A classic case of never judge a book by its cover. Open the dingy cover at The Lodge and you’ll find pages filled with intrigue.

The Venue
The Lodge Tavern is one ugly looking pub. Located near Ealing Broadway station, it looks like an estate pub with an awful modern building looming high above it. Even the dressed up alfresco drinking area to the front is overshadowed by the sheer dreariness of the setting.

Step inside, however, and it’s an entirely different story. This is a beautiful pub inside – the contrast couldn’t be starker if it tried. Opulence is the keyword here. The black panelled bar is the centrepiece to the space and the swathe of wooden tables and chairs lead through to little cosy pockets of lounge seating. Red flock wallpaper, ornate green chairs, zebra-print cushions on cutesy sofas, chaise lounges, granny lamps, and a deer head protruding from the wall contrast starkly against the other side of the pub where white wallpaper dominates with simpler booth seating. There's also a wall filled with clocks and ornate mirrors as well as old fashioned maps of the world. The two distinct sides of the space couldn’t be more different and yet they seem to fit perfectly. Expertly done.

The Atmosphere
The location of the Lodge Tavern means it attracts mainly regulars who have managed to look past the dire exterior and have found a haven within – and promptly shared the secret with their mates. The ambience is comfortable and chilled out and the cosy red side of the space is ideal for settling into for an entire evening. And the bar staff here really care about the quality of the cocktails – yes, cocktails – that they produce, and will happily chat to you about their craft if you show an interest.

The Drink
The draught beer selection at the Lodge Tavern is rather dull with options like Fosters and Guinness. Luckily, they have bolstered this with some more unusual bottles like the Polish Tyskie. However, it’s the cocktails that steal the show with a large choice, well priced at £6-£8, covering some unusual and innovative selections. For example, the charmingly named Thai Tanic (geddit?) is made up of cachaca, ginger, coriander, lime wedges and granulated brown sugar for a drink similar in flavour to a mojito but with a hit of ginger and coriander adding a strange but pleasant twist. And it’s just one of many unusual concoctions that they’ve put together. And it’s no surprise – one look at the bar and you’ll see a range of premium spirits and a whole array of strange ingredients to accompany them, including rhubarb jam, peppers and marmalade. Just imagine the possibilities.

The Last Word
The Lodge Tavern is a delightful pub that holds lots of secrets within its dingy exterior. Worth making the effort to seek out.

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