Tortoise and very Poor Service - Rude staff - Incoherent Racist Manager who pretends he is so important - A real Dumbo in a nutshell.

I was passing through Ealing and decided to stop for a drink with a girl at about 1030pm Sunday. We had to wait for half an hour to get served at the bar as there was only a dude serving and he seems he has forgotten his head in the toilet ! As I was driving, I had a Schweppes tonic water and my friend had a glass of wine.

We decided to go out to sit as there were about 12 peeps outside drinking and free benches. Shortly after, a little staff girl came to us and asked us to go inside as 'people are not allowed to do so after 11pm'. We politely went in but realized she did not ask the others to do so. I said to her when inside what about the others ... she went out, talked to them and came back hurriedly and disappeared in sight. Well, we went out and continue out drinks. She came out to us again and threatened up to take our drinks if we did not go in. And, when confronted with the 'double rules', she ran away and sought the manager who came out like a bull with his bullshit. He grabbed our unfinished drinks which we paid and ordered us to leave the premises. I politely asked why the double standards, may be it was a racist thing, he came out with a lame excuse that 'tables are reserved' which again is in total contradiction with earlier excuses 'no drinking outside after 11pm' and 'these people are staff'.

In short, if you prefer a dump with slow and poor service, rude staff, dumbo manager, racist attitudes, drinks grabber, double customers standards, dirty glasses, look no further head for the THE LODGE in Ealing. You will get plenty of those ;)

PS: Gave a star for being a star in shitholes !

Avoid this place like the plague - very rude staff who could not care less. The place is very quiet other than in the evenings now - as people have come to realise service is awful. 45 minute wait for food is unaceptable and when it comes it is plonked down in front of you and not even hot. The price of food is not cheap but not over expensive ... and you realise why when you taste it ... their beefburger was a greasy chunk of meat, with mouldy bacon and a stale bun absolutely soaked with mayo. Their salad was basically 4 lettuce leafs which were black and looked about a month old, oh and one tiny slice of cucumber and tomato. The rest of the menu is equally disgusting - very obscure dishes made badly. Plates and knives/forks were dirty. About the only good thing was the drinks and chips. Has a small outside area that is dingy, with the chairs bolted to the floor so you can't move and so low you can't reach to eat your dinner. Staff (especially the blonde mentioned in all the other reviews) just can't be bothered about it all when you complain - total rudeness!

I am absolutely disgusted by the blonde Manageress tonight, I work in customer service and I was served fantastically by Alex and Vino tonight. Our party booking had some of the best cocktail in London let alone Ealing. But towards the end of the evening as the lights went up, and as I was going over to say thank you, to the two barmen that served our party so well, I was in shock to hear the manageress swearing to one of the guys that served me and out party so well. She treated him so disgracefully, I was shocked and I asked him if he was ok. His response was, "i am, don't worry about it and have a good night". I cannot believe that The Lodge Tavern is managed by uneducated, inexperienced individuals that think they can f and blind at their staff when the staff and not the managers are the ones making us come back here. Completely disgusted! But I will say well done Alex and Vino. You guys were brilliant tonight. Sorry u have to work with managers who are non existent and treat you guys so badly. I will be back for you guys, not your manager!

I was one of the reviewers who had issues with the dodgy manageress.

I thought it only fair to pop back and say that I've been her twice in the last 4 months, and not had any hassle either time. Once was a big staff party and night, once an afternoon with friends. Staff attitude is much nicer and more reasonable now.

The Lodge Tavern is a great night out. Went there for a birthday celebration. They let me get in there early to decorate too.

Staff are really friendly, drinks are not overpriced and the DJ played great music all night.

By 11pm, the dance floor was packed! I loved it sooo much I've reserved a few booths for my birthday next weekend!

Lovely atmosphere, really friendly staff and great cocktails.

I'm not sure what happened when the other reviewer was there but it is certainly not the experience I had when I went for a visit.

I ate from the new evening menu, 3 courses for £18 which is pretty reasonable for the standard of food you get.

I ate the fillet of beef on celeriac mash with creamy mustard sauce, extremely tasty!....the banana and butterscotch pancake for dessert was amazing!

I have to say it is thde only place in Ealing which is nice a clean with good toilets [very important in my opinion] and staff who actually care about the place....very refreshing.

I hope they keep up the good work!

