Westbourne Grove Elbow Room, the original site for the ever-popular mini-chain of pool bars, has a distinctly American feel, with the layout resembling something you might see immortalised in a Hollywood film. Adding to the theme there are buffalo wings laced with Jack Daniel’s and the American brew - Anchor Steam - is the most note-worthy beer in the fridge. But fear not Anglophiles, Elbow Room has a quintessentially London feel and, on hearing The Who, Led Zeppelin and The Stones bursting out the jukebox, well - the special relationship has never felt tighter.

The Venue
Westbourne Grove is a thriving hub of restaurants, bars and boutique shops, and Elbow Rooms is a popular spot in a well-to-do neighbourhood. Inside, you find yourself in a relatively small bar area which is connected to an open kitchen – never a bad sign in a venue that doesn’t necessarily specialise on food.

Beyond the bar there are seated compartments that can hold about four people and each have their own personal television screen. These are very comfortable and, having a screen to yourself, for sports addicts not to mention the short sighted, is a real plus.

Up a few more stairs there are seven American pool tables. The Jack Daniels emblem emanates from every table and you half expect a group of Texan rockabillies to stroll in at any time. The interior could probably do with a lick of paint but that’s missing the point. Kicking back with a session of beer and pool needn’t be decadent.

The Atmosphere
The clientele is made up of men, men and then few more men thrown in to keep things consistent. There is not an aggressive or alpha male vibe though, people on adjoining tables are happy to wait for you to take your shot, and they may even give you a respectful nod if, somehow, you pull off a Ronnie O’Sullivan-type shot.

It gets very busy, so be warned, you may have to wait a while for a table. That’s not a problem though, as you can sit at the bar and have a beer while you wait. The staff are very nice and offer table service for food and drinks.

The Food
If you’re going to eat – have a burger. They use good quality beef, they're cooked properly (a bit pink in the middle) and they come with plenty of very tasty chips. There are other snacks, like chicken wings and nachos, which are okay but the burgers are big and very tasty. The only gripe is that at around £8.50-£9.00 the burgers aren’t cheap. But people are happy to pay that for the convenience of eating whilst playing pool. And this is Westbourne Grove, after all.

The Drink
All pints are £3.60 and the choice includes Tiger, Amstel, Heineken and Sagres, with Symonds cider on tap as well. The beer is clearly well-kept and, judging by fellow customers, certainly the drink of choice. If you’re in the mood for wine, bottles of Pinot Grigio are £15.75 or £5.25 for a large glass. But to be honest – pool, a burger and a beer is what most people come here for. And, of course, a Jack Daniels to finish.

The Last Word
The Elbow Room is a place to spend your entire evening, but it also works as somewhere to go for after work drinks before venturing on to a club. If you don’t fancy going to a straight-up bar, or you’re in the mood to shoot some pool, this place is the perfect compromise.

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