This pub is not only a grade II listed building, it is also a One Star pub on the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) National Inventory with an interior of special national historic interest, and the description is as follows: “An architectural extravaganza of 1910 to designs by the prolific T. H. Nowell Parr for Fuller, Smith & Turner who still own it (it is also doubles as a Thai restaurant). The Edwardian free-style exterior has abundant faïence on the ground floor and lots of most interesting detailing in the floors above. Three original rooms are still clearly discernible and retain their names in the etched window glass (some of it gently curved). Easily the best space is the saloon (on Acton Lane) with its panelling and delightful alcove and original fireplace: this sits behind a Tudor arch. Such arches are a Parr favourite (as elsewhere in this pub). The counter in the saloon is original too and has highly unusual detailing: the surround of the bar-back is original although the centre part is, unfortunately, modern work. Round the corner the main bar-back, however, is original as is the main run of the counter: the counter in the area on the corner of the pub is a crude cobbling together of old and new elements. All the rooms have another Parr characteristic – exposed wooden studding and beams. Don’t miss the stained glass packhorses and Fuller’s griffin. Throughout the pub there are very attractive chairs with elongated lozenges in the backs: improbable as it may be, could these date from 1910? One of the redundant doorways must have served an off-sales. History nearby: Round the corner to the north is Charles Holden’s Chiswick Park underground station of 1931-2 with its wonderful semi-circular ticket hall.”

The listing description is as follows: “Circa 1905. Public House. By Nowell Parr. Red brick with terracotta and coloured tiling decoration and tiled roofs. Three storeys, 5 bays facing timber beam and the return to Acton Lane. Unaltered Public House front in tiled work with Corinthian columns. Mullion and transom windows above. Terracotta segmental pediment in centre. Two roof gables. Additional terracotta decoration in the way of window dressings, balustrades etc. Unaltered exterior and largely unaltered interior. Important corner position. The best preserved example of a public house by the Fuller, Smith and Turner house architect.”

The WhatPub link is here: WhatPub/Old Pack Horse

The Pub Heritage Group link is here: PHG/Old Pack Horse

The Old Pack Horse featured on the Daytime Crawl of Chiswick and Brentford on 19 February 2005, and the Style, Substance and E Numbers: Daytime Crawl of Greenford, West Ealing, Acton and Chiswick on 28 February 2009.

Exterior Saloon Bar Servery Empire Bar Saloon Bar Corner Area Old Pack Horse Window Main Bar Fireplace Alcove Saloon Bar-Back