Review

ultimatepubguide2002 Review #2

The Salutation has changed. Again. It now looks like it comes from the same mould as the majority of other pubs on King Street come. We now have the high tables, the big mirrors on the walls, a couple of sofas and standard pastel colours abound. And the fussball table has gone.

On the positive side the big screen remains and it has been moved to a more sensible location, which allows people to watch it without having to stand directly in front of the bar. The two small screens also remain so the Salutation retains the distinction of being the best place in Hammersmith to watch the footy.

The prices remain reasonable, though a heinous crime has been committed; the Heineken has been replaced by Carlsberg. We can only assume this is a subtle attempt by the management to get the lager drinkers to buy the premium lagers on offer. But, compliments to the management for coming up trumps again and employing a quality barmaid.

ultimatepubguide2002 Review

The only thing that hasn't changed at the Salutation is the beer garden. It's still the best in Hammersmith. It no longer appears to be recommended by the Queen Mother though; the pictures are no longer in the entranceway. Quite when these pictures were removed is unclear. Whether it is considered bad form to have a garden promoted by someone who is now essentially nothing more than high-grade fertilizer herself is a possibility, but not something we should dwell on.

Inside things seem to have brightened up a bit and some of the garden appears to have made its way in, probably this is an attempt to justify the much advertised 'Garden Bar'. Since there clearly isn't a bar out in the garden, they've started moving the garden into the bar. A novel approach.

A recent addition is a füssball table in the corner. This probably would have been a pool table had there been more room, but a füssball table is a good alternative, especially for anyone who has ever been nervous about the combination of alcohol, the competitive gaming instinct and sturdy wooden sticks. The Salutation now also has a big screen and as it never seems to get that busy, is a good venue for watching the footy.

Not all the news is good though. Sadly, the quiz has gone and with it the chances of winning free beer. Paying for your beer isn't always a bad experience though, as one of our readers has pointed out. She's big, she's blond, she's American. Two out of three ain't bad.

ultimatepubguide2000 Review

As you go into the Salutation you notice the outside is purple and that's even before you have any beer, imagine the possibilities when you come out.

The Salutation undoubtedly has the best beer garden in Hammersmith. We can say that with absolute certainty because the Queen Mother says so, she's been there and given it an award - you can see the pictures in the entrance. Quite when the Queen Mother became an expert on beer gardens is not clear, but we're willing to believe that she is. And she ain't far wrong on this one, it is a damn fine beer garden. Very leafy. This occasionally results in you finding flora and fauna in your beer, but hey, life's an adventure and you never know, it might add to the taste experience.

That's the reason to choose the Salutation in the summer but, unlike all the other pubs in Hammersmith, there's a reason to choose this particular drinking establishment in the winter months as well. The music quiz. Held every Tuesday on those long dark winter nights when the only totty you'll see at the pubs down by the river are the ones in that advanced stage of pneumonia when you don't actually feel the cold anymore. Believe us, the quiz is a much better alternative. All you need is a vague knowledge of chart music over the last five decades and an ability to spot an intro. And if you're a bit lacking in that department fear not, cryptic clues accompany each intro so there's even an attraction for the more intellectually inclined amongst you. Between each round there is also the opportunity to win free beer for you and all your friends simply by naming the artist of a slightly more obscure track, if only free beer could be attained so easily in all pubs.

And if that isn't enough to get you interested, how about this - we'll be there, you could meet us, now how exciting would that be?

The Salutation wins the award for the best all round pub in Hammersmith. It's cheap, it's got a good beer garden, Sky Sports, the quiz and two quality barmaids. Oh, and it's the only place in Hammersmith where we've heard the words that every serious drinker wants to hear "nah, that's alright lads, on the house". OK, that probably influenced our opinion slightly, but it's still a good pub.

Update Sadly, the best barmaid in Hammersmith has departed for pastures new. A moment of silence please to reflect on our tragic loss. As a result we're going to have to reduce the totty rating. We recognize that doesn't reflect well on the replacement barstaff, but hey, we have to be truthful else we're of service to no one. A recent charity quiz had the offering of two free return flights to any American destination as the prize, so the Sally still comes out high for entertainment.

Review by AJS