I really wouldn't bother if I were you. The staff are rude, drinks are over priced and the atmosphere is a bit strange.

There are much better pubs to frequent in Ealing.

I have been to the Lodge Tavern and it was a fantastic evening until it was all spoilt by the Manageress.

I attened my friends birthday party on Sat 16th May, after it had been highly recommended to us by friends.

In fairness, the venue is great, it has a cosy atmosphere and the barmen and barmaids are as good as previous reviews say. They do make a variety of cocktails, which are very good.

Our lovely evening was spoilt, when after the bar had closed, a friend of mine went to ask for her drink that she had left inside on the table we had booked, only to find that the drinks were no longer there.

We only popped outside for a quick cigarette and were told to leave our drinks inside as they didnt allow any drinks to be taken outside.

The manageress told us that the bar is now closed and we have to leave and that we will not be getting our drinks back.

She was so abrupt and rude, after we had spent close to £250 on drinks there that night!!!!

After my friend tried reasoning with her, she came out from the bar and was very abusive and in her comments to us.

She told us that this is her bar and i quote "Get out of my bar now!! before I have u removed".

I was absolutely dumb founded and even when I tried to speak to her she stood up in my face and told me to get out.

She smelt of alcohol and it could explain her eratic and unprofessional behaviour. My girl friends where obviously enraged with her calling us these foul words.

I am shocked that this venue is able to have such good staff, that are professional and well mannored, in comparism to that manageress. We will not be coming back!!

Just celebrated my Birthday there on Saturday Night!!!!!!!!!Lovely venue.

It was recommended to me by a friend and so I reserved a table for 15 of my friends. And had one of the Best Birthday parties in my life!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

The music was a mixture of everything and the DJ did accept my one song request! Dance floor was packed, and yet unlike other bars .... we did not get harassed by Chavs. :))

Unlike most bars, here I think the staff care about their place of work and no matter how busy they were, they always found time to answer any of my questions, as I was new to the venue and wanted my night to be perfect.

Bar staff are excellent ..... especially the two Professional Barmen in their slick white shirts and black ties!!! One Aussie and one S.African :))

They look the part; smartly dressed, polite, well spoken, always smiling and most Importantly .....

They make the best cocktails ever!!! Not to mention working at lightening speed and still have time for their glass and bottle flares .... they know how to entertain the customers waiting to be served.

You Boys made our night and we will be back there again to have some of the best cocktails in London!!A big thank you! Top Venue!!

I have been living in Ealing for years and have not come across such a wonderful place to go out and enjoy.

I have never had a bad experience with either the doorman or the bar staff,working in Hospitality myself ,its a pleasure to see such professional people enjoying what they do best.

I recommend the tavern to anybody in Ealing for a safe and happy experience.Big thanks to all the team for making it such a awesome venue.Cheers.
from Gavin Evans

Before I went here, I read the reviews and thought 'OK, so maybe those people were actually drunker than they thought they were...'

Unfortunately, my group also had a night ruined by over zealous and 'inaccurate' actions on the part of the door staff.

During the cold snap in Feb, I went with my partner and another couple. We sat at a sofa where my partner had two small whiskies; we'd just had dinner, so this wasn't going to have gotten him drunk.

He comes across as a rather serious/old-fashioned/non-chavvy type, not the kind of person who would be seen as a troublemaker at all.

Part-way through he went outside (without his coat) to smoke. It got down to -3 that night. As he tried to re-enter, the bouncer refused him, claiming he 'appeared to have had a lot to drink' and this might offend/upset women inside (ie suggesting he would be a leering letch, in spite of the fact he's come with a partner and was sitting at a table).

The bouncer's evidence (and this is where the temperature comes in) was that he was 'shivering' and 'moving from one foot to the other' - he was in a shirt at -3, remember.

The bouncer refused to let him inside even to collect his coat or tell me/our guests where he was.

My partner explained that he would like to speak to the manager. When the manager arrived, she actually conceded that the bouncer had been wrong!!

However in a 'nod wink' way she said she'd watch our party closely as 'she' (me or our female guest, I'm unsure) had bought several drinks therefore they thought 'she' might be drunk. She attempted to mis-quote the law.

She became very worried when my partner explained the law with regards to licencing/bouncing and she realised that not only was he not drunk but had know-how in that legal area from work.

They said they'd let us in- but by then we all left for another bar. Never to return.

