Latest reviews for Bars & Pubs in Hampstead, London, United Kingdom

The Flask Tavern - Must do better...fast by oogywawa

oogywawa — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:02:21 +0000

Review by oogywawa

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7435 4580

Website: http://www.youngs.co.uk

Tags: food, mulled wine, vegetarian dishes

I rarely walk out of a pub having left my food but The Flask was determined to make me do this. If they had thought I needed to loose a few inches around the waist they could have refused to serve me rather than relieve me of Â£11 for a inedible main course.

I had ordered half a roast chicken with chips and onion gravy, my colleague had ordered asparagus pasta. Five minutes after I ordered the bar assistant came over sheepishly and warned me that the chicken would take 25 minutes as it was cooked from scratch, so we decided to have bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The bread was stale.

The mains came. My colleague's was tired in the extreme - the asparagus and assorted vegetables were obviously fried leftovers from the day before and the pasta was not fresh. Worse still - my chicken was not cooked - blood oozing from it when cut. The gravy was out of a packet with some dried herbs thrown in and saltier than the Red Sea!

An apologetic barman sent it back to the kitchen and they duly put it into the oven for 10 minutes more but forgot to take the chips off the plate and so the chicken came back cooked and the chips cremated...

We made our exit after a free glass of wine from the apologetic friendly bar staff - the only bright light in the gloom of incompetent cooks (definitely not chefs) and pissed suits who were prone to knocking over their glasses of red at frequent intervals.

People may say it was an off night but you never get a second chance to make a first impression.I rarely walk out of a pub having left my food but The Flask was determined to make me do this. If they had thought I needed to loose a few inches around the waist they could have refused to serve me rather than relieve me of Â£11 for a inedible main course.

I had ordered half a roast chicken with chips and onion gravy, my colleague had ordered asparagus pasta. Five minutes after I ordered the bar assistant came over sheepishly and warned me that the chicken would take 25 minutes as it was cooked from scratch, so we decided to have bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The bread was stale.

The mains came. My colleague's was tired in the extreme - the asparagus and assorted vegetables were obviously fried leftovers from the day before and the pasta was not fresh. Worse still - my chicken was not cooked - blood oozing from it when cut. The gravy was out of a packet with some dried herbs thrown in and saltier than the Red Sea!

An apologetic barman sent it back to the kitchen and they duly put it into the oven for 10 minutes more but forgot to take the chips off the plate and so the chicken came back cooked and the chips cremated...

We made our exit after a free glass of wine from the apologetic friendly bar staff - the only bright light in the gloom of incompetent cooks (definitely not chefs) and pissed suits who were prone to knocking over their glasses of red at frequent intervals.

People may say it was an off night but you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

The Holly Bush - Excellent homely local by oogywawa

oogywawa — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:49:59 +0000

Review by oogywawa

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7435 2892

Website: http://www.hollybushpub.com/

Tags: relaxed, friendly, traditional pub

My visit to Hampstead was one of extreme contrasts and luckily I ended it on a high in The Holly Bush.

Having earlier visited The Flask, which was a massive disappointment (see review) I hoped that a slog up a steepish hill to what resembled the heart of picturesque country village would reward my toil.

The Holly Bush turned out to be everything that I had hoped for. A review once said the front bars had "a carefully cultivated air in its front rooms of having been left untouched since the days of sawdust" but I sensed no disingenuity in what was in front of me.

There was the gentle murmur of contented drinkers and diners and the purveying air of relaxation and enjoyment. The food was good without being spectacular and relatively good value for money. The beer was very well kept and several pints of Mad Goose by Purity Brewing surreptitiously found their way down the gullet. The wine choice was good as my work colleague found to his cost the next morning!

All in all this delightful old establishment justified its reputation on all counts and long may it continue to keep the well heeled of Hampstead contented.My visit to Hampstead was one of extreme contrasts and luckily I ended it on a high in The Holly Bush.

Having earlier visited The Flask, which was a massive disappointment (see review) I hoped that a slog up a steepish hill to what resembled the heart of picturesque country village would reward my toil.

The Holly Bush turned out to be everything that I had hoped for. A review once said the front bars had "a carefully cultivated air in its front rooms of having been left untouched since the days of sawdust" but I sensed no disingenuity in what was in front of me.

