Blackbird is a fairly regular pub with nothing particularly worthy of notice – except for one thing: the food menu is good and the house pie tasting plate impossible to finish alone.

The Venue
The Blackbird, entirely painted black from the outside, looks like an old-timer but in reality it was a branch of Midland Bank until 1994. When they transformed it into a pub, keeping a few of the original fixtures like the wooden paneling, the goal was to make it look like a regular, old pub: mission accomplished!

The decor is pretty predictable: dark wooden chairs and tables in the dining area at the back, a couple of booths, high stools by the bar and red paint on the walls in the pub area. All together, the Blackbird looks very familiar, which, whilst an asset for those attached to traditions, is blandly boring for those looking for unique character.

The Atmosphere
Blackbird is a local’s den: most punters are residents, construction workers operating in the area, and the occasional exhibition visitor. There are a few young groups in their twenties drinking here almost every night but a good chunk of the other customers, of all ages, are here alone.

The Food
The menu is the real gem of the Blackbird: unusually structured, it lists classics (£4-£10), pies (£8.50-£9.50), fairly common sandwiches (£5-£6.25), quiches (£8-£9) and evening sharing plates (£3-£16). The pies are definitely the house specialty, with a selection including the Blackbird House (venison, thyme, mustard and shallots), lamb with mint and apricot, and steak and fuller’s ESB. Not keen on pies? Try the Shropshire Blue, watercress and bacon quiche, the lemon and chili crab cakes, or the pan fried Gilthead Bream fillet.

For hungry appetites, the sharing platters are quite a feast for the eyes, with a pie tasting plate with five different pies, mash, peas and gravy. And the meat plate and the Blackbird House sampler are just as filling and full of variety.

The Drink
Being a Fullers pub, you can choose between their entire selection and you will find a lengthy description of each beer at the back of the menu: it’s your pick between ESB, Chicwick, London Pride, Organic Honey Dew, Discovery, London Porter, 1845, and Golden Pride, available as draught or bottled. Prices are reasonable at £2.85-£3.30.

If Fullers is not your favourite brand, you can still opt for a Franziskaner (£4.25), a Leffe or the bottled Sol, Peroni, Holsten or Budvar (all £3.25). The wine selection isn’t anything special but it lists a couple of interesting bottles like the Sermillion Berticot – as they say, an unfashionable grape variety grown in an unfashionable area – and the rose Griffin Ridge exclusive to the Blackbird. Prices are not the cheapest in the area, with bottles starting at £15 and climbing to £29 (glasses also available). Within the Champagnes, though, the Collet Carte D’Or Vintage, a “vintage at non vintage price” is only £40.

The Last Word
Although decent, the Blackbird isn’t really worth a detour in the one-way maze of Earls Court. Unless you love pies and Fullers a lot!

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