One of the Best Bars in Ealing by far. Ealing has lacked a quality bar that has a cosy, relaxed atmosphere ..... with Great Service and quality Cocktails over 40 of them!!!

I have worked in the Bar and Catering industry for 13 years as a Manager and I can tell you that from reading some of the other reviews ...

I can understand some of the criticisms made by disgruntled customers. But .....1 key factor that I have noted about this venue and is what makes it one of the places to be for a fun, trouble free Fri and Sat night in Ealing ..... is The Staff they have!!!!

Doorman are pretty much the same every week ...... so they know most of the people coming in as they are regulars and keep a watchful eye for any shifty behavior.

I have seen venues with aggressive doormen and this is definitely not one of them.

I have seen Trouble makers always spoken to and never grabbed or pushed ..... they are ushered outside .... and asked to leave.

And the Bar staff do not turn over ... see the same faces behind the bar every weekend!

Don't know how they do it though working every weekend when I go in there for a drink with the Mrs.

Their product knowledge and speed is exceptional ..... given that they do have a small bar to work in, but seeing them flying around in the bar and also having time to interact with the customers they serve is rare to see in this day and age!

Even learn't a few things about cocktails and whiskey's from a Barmen there ..... he is the South African guy, not sure about his Name, think its Dino or Vino.... But he deserves a mention for being a Quality Barmen .... always smiling, great product knowledge, entertains the punters with his bottle and glass flaring.

Gives the bar a upbeat tempo. Keep up the Good Job mate!! ALL IN ALL .... BEST PLACE TO BE IN EALING BY FAR .... CLEAN BAR, GREAT DECOR, TOP STAFF, QUALITY COCKTAILS!!!

READ B4 GOINGWhat started as a good night with my friends was ruined by ridiculous bar policy's and overzealous doorman.

The first being that after being in the pub for nearly TWO HOURS already,the doorman turned up and told me i had to take off my hoody and wooly hat as it was a policy that you are not allowed to wear them inside the pub.

Yes,a policy that nobody even the manageress never said anything about FOR TWO HOURS until little and large the doorman appeared.

I obliged even though i counted four women by the bar all wearing hoodies that not a word was said to.(sex discrmination or what lads)

After finishing my drink i decided to have a fag.Exiting the door and standing with nowt but my t-shirt to keep away the chill, i put on my wooly hat as it was very cold.

I was then pounced upon again by the small bald doorman who told me it was company policy that i couldn't wear my hat in the smoking garden.(which has got to be a breach of some civil,liberty or human rights which allow me to at least keep myself warm if i am cold ?).AGAIN THERE WAS TWO WOMEN IN THE GARDEN WITH HATS ON ??

After a small chat with both doorman,(and i must at this point commend the small doormans politeness throughout and point out the constant swearing from the other one that i think if had at least one braincell might be dangerous).i was allowed back in.

An hour later i went to go outside again and was told this time that alcohol was not allowed outside even though the time before i had a pint of beer with me.

This time i had a glass of orange juice ??? and even asked the doorman if he wanted to sniff it for alcohol content at which point i was barred again from entering ???.

AGAIN THERE WERE TWO WOMEN OUTSIDE WITH DRINKS!!! (i was let back in after saying i would leave the drink inside ???)I left feeling heartly sick of the whole affair.

Not sure about all this hoo haa about the lodge, I am loving it, really yummy food and drinks, which despite previous reviews are pretty reasonably priced in my opinion...£3/4 is normal for a drink in London?!

Cool, chilled out atmosphere early on with decent djs later, it does get really busy at weekends but hey who wants to go out to an empty bar...anyone??

I think you can wait at the bar if your ordering a cocktail but they taste so good that I think it is well worth the wait.

Hats off to the lodge, it really is the only place to go in Ealing without a bunch of Chavs surrounding the place, maybe that is why the doormen on so on the ball??

Im surprised there are so many good reviews for this place. Outwardly I agree that the venue is nice - I remember when it was the Bell and its good to have a fairly decent looking pub in Ealing.

However, my experience was quite different. From my point of view the biggest problem are the staff - both bar staff and door staff. The bouncers seem to be provoking far more trouble than maintaining a safe environment. This is not really the sort of place that attracts troublemakers - ie mainly estate agents and office workers - not chavs and yobs.