There was the gentle murmur of contented drinkers and diners and the purveying air of relaxation and enjoyment. The food was good without being spectacular and relatively good value for money. The beer was very well kept and several pints of Mad Goose by Purity Brewing surreptitiously found their way down the gullet. The wine choice was good as my work colleague found to his cost the next morning!

All in all this delightful old establishment justified its reputation on all counts and long may it continue to keep the well heeled of Hampstead contented.

Duke Of Hamilton - Great great, great pub by AlexWoods

AlexWoods — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:43:49 +0000

Review by AlexWoods

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7794 0258

Tags: posh, relaxed, friendly

This is a great pub!

During the course of a Saturday walk (I say walk, it was an elaborate pub crawl, it's just we crossed the Heath to get to the first pub) this was, in my humble opinion, the best pub we went to. And if you're not interested in my humble opinion read around some of my other reviews and you will come across my high minded, arrogant and grumpy opinions.

It has a fantastically relaxed atmosphere and it lack some of the... pretension that a lot of establishments (and people) in Hampstead have. (Deny it if you like! But then have a good, hard look at yourself.)

The places looks as though it hasn't suffered a refurb since they laid the carpet, some time in the 1960s, and consequently it's comfortable, cosy and very Pub-like, for want of a better term. Some of the top features include the sporting memorabilia, the frosted glass surround above and the tiling on the bar, the dark wood panelling, and the fact that you have to leave the premises to make use of the inconveniences.

There are a number of reasons I like this in a pub. For a start, since the smoking ban, love it or hate it, some pubs have developed a... not altogether pleasant aroma if one sits in the wrong place and the wind is from the Sou'west. It's unavoidable. Also, there is something quite quaint and old fashioned about having an outhouse. I like.

One could be forgiven for thinking that this was a Fuller's house, with a couple of guest pumps. I couldn't give a crap because when faced with London Pride, Chiswick, and ESB, the question is rarely "Which one to have..." but "In which order should I commence..." Fortunately I was saved from the agony of choice by Meantime's LPA. And a very good pint it was too! For good reason is this pub a regular feature in the Good Beer Guide.

The staff were very pleasant and cooperative, if a little "cool" (I'm really not sure about fashion you know. I don't strictly object to every one looking like an extra in a Western movie. I'm a fan of cowboys as much as the next red blooded male, and not in a Broke Back Mountain kinda way. But are plimsolls really appropriate apparel for ranch hands?), the beer excellent, and the atmosphere very v e r y relaxed.

If only by comparison with it's neighbours, I would say that this is a very good pub, and it would certainly stand it's own among many other more robust rivals.

And I read something somewhere about beer festivals....

This is a great pub!

During the course of a Saturday walk (I say walk, it was an elaborate pub crawl, it's just we crossed the Heath to get to the first pub) this was, in my humble opinion, the best pub we went to. And if you're not interested in my humble opinion read around some of my other reviews and you will come across my high minded, arrogant and grumpy opinions.

It has a fantastically relaxed atmosphere and it lack some of the... pretension that a lot of establishments (and people) in Hampstead have. (Deny it if you like! But then have a good, hard look at yourself.)

The places looks as though it hasn't suffered a refurb since they laid the carpet, some time in the 1960s, and consequently it's comfortable, cosy and very Pub-like, for want of a better term. Some of the top features include the sporting memorabilia, the frosted glass surround above and the tiling on the bar, the dark wood panelling, and the fact that you have to leave the premises to make use of the inconveniences.

There are a number of reasons I like this in a pub. For a start, since the smoking ban, love it or hate it, some pubs have developed a... not altogether pleasant aroma if one sits in the wrong place and the wind is from the Sou'west. It's unavoidable. Also, there is something quite quaint and old fashioned about having an outhouse. I like.

One could be forgiven for thinking that this was a Fuller's house, with a couple of guest pumps. I couldn't give a crap because when faced with London Pride, Chiswick, and ESB, the question is rarely "Which one to have..." but "In which order should I commence..." Fortunately I was saved from the agony of choice by Meantime's LPA. And a very good pint it was too! For good reason is this pub a regular feature in the Good Beer Guide.

The staff were very pleasant and cooperative, if a little "cool" (I'm really not sure about fashion you know. I don't strictly object to every one looking like an extra in a Western movie. I'm a fan of cowboys as much as the next red blooded male, and not in a Broke Back Mountain kinda way. But are plimsolls really appropriate apparel for ranch hands?), the beer excellent, and the atmosphere very v e r y relaxed.

