The Defectors Weld, Shepherd's Bush  

This one's not still not getting any better, as a recent visit showed. Having replaced by something a lot more traditional, you'd think it'd meed the needs of folk meeting for a pint before a gig at the Shepherd's Bush Empire. But judging from most of our visits to date, sadly, no. What we've got on our hands here is a professionally loungey pub, where a set of DJ decks is as essential as a supply of bottled Leffe. The rather insouciant attitude of the staff, not to mention the clientele, means you may forget what you wanted from them before they get to you. If you don't mind waiting for the grain to be harvested, fermented with hops, etc. and then bottled, there is a good-sized space downstairs. Upstairs is primarily for eating, though it looks like one corner may be habitable if it's heaving. The whole enterprise does have an enforced air of cool to it and we doubt it'll aim for pre-match QPR fans. As for the oblique name, we're still not 100% sure, but the picture of Cambridge KGB man Kim Philby on the stairs must have something to do with it. We're always a bit leery of places with big blokes on the door anyway.

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