The Waterway, Paddington  

It could've been great here - it should've been great here, but it wasn't. Run by the people in charge of two gastro-heavy offerings - The Ebury and Running Horse - from the outside it looks rather like a ski lodge, while the inside has a preponderance of wood which makes for a pleasant enough ambience, in a contemporary kind of way. Unfortunately, like others in the chain, the overt focus on high profit margin food (Waterway Burger, £10.50) leaves drinkers feeling a little second-class. Also, the clientele don't help; despite the nearby sprawl of council estates, there seems to be a vortex of pretension which extends from here, over the Westway and towards Westbourne Grove; those accidentally caught in this gravitational pull are subjected to monied, but loud and boorish characters at a higher rate than one would usually encounter by coincidence. The service from staff wasn't exactly fantastic either, making the one draw - a nice terrace overlooking the canal - simply not worth the effort.

reviewed:
08/04/2008

pub features:(click on an icon to see an explanation)

real ale

seating overlooking the river

Canalside views

separate restaurant

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