If only by comparison with it's neighbours, I would say that this is a very good pub, and it would certainly stand it's own among many other more robust rivals.

And I read something somewhere about beer festivals....

Haverstock Arms - A nice weekend by Ido

Ido — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:34:55 +0000

Review by Ido

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7586 9476

Tags: live music, relaxed, food

Bed and breakfast is what we wanted and is what we got. Simple hotel accommodation with two good beds in our room and a shower. If you want to visit London and do not want to stay in your room, this is a very good spot. Very nice people. Downstairs a very English pub where breakfast is served. For foreigners English culture in a nutshell. Very close to the underground and the centre of Camden. Nice pubs, restaurants and a few shops. A village in the big town of London.Bed and breakfast is what we wanted and is what we got. Simple hotel accommodation with two good beds in our room and a shower. If you want to visit London and do not want to stay in your room, this is a very good spot. Very nice people. Downstairs a very English pub where breakfast is served. For foreigners English culture in a nutshell. Very close to the underground and the centre of Camden. Nice pubs, restaurants and a few shops. A village in the big town of London.

The Horseshoe - For reasons which will doubtless never be complete by chrisp

chrisp — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:12:36 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7431 7206

Tags: gastro pub, posh, lively

For reasons which will doubtless never be completely explained, the whole of South London is currently suffering from an epidemic of Massive Pointless Holes In The Road. Quite a feat of engineering they are too, so deep you can't see the bottom, supported by huge steel girders and a good twenty foot across. They're a constant source of fascination to the kids in Battersea, who chuck empty cans of Pepsi down them, perhaps to listen for the clang and figure out how deep they are. And I would be quite happy to leave them to it and gaze in similarly bemused admiration at these Massive Holes, where it not for the fact that the London buses, as dangerously unpredictable as wild Roe Deer at the best of times, now finally have a cast-iron excuse to never be anywhere you expect them to be, and getting in and out of SW11 requires persistence, dedication and a true hunter's instinct. I possess none of these qualities, which is why my journey of approximately eight miles to Hampstead on Saturday afternoon took the best part of three hours. Fortunately, it was worth the effort.

The interior of the Horseshoe, by design or accident, brings to mind the minimalist aesthetics of St. John in Clerkenwell. Huge ceilings and whitewashed walls create a lofty and attractive room, but when it's full it does mean there's a bit of a din. The crowd is as well-heeled as you might expect in this part of town, although luckily - and crucially, for anywhere calling itself a gastropub - there were a number of tables of people just taking advantage of the excellent house ales, and they looked quite at home as well. Some very good house bread arrived along with some unsalted butter, and we made our food selections.

I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to scallops. I have never eaten a preparation I enjoyed more than searing in butter, perhaps with a little garlic, and plonked on a plate, and here they were cooked perfectly - crusty on the outside, sweet and juicy within. A smear of bright red beetroot purÃ©e added little other than colour (I have always found beetroot to be a singularly unimpressive vegetable in terms of taste - all mouth and no trousers, so to speak) but thanks to the scallops themselves, this was a very successful starter.

For a main course, I took a huge gamble. The daily special was a Beef Forerib for Two (£40), served sliced on a wooden slab and accompanied by a couple of dainty jugs of roasting jus and a bowl each of perhaps the finest chips in London. Doused in vinegar and salt, these chips would be worth a visit to the Horseshoe alone - triple cooked, presumably, in goose fat and cut to just the perfect size (no "chunky chip" nonsense here, nor the fiddly French Fry cut) they were crunchy and tasty and about as perfect a chip as you could imagine. You'll also have to take my word on this because unfortunately the picture didn't turn out for some reason. The beef, out of interest, was OK. Impressive to look at and cooked reasonably well, it was nevertheless rather bland in taste - Hawksmoor don't have much to worry about just yet. On the other hand, they gave us the leftovers and bones to take home with us and I used them to make rather a good beef stock the next day.

