PubsandBeer
Express Tavern (The Express Ale & Cider House) (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Marston's - Bass |  | 10 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter |  | 9 |
| Five Points - Railway Porter |  | 1 |
| Haresfoot - Conqueror's | | 1 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Grandstand Bitter | | 1 |
| Summer Wine (SWB) - Stateside | | 1 |
| Wild Weather - Our Milkshake Brings All The Beards To The Yard Peanut Butter Milkshake IPA (collaboration with Weird Beard) | | 1 |
| Arbor Ales - Blue Sky Drinking | Not Tried | 0 |
| Arbor Ales - This Time Next Year Rodney | Not Tried | 0 |
| Beatnikz Republic - Citra Double IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Beatnikz Republic - Leather Soul | Not Tried | 0 |
| Big Smoke - Cosmic Dawn | Not Tried | 0 |
| Big Smoke - Solaris Session Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Binghams - Brickworks Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Binghams - Hot Dog Chilli Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Binghams - Twyford Tipple | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brew York - Ekuanot be Serious | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | Not Tried | 0 |
| Buntingford - Hurricane | Not Tried | 0 |
| Buntingford - Templar Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Burton Town - That Burton Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elephant School (sub-brand of Brentwood) - Get Jiggy With It | Not Tried | 0 |
| Elephant School (sub-brand of Brentwood) - My milk stout brings all the bulls to the yard | Not Tried | 0 |
| Exeter - Avocet Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Gorgeous - Gunpowder | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hammer Head (sub brand of Stockport) - Slowly Hammered Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Haresfoot - Lock Keeper's Launch Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ilkley - Rombald | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kettlesmith - Fogline | Not Tried | 0 |
| Neptune - Hells Canyon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Northern Monk - Sup | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
| Park - Poets' Corner | Not Tried | 0 |
| Park - Saw Pit | Not Tried | 0 |
| Portobello - Westway Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Junction | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Powerhouse Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sambrook's - Sidekick | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Liquid Mystique | Not Tried | 0 |
| Siren Craft - Under Current | Not Tried | 0 |
| Stonehenge - Great Bustard | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Astryd | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Brother Rabbit | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Melba Peach IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Timothy Taylor - Boltmaker (formerly Best Bitter) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tiny Rebel - Bitter Sweet Symphony ESB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | Not Tried | 0 |
| Triple fff - Pressed Rat & Warthog | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vale of Glamorgan (VOG) - Never Say Dai | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vocation - Bread & Butter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vocation - Lost In Mosaic | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wimbledon - Copper Leaf | Not Tried | 0 |
| Windsor & Eton - Knight of the Garter | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
14 May 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Points - Railway Porter | 4.80 | | 4½* Outstanding condition and flavours, alas no time for a second one |
| Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | | First out for a while I suspect |
| Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | | Significantly better second pint. Cooler and fresher and all the flavours then came through |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 |  | Off smell and taste, should not have been pulled and offered. Changed with good grace for another choice |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Timothy Taylor - Boltmaker (formerly Best Bitter) | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Big Smoke - Solaris Session Pale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Park - Saw Pit | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Park - Poets' Corner | 4.10 | Not Tried |
17 Apr 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
On a Bass hunt evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | | Bitterer than I expected but all to the good |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | Just a tad off a 4* mark |
| Big Smoke - Solaris Session Pale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Bread & Butter | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Park - Saw Pit | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Lost In Mosaic | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Northern Monk - Sup | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Liquid Mystique | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Vale of Glamorgan (VOG) - Never Say Dai | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Hammer Head (sub brand of Stockport) - Slowly Hammered Stout | 5.10 | Not Tried | Ran out |
02 Aug 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit, ASLEF overtime ban made it impracticable to stay until close. Expected a house full here with GBBF emigres searching for Bass but there were none. Good chat with a Dumbarton man.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | | Good but had better |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | Drinkable but run of the mill condition alas. 10 cask ales on during quiet midweek is too many |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Brother Rabbit | 4.00 | Not Tried | Another's looked totally flat and lifeless |
| Windsor & Eton - Knight of the Garter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Five Points - Railway Porter | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Big Smoke - Solaris Session Pale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Portobello - Westway Pale | 3.80 | Not Tried | Came on late in session |
| Burton Town - That Burton Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Elephant School (sub-brand of Brentwood) - My milk stout brings all the bulls to the yard | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Elephant School (sub-brand of Brentwood) - Get Jiggy With It | 4.60 | Not Tried |
10 Aug 2022 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. At least more in than last Monday's visit but the 10 cask handpumps were hardly on overdrive.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | | Basic middle of the road taste brewed to offend no one. It is an institution here and I do like to have it to remind me how it is nothing like the Bass of auld |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 |  | 1st taste seemed OK but then followed realisation it was just on the turn. Slooshes of lemonade covered up the crime |
| Exeter - Avocet Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Brother Rabbit | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Powerhouse Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Big Smoke - Solaris Session Pale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Astryd | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Big Smoke - Cosmic Dawn | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Neptune - Hells Canyon | 5.80 | Not Tried |
