The Rocket is an aspiring gastropub serving good, if expensive, food in an incongruous location.

The Venue
You get the feeling as you enter The Rocket that it would rather be located a mile or so further west in Chiswick, but here it is in Acton. Large windows and subtle colours on the outside give way to strong red walls and the rich tones of Nina Simone, which greet you as you walk through the entrance porch.

Large wooden tables with long leather benches, tall foliage and enormous lampshades make you feel a little like Alice in Wonderland, but you will appreciate the space in this airy pub. The veranda stretches along one wall and is home to some really huge picnic tables that will have you clambering onto them and swinging your legs whilst you are seated. This area is heated when needed and even boasts a gazebo to shelter the smokers. The hard-to-locate toilets let the side down, and could really do with some attention.

The Atmosphere
It’s light, airy and friendly, and the management is usually around, serving or chatting to customers. The clientele includes yummy mummies and daddies who also wish they were in Chiswick, workers on lunch breaks, or locals. Daily papers are scattered around the large tables, and if you want more energetic entertainment try the Arcade Classics machine or the hula hoop hanging from the wall. Wireless broadband is free.

The Food
The food at The Rocket is served in the bar or adjoining restaurant and is very good, although seriously overpriced for the area – a drawback of sharing the menu between the pub and the restaurant. Even the lunch deal of a burger and a soft drink is around the £7.50 mark, although the burgers are great quality. Mains from the standard menu are priced at around £10 and above, but every meal is preceded by generous helpings of homemade bread with oil.

The Drink
There is an excellent selection of draught beers at The Rocket including Staropramen, Leffe and several bottled beers. There are many spirits and a particularly impressive gin selection, evidently put together by a connoisseur. The extensive – and expensive – wine list can be found on a blackboard by the bar.

The Last Word
Perfect for a relaxing drink with the newspapers or lunch with a big group of colleagues - just remember raid your piggy bank beforehand.

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