The Defector's Weld
The Defector's Weld was the first pub on an 8-pub tour of some of the drinking establishments around Shepherd's Bush Green and Market areas. We started at 14:00 and so it wasn't very crowded, but still a few people enjoying a pint or a late lunch so we didn't feel completely alone in the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday.
Try this beer: Camden Inner City Green Lager. I always go for the Camden Hells, but this one is worth a try to mix it up a bit.
The Beer. In addition to the standard beers on draught, they've got a good selection of beers that aren't found in a standard Fuller's pub. I've already mentioned the Camden Inner City Green Lager, but if you prefer something a little more hoppy and off the beaten path, you should give the High Wire West Coast Pale a try. Finally, if you are more of a white or Belgian beer fan (read: you like the likes of a Blue Moon or a Leffe Blonde), you can try another Camden variety - The Camden Gentleman's Wit. The bar staff are super friendly and will let you taste whatever you'd like!
The Ambiance. A bright and airy pub, with lots of space, I could definitely see this pub having a great buzz about it - if I were there a little later in the evening! So I'm going to have to provide a point of view of the pub as it was in the middle of the afternoon and venture back for a night out at some point soon. The pub itself is large enough to be a great place for catching up with groups of friends, but there are also little nooks and cozy seats in corners if you're looking to have a more intimate conversation.
The Food. Haven't had the food here - will need to go back and give the bites a try.
Some extras. The Snug Bar... There's a smaller upstairs bar, and if there are busy nights, it could be nice little escape from the downstairs. One thing to keep in mind about this pub (and many others in the area) is that it is in the vicinity of QPR, and so if there is a home match, they may restrict access to the pub to only QPR matchday ticket holders or season ticket holders.
The wrap up. It was the first stop on a pretty long day of pub hopping, but it was a great first place. We were even tempted to break our "one pint per pub" rule and hang around and have a second, but managed to get ourselves out of our comfy chairs and head to the next place. I'd recommend it as a nice place to stop in for a pint if you're around Shepherd's Bush area.
Average price per pint: 5.60