Desserts were competent and reasonably enjoyable but the fact I needed the photographic evidence to even remind me what I ate barely 12 hours ago gives you some indication of how memorable. I should also say a word about the service, which was smiley and efficient and I was so impressed with one particular waitress I punched her in the stomach in gratitude. Actually, it didn't quite happen like that. I was putting my coat on after quite a bit of lovely house Chardonnay (Beresford Highwood (2007) Langhorne Creek - "Excellent producer in Langhorne Creek, south of Adelaide" according to Dan from Bibendum, and a steal at £16 a bottle) and with a particularly flamboyant gesture, made in an attempt to get my left arm through the sleeve of my jacket but rather negligently failing to ensure the area behind me was clear in preparation for such a manoeuvre, I somehow made contact with the stomach of a waitress carrying two plates of hot food. To give credit where credit's due, she absorbed the body blow like a prize boxer and with a stifled whimper delivered the food to the customers just behind us and stiffly backed away. I attempted an apology but I get the feeling she was more concerned with getting out of my reach in case I unexpectedly lashed out again, because she avoided eye contact. Can't say I blame her.

Still, taking into consideration all factors - the ambience, the level of cooking, and the ability of the waiting staff to deal with violently drunken customers, the Horseshoe is a real find. It's reasonably priced, has taken all the good things about the St John philosophy on board without being too pretentious about it, and is one of the few places in this part of town where you really get your moneys worth. The only real issue, for those of us not lucky enough to live within spitting distance of NW6, is that bloody journey. On the other hand, it would keep more than an obstacle course of Massive Pointless Holes to keep me away from the Horseshoe.For reasons which will doubtless never be completely explained, the whole of South London is currently suffering from an epidemic of Massive Pointless Holes In The Road. Quite a feat of engineering they are too, so deep you can't see the bottom, supported by huge steel girders and a good twenty foot across. They're a constant source of fascination to the kids in Battersea, who chuck empty cans of Pepsi down them, perhaps to listen for the clang and figure out how deep they are. And I would be quite happy to leave them to it and gaze in similarly bemused admiration at these Massive Holes, where it not for the fact that the London buses, as dangerously unpredictable as wild Roe Deer at the best of times, now finally have a cast-iron excuse to never be anywhere you expect them to be, and getting in and out of SW11 requires persistence, dedication and a true hunter's instinct. I possess none of these qualities, which is why my journey of approximately eight miles to Hampstead on Saturday afternoon took the best part of three hours. Fortunately, it was worth the effort.

The interior of the Horseshoe, by design or accident, brings to mind the minimalist aesthetics of St. John in Clerkenwell. Huge ceilings and whitewashed walls create a lofty and attractive room, but when it's full it does mean there's a bit of a din. The crowd is as well-heeled as you might expect in this part of town, although luckily - and crucially, for anywhere calling itself a gastropub - there were a number of tables of people just taking advantage of the excellent house ales, and they looked quite at home as well. Some very good house bread arrived along with some unsalted butter, and we made our food selections.

I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to scallops. I have never eaten a preparation I enjoyed more than searing in butter, perhaps with a little garlic, and plonked on a plate, and here they were cooked perfectly - crusty on the outside, sweet and juicy within. A smear of bright red beetroot purÃ©e added little other than colour (I have always found beetroot to be a singularly unimpressive vegetable in terms of taste - all mouth and no trousers, so to speak) but thanks to the scallops themselves, this was a very successful starter.

For a main course, I took a huge gamble. The daily special was a Beef Forerib for Two (£40), served sliced on a wooden slab and accompanied by a couple of dainty jugs of roasting jus and a bowl each of perhaps the finest chips in London. Doused in vinegar and salt, these chips would be worth a visit to the Horseshoe alone - triple cooked, presumably, in goose fat and cut to just the perfect size (no "chunky chip" nonsense here, nor the fiddly French Fry cut) they were crunchy and tasty and about as perfect a chip as you could imagine. You'll also have to take my word on this because unfortunately the picture didn't turn out for some reason. The beef, out of interest, was OK. Impressive to look at and cooked reasonably well, it was nevertheless rather bland in taste - Hawksmoor don't have much to worry about just yet. On the other hand, they gave us the leftovers and bones to take home with us and I used them to make rather a good beef stock the next day.

Desserts were competent and reasonably enjoyable but the fact I needed the photographic evidence to even remind me what I ate barely 12 hours ago gives you some indication of how memorable. I should also say a word about the service, which was smiley and efficient and I was so impressed with one particular waitress I punched her in the stomach in gratitude. Actually, it didn't quite happen like that. I was putting my coat on after quite a bit of lovely house Chardonnay (Beresford Highwood (2007) Langhorne Creek - "Excellent producer in Langhorne Creek, south of Adelaide" according to Dan from Bibendum, and a steal at £16 a bottle) and with a particularly flamboyant gesture, made in an attempt to get my left arm through the sleeve of my jacket but rather negligently failing to ensure the area behind me was clear in preparation for such a manoeuvre, I somehow made contact with the stomach of a waitress carrying two plates of hot food. To give credit where credit's due, she absorbed the body blow like a prize boxer and with a stifled whimper delivered the food to the customers just behind us and stiffly backed away. I attempted an apology but I get the feeling she was more concerned with getting out of my reach in case I unexpectedly lashed out again, because she avoided eye contact. Can't say I blame her.