01 Aug 2022 (Philip Pirrip)
Much delayed (at Waterloo station) evening visit until close. Seats upturned on tables in both bars leaving bar stools as the seating. Fortunately a couple of double JD and cokes drinkers came in to make just the three of us in the right hand bar. Surprised but pleased to find that loyalty cards, already started, are stamped until completed.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | | 2nd one was cooler and fresher, the price paid I suppose for visiting on a quiet Monday evening when 10 pumps on offer |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | First out for a while and tasted sweetish not really like Harvey's BB at all |
| Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | | Definitely first out for a while |
| Sambrook's - Junction | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Powerhouse Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Big Smoke - Solaris Session Pale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Gorgeous - Gunpowder | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Buntingford - Hurricane | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Arbor Ales - This Time Next Year Rodney | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sambrook's - Sidekick | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Buntingford - Templar Gold | 4.60 | Not Tried |
16 Sep 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit, arriving just after the TV football had ended.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | 2nd one bordering on excellent as being a tad cooler |
| Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | | Very malty and very yeasty brew. No hint of the Burton snatch of old. Just a case of badge brew engineering mocking the old brand. |
| Siren Craft - Under Current | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Melba Peach IPA | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Big Smoke - Solaris Session Pale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Wimbledon - Copper Leaf | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kettlesmith - Fogline | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Beatnikz Republic - Leather Soul | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Tonkoko | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Brew York - Ekuanot be Serious | 5.20 | Not Tried |
20 Aug 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit prompted by Mr Greel's visit report earlier in the day. Many more were in the right hand bar watching the first half of the Crystal Palace v Liverpool match on TV than for the second half, so I got a seat from half time.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | | Not a Burton snatch in sight, just an average un-exalted mid brown bitter nowadays |
| Wild Weather - Our Milkshake Brings All The Beards To The Yard Peanut Butter Milkshake IPA (collaboration with Weird Beard) | 4.80 | | I tried a pint for fun, good value in that it took me nearly an hour of sips to savour. Very sweet and a pint was enough. I suspect this would be better fizzed up and chilled in keg |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | Replacement pint was fresh and still not Harvey's as it should be (if anyone can be sure how it should be!) |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | First sips turned my nose upwards, then saw cask being changed, which explained the unpleasant taste of my pint. Swapped for a new-cask pint with good grace, once pulled through |
| Triple fff - Pressed Rat & Warthog | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Arbor Ales - Blue Sky Drinking | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Summer Wine (SWB) - Stateside | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Ilkley - Rombald | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Tiny Rebel - Bitter Sweet Symphony ESB | 5.50 | Not Tried |
20 Aug 2018 (Magnus Greel)
Late afternoon on a very muggy day, busy inside so we sat out in the not much cooler garden area. Pub has gone very trendy and foody since my last visit but with a superb beer range on offer.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Wine (SWB) - Stateside | 4.30 | | Rather too honeyish and sweet for my palate. |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Triple fff - Pressed Rat & Warthog | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Arbor Ales - Blue Sky Drinking | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Big Smoke - Solaris Session Pale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Ilkley - Rombald | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Wild Weather - Our Milkshake Brings All The Beards To The Yard Peanut Butter Milkshake IPA (collaboration with Weird Beard) | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Beatnikz Republic - Citra Double IPA | 6.70 | Not Tried | |
| Tiny Rebel - Bitter Sweet Symphony ESB | 5.50 | Not Tried |
02 Sep 2017 (Joe Gargery)
First stop of the day, arrived at noon. Couple of pints of bass and a bite to eat and off to the rugby. Interesting conversation about motor bikes and Caterham cars with the locals and then the 2 other london irish fans turned up.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | |
09 Mar 2015 (thebrewingman)
Lunchtime. Soon started to fill up.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Grandstand Bitter | 3.80 | | |
| Haresfoot - Conqueror's | 4.40 | | |
| Stonehenge - Great Bustard | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Binghams - Hot Dog Chilli Stout | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Binghams - Brickworks Bitter | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Binghams - Twyford Tipple | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Haresfoot - Lock Keeper's Launch Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried |
About the Express Tavern (The Express Ale & Cider House)
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 9 |
| 15 |
| 7 |
| 1 |
The pub is found in Brentford, Greater London, TW8 0EW.
Historic pub in Kew Bridge Road, over 200 years old and exclusively named the Express Tavern until Autumn 2014. That name remains on external signage but the pub is now marketed as The Express Ale & Cider house. Comfortable interior, friendly service and good value ales and food. For many years sold two to three guest beers alongside the regulars of Draught Bass and Young's. Was always well worth a visit if in the area. Has been owned by the Aldington family for many years and they remain owners in its latest incarnation in Autumn 2014. Closed in late August 2014 for refurbishment and conversion to an ale and cider house leased by the same team that runs the Sussex Arms at Twickenham. Re-opened with its new identity on Thursday 25th September 2014. Kew Bridge railway station is 50 yards away. This pub is located at the north end of River Thames's Kew Bridge. There are now 10 handpumps dispensing real ales on the counter of the right hand Chiswick Bar and the saloon / lounge bar counter sports 5 handpumps dispensing ciders and perries. All day food operation. CAMRA discount for card carrying members.
We have visited this pub 15 times, seen 84 different beers and tried 15 of them.
Postcode: TW8 0EW
This pub was formally know as the Express Tavern (use other entry now please).