Queen Adelaide, Shepherd's Bush  

The octopus-like tentacles of the Real Pubs group have now spread to the Uxbridge Road, where they've worked their rather predictable gastro-tastic magic on the Queen Adelaide. Formerly a large Victorian gin palace turned middling-to-rough boozer, of all the potential candidates along this run down West London street, the Queen Adelaide was always one of the ripest for turning gastro. Out goes the footy screen, gruff older locals and cooking lager, replaced with Aspall's cider, retro wallpaper and a completely incongruous open kitchen serving up modern British food at £10+. The open kitchen notwithstanding, this is a pleasant refurbishment, having kept the majority of the original features, the highlight of which is the impressive fireplace. Despite our visit being midweek the place was pleasantly full, mainly with the young urban professionals the owners always knew they'd attract. Of course there was the (almost clichéd) older local from it's previous incarnation propped up at the bar; you almost wonder whether pubs like this hire an old fella to add some authenticity. Service was top notch and the beers well kept, so we'll probably pop in here again if we're in the area. On wider scale though, this is a fairly generic gastropub, enlivened predominantly by the legacy of the building's impressive original features.