Still, taking into consideration all factors - the ambience, the level of cooking, and the ability of the waiting staff to deal with violently drunken customers, the Horseshoe is a real find. It's reasonably priced, has taken all the good things about the St John philosophy on board without being too pretentious about it, and is one of the few places in this part of town where you really get your moneys worth. The only real issue, for those of us not lucky enough to live within spitting distance of NW6, is that bloody journey. On the other hand, it would keep more than an obstacle course of Massive Pointless Holes to keep me away from the Horseshoe.

The Old Bull & Bush - by wreeve

wreeve — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:47:36 +0000

Review by wreeve

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 8905 5456

Tags: relaxed, food, young professionals

Sister of Freemason's Arms; almost a restaurant these days. Tourists prefer Spaniards but OB&B very reliable nonetheless.Sister of Freemason's Arms; almost a restaurant these days. Tourists prefer Spaniards but OB&B very reliable nonetheless.

The Spaniard's Inn - by wreeve

wreeve — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:43:56 +0000

Review by wreeve

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 8731 6571

Tags: food, vegetarian dishes, beer garden / outside seating

Famous historical pub on the border of Hampstead Heath, with car park and beer garden.Famous historical pub on the border of Hampstead Heath, with car park and beer garden.

White Horse - by joslyoung

joslyoung — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:27:02 +0000

Review by joslyoung

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7485 2112

Tags: food, thai

Terrible, terrible pub, with rude surly staff and zero atmosphere. It's a shame really, because a friend of mine who took me there said it was once quite fun, friendly and lively, and because its location near the heath would make it otherwise perfect for a Sunday afternoon pint. Luckily there are lots of other pubs within a few feet of here that do fantastic food, serve good beer and are friendly (three of which have fabulous beer gardens - I'm not going to name then for fear of mistakenly coming across as shamefully partisan - I'm not). A real loss.Terrible, terrible pub, with rude surly staff and zero atmosphere. It's a shame really, because a friend of mine who took me there said it was once quite fun, friendly and lively, and because its location near the heath would make it otherwise perfect for a Sunday afternoon pint. Luckily there are lots of other pubs within a few feet of here that do fantastic food, serve good beer and are friendly (three of which have fabulous beer gardens - I'm not going to name then for fear of mistakenly coming across as shamefully partisan - I'm not). A real loss.

The Washington Arms - great by Barney752

Barney752 — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:15:45 +0000

Review by Barney752

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7722 8842

Tags: food, traditional, vegetarian dishes

This is my favourite pub in the world (well out of the small number of pubs that i have been to in the entire world). The bar staff are really friendly which is a pretty standard description of staff but here they really seem to take an interest in you and chat with you whilst pouring you your pint. Secondly the pub has a very nice interior with tables and couches witch gives it a really very nice feel which is not always easily maintained in other pubs. The drinks are reasonably priced, neither expensive or cheap and they have a huge variety. All in all i really cannot reccomend this pub enough. If your every in the belsize park area then you shoudl reaally check it out, the nearest stations are belsize park and chalk farm which are both on the northern line.This is my favourite pub in the world (well out of the small number of pubs that i have been to in the entire world). The bar staff are really friendly which is a pretty standard description of staff but here they really seem to take an interest in you and chat with you whilst pouring you your pint. Secondly the pub has a very nice interior with tables and couches witch gives it a really very nice feel which is not always easily maintained in other pubs. The drinks are reasonably priced, neither expensive or cheap and they have a huge variety. All in all i really cannot reccomend this pub enough. If your every in the belsize park area then you shoudl reaally check it out, the nearest stations are belsize park and chalk farm which are both on the northern line.

