The Town Wharf - Location: Old Isleworth

[Max]

Name: The Town Wharf - Location: Old Isleworth

Address: Swan Street, Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7 6RJ [020 8847 2287]

[ian]

This is a nice looking pub on a prime place on the Thames. The photo's Taken inside are without the permission and knowledge of the manager and are for members only.

[DarkieBoy]

The Town Wharf was shut for refurbishment when I visited last week.  The upstairs was being stripped out and the furnishing looked like they had got wet and had gone mouldy (I might be wrong).  The downstairs bar did not look affected.

I did notice the Yorkshire Roses in the brick of the chimney and also carved into the wood on some of the timber posts.  I presume this is a new-build or rebuild of an existing building.  This now remains as the only Samuel Smith pub within the M25 that I've not had a pint in (apart from the George and Vulture which is really run as a restaurant and does not have a "pub" licence).

DB.

[CP]

The Town Wharf was shut for refurbishment when I visited last week.  The upstairs was being stripped out and the furnishing looked like they had got wet and had gone mouldy (I might be wrong).  The downstairs bar did not look affected.

Ohh, the last  couple of times I've been (can't remember the exact date but would have been late spring early summer, and always week-ends) the upstairs bar has been the only one open, although previously it's always been the downstairs, I don't think I've ever seen both bars open. My strong impression is that the Town Wharf is serious underperforming it's potential, especially compared to the London Apprentice up the road which is always heaving in good weather.

[ian]

The Town Wharf was shut for refurbishment when I visited last week.  The upstairs was being stripped out and the furnishing looked like they had got wet and had gone mouldy (I might be wrong).  The downstairs bar did not look affected.

Ohh, the last  couple of times I've been (can't remember the exact date but would have been late spring early summer, and always week-ends) the upstairs bar has been the only one open, although previously it's always been the downstairs, I don't think I've ever seen both bars open. My strong impression is that the Town Wharf is serious underperforming it's potential, especially compared to the London Apprentice up the road which is always heaving in good weather.

Welcome to the forum CP.

I myself have been in the Town Wharf 3 times but each time was in Winter and yes only the upstairs bar was the only one open and that only had a handful in.  I would think that were it is, it should be a goldmine in the summer months. 

[OldBreweryDrinker]

Welcome to the fourm CP and hope you stay as we don't hear to much about the Southern part of the SSOB. Looks like a lovely pub

[DarkieBoy]

Indeed, welcome CP.  Do you ever go to the Gazebo and the Rose of York?

DB.

[CP]

Thanks very much for the kind welcome(s)!

Yes the Town Wharf ought to be very busy in summer, especially since the Thames Path National Trail actually goes through the patio!

I'm a confirmed cask drinker so I tend to avoid the keg only pubs - although I do like the wheat beer and the stout, so if I absolutely have to go to a keg pub, Sams would be my choice.


Therefore, I haven't been to the Rose of York for years, and I wasn't impressed last time I went. Large, empty and unloved was my impression.

I did go to the Gazebo in September, as it was the only riverside pub in Kingston where I could get a seat - and as I'd just cycled 15miles I wasn't prepared to stand up and drink.

Again, considering its location I think it is probably underperforming.

[DarkieBoy]

Thanks very much for the kind welcome(s)!

Yes the Town Wharf ought to be very busy in summer, especially since the Thames Path National Trail actually goes through the patio!

I'm a confirmed cask drinker so I tend to avoid the keg only pubs - although I do like the wheat beer and the stout, so if I absolutely have to go to a keg pub, Sams would be my choice.


Therefore, I haven't been to the Rose of York for years, and I wasn't impressed last time I went. Large, empty and unloved was my impression.

I did go to the Gazebo in September, as it was the only riverside pub in Kingston where I could get a seat - and as I'd just cycled 15miles I wasn't prepared to stand up and drink.

Again, considering its location I think it is probably underperformingl.

You're welcome.

I noticed the parth through the patio of the Town Wharf and it was used by a few people in the 20 or so minutes I was waiting for it to (NOT) open.  I also noticed that the information sign on the patio was sponsored by the pub...which is quite unusual for a Samuel Smith's pub.

When I went to the Rose of York last week it seemed to have a nice atmosphere, so I may have been lucky and caught it on a good day.  The pub seemed clean (although hard to tell because it's quite dark inside.

I'm also a cask drinker, but in Samuel Smith's then I tend to drink the Taddy Lager or the Pure Brewed Lager if I'm feeling a bit flush.  The mild and the stout are good.  The cask has been at best poor of late wherever I've been (about 15 pubs).

I too cycled to all three pubs from Richmond station to the Town Wharf to the Gazebo and then the Rose of York trying to stay on the river path as much as possible.

DB.

[CP]

The cask has been at best poor of late wherever I've been (about 15 pubs).
 

The last place I had OBB was the Windsor Castle and I thought it was OK. I have a theory that the wooden casks makes in more variable than most cask beers, regardless of cellarmanship and turnover etc.

Apologies to those who expected a post about the Town Wharf....

[DarkieBoy]

The cask has been at best poor of late wherever I've been (about 15 pubs).
 

The last place I had OBB was the Windsor Castle and I thought it was OK. I have a theory that the wooden casks makes in more variable than most cask beers, regardless of cellarmanship and turnover etc.

Apologies to those who expected a post about the Town Wharf....

I think that the Windsor Castle was okay and the second best pint of Old Brewery Bitter in London - the first being the Rising Sun (again).

There have been many citations on here stating that Humphrey Smith does not think that cask Old Brewery Bitter travels, which is used to justify it not being in other pubs in the city.

There is also the issue of the 36 gallons barrel and pubs with slow sales and therefore the increased likelihood of it not selling before the end of the barrel and the subsequent quality issues. Firkins and kilderkins may be a more appropriate unit of delivery (subject to Humphrey's approval).

DB.

[ian]

Went in on Saturday night and what a shock I had.  The managers where the one that left the Rugby in Hull around a year ago and are back working for Sams...  So two pubs within a few miles of each other have ex Rugby managers running them.... 

The downstairs bar.   

These photos will remain for members only.

[ian]

Upstairs and outside photos.

All these photo will remain for members only.