of management there was a bar billiards table, and this page suggests the presence of other games like shove ha'penny — but an anonymous visitor (August 2010) tells us that they now have a pool table instead of the bar billiards (we haven't checked this out yet).

Kake first visited on a Friday afternoon in October 2007. There were a few other customers, but it wasn't exactly packed. Service was friendly. Piped music was in evidence (Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd), but it wasn't annoyingly loud. I had a pint of Leeds Eager Owl (£2.55), and very nice it was too. The other ales on offer were Grand Union bitter (£2.50) and Downton Brewery Black Knight (£2.55).

Kake visited again on a Thursday afternoon in June 2009. Around the same number of customers this time too, conversing about motorbikes with the chap behind the bar. No music, but the TV was on quietly. I had Sambrooks Wandle (£2.60/pint) this time; the other ales were Twickenham Grandstand (£2.60/pint), Blindmans Micro Magic (£2.70/pint), and Slaters Premium (£2.80/pint).

Prior to the change of management, Thai and English food was served noon-2:30pm and 6:30pm-10pm Tue-Sat, and Sunday evenings until 9pm, according to an advert in the April/May 2008 London Drinker magazine. They also did posh crisps (Salty Dog, 80p/packet as of October 2007). We don't know how much of this is still the case.

Accessibility: No step to get in (though there is a sort of ridge), and it's step-free to the bar, seating area, and toilets. Not sure about the beer garden.

See also:

Last visited by Kake, 18 June 2009. Opening times supplied by an anonymous visitor, August 2010.

Comment added by Anonymous:December 2011. The new management has greatly improved this pub. There are now 5 guest ales plus the house Twickenham Ale. There are 2 guest ciders available. Lots of bottled ales plus some draught European beers add to the great selection. The wine list is superior for a pub, and the home cooked food from a select menu is worth sampling. The music is good too, with occasional TV (MOTD)

OS X co-ord: 517475 OS Y co-ord: 177320 (Latitude: 51.482133 Longitude: -0.308031)
This is version 24 (as of 2011-12-27 18:48:33). View current version. List all versions.