Sir Richard Steele - Olde Worlde by freestanding

freestanding — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 07:23:29 +0000

Review by freestanding

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7483 1261

Tags: food, real ale

In my opinion its the 2nd best boozer in NW3 after the hill across the road. First up its a huge old victorian boozer that retains its olde world charm.The locals are friendly enough around here. Good selection of beers on offer and the Thai food is excellent at Â£5 a plate. I love the upstairs with its battered leather sofas. A good spot for a party. Downstairs the beer garden is a must in the summer. big and plenty of seats.
Lovely olde pub thats not been changed inside for a long long time. I only hope it stays that wayIn my opinion its the 2nd best boozer in NW3 after the hill across the road. First up its a huge old victorian boozer that retains its olde world charm.The locals are friendly enough around here. Good selection of beers on offer and the Thai food is excellent at Â£5 a plate. I love the upstairs with its battered leather sofas. A good spot for a party. Downstairs the beer garden is a must in the summer. big and plenty of seats.
Lovely olde pub thats not been changed inside for a long long time. I only hope it stays that way

The Freemasons Arms - Great Post-Heath option by sokratis

sokratis — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:16:40 +0000

Review by sokratis

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7433 6811

Website: http://www.freemasonsarms.co.uk/

Tags: relaxed, food, traditional

The Freemasons Arms is a great ending to a nice day in Hampsted Heath if youâ¬"re finishing on the south-west (if youâ¬"re heading north-east then Cafe Mozart on Swains Lane is a excellent option too). Very spacious and with a modern, slick finish it serves a variety of beers and ciders. One of the best outdoor spaces in the area and a great kitchen that serves what youâ¬"d expect by the â¬ÜWinner of the Sunday Independent/ LBC Gastro Pub of the Year!â¬". Be prepared to wait for a table on a sunny Sunday afternoon as the place gets very busy. Of course be also prepared to be surrounded by yummy mummies, Â£500+ baby carts, noisy small children and generally the rest of the Sunday family squad that descends on Hampsteadâ¬"s surrounding areas on a weekend.
Donâ¬"t let that put you off though. The Freemasons is still one of the best places to enjoy a drink and a bite after a hard days navigating the heights of the Heath.
The Freemasons Arms is a great ending to a nice day in Hampsted Heath if youâ¬"re finishing on the south-west (if youâ¬"re heading north-east then Cafe Mozart on Swains Lane is a excellent option too). Very spacious and with a modern, slick finish it serves a variety of beers and ciders. One of the best outdoor spaces in the area and a great kitchen that serves what youâ¬"d expect by the â¬ÜWinner of the Sunday Independent/ LBC Gastro Pub of the Year!â¬". Be prepared to wait for a table on a sunny Sunday afternoon as the place gets very busy. Of course be also prepared to be surrounded by yummy mummies, Â£500+ baby carts, noisy small children and generally the rest of the Sunday family squad that descends on Hampsteadâ¬"s surrounding areas on a weekend.
Donâ¬"t let that put you off though. The Freemasons is still one of the best places to enjoy a drink and a bite after a hard days navigating the heights of the Heath.

The Hill - Love this place by freestanding

freestanding — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 07:15:16 +0000

Review by freestanding

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7267 0033

Tags: food

Years ago it was just a downtrodden boozer situated on the cusp of a hill in NW3. Now its a fully fledged gastro pub with an upmarket twang. Beer prices are ok Â£3.30 pint, its the food thats the killer. Lovely grub dont get me wrong. but Â£13 quid for bangers and mash is excessive by anyones standards. In saying this the outside area is handy in the summer and i just love the layout of the place, its funky but not flashy. The staff are decent enough also.All in all a lovely place for a night out..Years ago it was just a downtrodden boozer situated on the cusp of a hill in NW3. Now its a fully fledged gastro pub with an upmarket twang. Beer prices are ok Â£3.30 pint, its the food thats the killer. Lovely grub dont get me wrong. but Â£13 quid for bangers and mash is excessive by anyones standards. In saying this the outside area is handy in the summer and i just love the layout of the place, its funky but not flashy. The staff are decent enough also.All in all a lovely place for a night out..

Ye Olde White Bear - Quaint, but bitchy barmaids? by iamroninator

iamroninator — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:33:47 +0000

Review by iamroninator

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7435 3758

Tags: food, sport pub, vegetarian dishes

Really nice atmos, nice ale too... The pub cat just adds to the quaint village-y feel.

Didn't eat here, though may come back as seems a good place to watch football.

One downer - not sure my girlfriend will ever come back here with me - when she went to the bar to get a round, was deliberately ignored by the (bitchy? Jealous?) female bar staff. Blokes were served in front of her, and she only got service when the (v friendly) barman eventually returned to serving.