I took the decision to remain fairly sober after very early in the night I observed the bouncers being very aggressive to girls who were drunk and made the fatal mistake of getting up on a chair purely for a pic to be taken. I saw 4-5 incidents of the bouncers exerting their authority on people who were simply enjoying themselve and causing no problems. Speaking to people who have had a drink in an aggressive manor for no real reason to me if totally out of order. Especially when selling alcohol is their bread and butter and then people are punished for it by the bouncers? The drinks are over priced for a non West End venue - £7 for a drink on average and poor bar staff where I didnt get served in under 15mins any of the 6 times I approached the bar. The bar staff arent very friendly either perhaps due to the stupidly small size of the bar in a fairly big venue?? Which means everyone is crammed queuing for drinks.

The music was good and mixed but all and all i'd never go back. I dont like places where you are scared to drink for fear of being targeted by power hungry bouncers. And die of thirst for fairly rude bar staff. Avoid.

I went to the Lodge on Sunday and it was brilliant, such a cool atmosphere, they have live jazz and soul bands on every Sunday.
I enjoyed a pretty big Roast Dinner which was buy one get one free, with some tasty cocktails and really friendly staff.
This place is really getting better and better each time I visit!
I recommend to any jazz or soul fans to pop down there for a really enjoyable night!
This place has a real character to it with a really nice crowd.
Thumbs up from me!

The Lodge is what Ealing's needed for years. A great bar with a chilled atmosphere and DJs that play a decent mix of funky tunes. Watch out for the Russian lager on tap though!

I went to The Lodge Tavern for the first time last night and I must say I was pleasantly impressed. The cocktails were lovely and buy 1 get 1 free, which is even better. The food was also great. We went for a meat platter between the two of us and some chips and it was really yummy. I'd definitely go back there again, most probably on a Sunday, as my friend tells me they do buy 1 get 1 free roast on Sundays and that it is really tasty.

They have done the place up really well. It has a really chilled and relaxed feel to it and loads of comfy sofas. Definitely go and check it out for yourselves!

I go to The Lodge Tavern on a regular basis now, it is by far the best place to go in Ealing. Really great atmosphere and great food.



I love the fact that they change the menu all the time as it keeps my lunch interesting!
After work drinks is always fun when we head to The Lodge mainly because of the yummy cocktails and the outdoor area.

This is a fairly good pub ruined by poor decision making and management. At around 11pm, after enjoying the night with my girlfriends and a bar tab of well over £200 we were told that we had to vacate an area that was booked for 6.30pm. The party that had booked the area had arrived around 7.30pm and had left the area for well over 3 hours (to smoke outside apparently). There was no sign to say that it was still reserved. Of course we argued with the duty manager however, we were told that we had to move.


It's a shame that this happened as The Lodge Tavern is my local and now I won't go back. And of course I will be telling all my friends not to go there either. Also we all agreed that the cocktails seem to be on the weak side. On the plus side, one of the bartenders, Max, does a great job.

Rumour has it that The Lodge Tavern is re-opening on Thursday 14th June for the weekend through to Sunday and then it will be reopening as normal very soon. At the moment it seems to be just weekends due to the director passing away. It is a great place and has been racking up great reviews left right and centre. Hopefully it will continue to do well once it has got back on its feet!

The Lodge Tavern opened in April of this year but there's now a bit of a fuss about the drinks license. One of the new directors (a relative of mine) has passed away, but he owned the license so I'm not too sure about what will happen now. I hope it still works out for the other directors, it's a lovely little bar/eatery. I'd definitely say to keep your eyes peeled to see what happens.

The Lodge Tavern in Ealing has been taken over by the directors of The Winchester in Islington...The Winchester is always very busy and has a great atmosphere - I hope the Lodge Tavern will be the same and will do the wicked 2 for 1 roast dinners on Sundays. Yum!

I've heard quite a bit about the Lodge Tavern - apparently the food is going to be delicious but I don't really care about that as they are supposed to be getting some hot DJs in. Finally, Ealing Broadway gets to have some fun! Fingers crossed for the Lodge Tavern.

The Lodge Tavern looks great from when I walked past. Does anybody know the opening date yet? I can't wait to get along.

There's quite a buzz going round about The Lodge Tavern and upon sneaking a little look inside the other day it all appears justified! Has anyone else heard anything about this place? What's it going to be like?