Some peope, eh?Really nice atmos, nice ale too... The pub cat just adds to the quaint village-y feel.

Didn't eat here, though may come back as seems a good place to watch football.

One downer - not sure my girlfriend will ever come back here with me - when she went to the bar to get a round, was deliberately ignored by the (bitchy? Jealous?) female bar staff. Blokes were served in front of her, and she only got service when the (v friendly) barman eventually returned to serving.

Some peope, eh?

King William IV - Cozy gay-friendly pub by Sami

Sami — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 22:08:13 +0000

Review by Sami

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7435 5747

Website: http://www.kw4.co.uk/

Tags: food, pub, hampstead

Let me preface this by saying that I am not a native Londoner and do not know much of the insider's knowledge regarding this city. So when my native Londoner friend took me to this pub this past week-end, I was curious as to why there was a gay pub smack in the middle of Northwest London's bastion of uptight, WASP-y, middle-class existence - until she informed me that Hampstead Heath has long been a gay cruising ground - and the KW4 is at the foot of the Heath.

Recently renovated, KW4 is cozy, with a large patio at the back of the bar and hosts a variety of gay nights, from gay pub quiz to drag queen nights. I was absolutely taken by it and have since enlisted my friend to take me here on a regular basis. The service was good, the crepes are supposed to be good, and it was friendly. I'm a fan. But as with the majority of gay bars, the pints were on the expensive side :(

Let me preface this by saying that I am not a native Londoner and do not know much of the insider's knowledge regarding this city. So when my native Londoner friend took me to this pub this past week-end, I was curious as to why there was a gay pub smack in the middle of Northwest London's bastion of uptight, WASP-y, middle-class existence - until she informed me that Hampstead Heath has long been a gay cruising ground - and the KW4 is at the foot of the Heath.

Recently renovated, KW4 is cozy, with a large patio at the back of the bar and hosts a variety of gay nights, from gay pub quiz to drag queen nights. I was absolutely taken by it and have since enlisted my friend to take me here on a regular basis. The service was good, the crepes are supposed to be good, and it was friendly. I'm a fan. But as with the majority of gay bars, the pints were on the expensive side :(

The Roebuck - Two thumbs up by mif

mif — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:51:10 +0000

Review by mif

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7433 6871

Tags: independent pub, beer garden, standard pub food

Been here at least a handful of times (when in the neighbourhood) and it has never disappointed. Terrific grub - the cottage pie is my favourite and I've heard their Sunday roast is to drool for. Service is pretty good. The place is eclectically decorated, managing to look very cool and comfortable at the same time. At the back, there is an outdoors area where it's lovely to sit when the sun is shining and also a conservatory for when the sun isn't shining. Basically it's a lovely laid-back pub that will please everyone.Been here at least a handful of times (when in the neighbourhood) and it has never disappointed. Terrific grub - the cottage pie is my favourite and I've heard their Sunday roast is to drool for. Service is pretty good. The place is eclectically decorated, managing to look very cool and comfortable at the same time. At the back, there is an outdoors area where it's lovely to sit when the sun is shining and also a conservatory for when the sun isn't shining. Basically it's a lovely laid-back pub that will please everyone.

Bar Room - by TrustedBot

TrustedBot — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 18:20:15 +0000

Review by TrustedBot

Rating: 0.00

Phone: 0207 431 8802

Website: www.barroombar.com

Tags: smoking, cocktails, party

When brb began in 1998 with the original ´bar room bar´ in Hampstead, North London the idea was simple: great stone baked pizza, inspiring cocktails and an interesting range of beers, wines and spirits.

The immense glass frontage that looks in on this, the original Bar Room Bar in Hampstead, gives a classy first impression. Once inside, the bar does not disappoint. A large, rectangular green bar serves a pub selection of beers, whilst contemporary artwork hangs on the clean, cream walls. A unique glass chandelier is a focus feature if you´re not watching the world go by through the window.

Taste London diners can choose from the fabulous choice on offer on brb Hampstead´s Pizza menu from Sunday to Thursday. When brb began in 1998 with the original ´bar room bar´ in Hampstead, North London the idea was simple: great stone baked pizza, inspiring cocktails and an interesting range of beers, wines and spirits.

Taste London diners can choose from the fabulous choice on offer on brb Hampstead´s Pizza menu from Sunday to Thursday.