Much modernised corner pub in back streets of West Hampstead, essentially two rooms, the left hand one being the brighter, through having windows along the side with a small partitioned area at the rear. The longer right hand room has a panelled ceiling and a pool table and darts board at the rear. Uplighting is applied to the light pastel coloured walls, to give a comfortable ambience. Television screens are present in all areas of the bar for sporting events. A disabled access ramp is available from the road. Very limited pavement space for smokers. The pub also presents periodically changing exhibitions of high class photography and paintings by local artists. Thursday night is quiz night, while Saturday nights feature a wide range of music styles. Food served 18.00 - 21.00 Mon to Fri, 12.00 - 18.00 Sat/Sun. Light meals (all-day breakfast, fish and chips, sausage and mash, burgers and stuffed jalapenos), plus sandwiches. Underground: Kilburn. Bus: C11 (Westbere Road).
Formerly Arkwrights Wheel, then Cane. Re-opened as a cocktail bar, under the ownership of URBAN LEISURE GROUP. Interior gutted and refurbished in trendy, contemporary styling.
12.00 - 00.00 Mon to Thu (01.00 Fri), 11.00 - 01.00 Sat, 11.00 - 23.00 Sun
Adnams Broadside, Wells Bombardier
This is a case of less is more, out with the carpet in with comfy sofas and stripped pine tables. Fantastic interior decor - with a rich ceiling, original bar counter, island back bar, screen partition, etched and cut glass and very decoratice cornice attracting Kilburn's trendy set but don't let that put you off. Indeed, it is great to see such great use put to a Grade II listed building on CAMRA's National Inventory of pubs with historic interiors. There is a separate dining area - suspect this was the former billiards room. Bed and breakfast is now also available, access via a separate side entrance - see www.blacklionguesthouse.com (020 7625 1635).
Following extensive refurbishment both inside and out, this has emerged as a restaurant called Osteria del Ponte. For the purposes of this pub database, now classified as closed.
Our reporter tells us that it is in the course of “moving upmarket”. The barman used to be at the Barrels pub in Hereford, a Wye Valley pub, so he has a good real ale pedigree. Front area is used for comedy from the stage in the window. Menus out advertising quite good value food and the tables are laid out for service in the middle area. At the rear is an area more for drinking with a pool table.
Irish bar geared up for big screen sports. It's a huge place albeit with some nice touches. There is an upstairs function room described as a cultural and arts centre. The River Corrib (Irish -Gaillimh / Abhainn na Gaillimhe) in the west of Ireland flows from Loch Coirib / Lough Corrib through Galway to Galway Bay. The river has only a length of six kilometres from the lough to the sea, and is said to be the shortest in Europe.
Opened just after the Second World War by a group of Czech expats. Independent bar selling draught and bottled Czech lagers in former Czech club premises now open to all-comers. Specialises in cuisine from the region. TV with all the news from Bratislava.
Former S&N pub and now demolished as it seems the development company that bought the pub has won its planning permission, despite local concerns and "luxury flats" are now under construction. The name reputedly refered to locals' campaign to restrict development to 6 stories in height. Whether it will be restricted is unclear.
Formerly Inn on the Green, Prince of Wales, Finnegans Wake.
A modern bar that does few fizzy beers, actually, eight in all, the bar being dominated by their fonts. There are also more than half a dozen foreign bottled beers as well. Not inexpensive, mind you. "Very upmarket, rather posh, very West Hampstead", said one of our reviewers. Just down side of the Jubilee Line tube station. Outdoor seating, quiz night Monday, separate restaurant.
From the exterior plastic signs and the name, you might think this was a cafe. Once inside, only the laminated menus and the price of the food continue that thread. This is a large, long pub with a raised back area that splits the pub into two. Big clear windows give an airy feel and black pillars and decorated ceiling add some original touches. The beer was good value as is the food served from opening until "late". Karoake evening Sat, live band last Fri every month. A J W Bassett pub - others are in Cardiff, Bristol and Rhiwderin. Live sport on large screen.
Opens around 7.30, Mon - Thurs till 2am Fri - Sat till 4am. Sun till 2am
Fuller's London Pride
Born on 2nd September 2005, The Good Ship is a bar, pub, club and music venue all rolled into one. Run by CAMRA member John McCooke, this is not an old style traditional pub – rather it’s a more modern environment offering real ale in a music and late night venue. There can be an entry charge – check the web site.
Re-named in the first quarter of 2007 as the Cricketers. Remains Greene King-owned, still no hand-pumps. Interior and exterior as was. Interestingly, it still retains a lot of original Ind Coope livery and lanterns to the facade, and the original Ind Coope hanging pub sign with the Lillie Langtry name. The pub closed down, future uncertain for about 3 months in the Summer of 2006.
Mon - Thu 12.00 - 23.00 (Fri/Sat 00.00, Sun 22.30)
Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen
Large main road pub at West Hampstead Green, with split room. The left side, leading to the bar, caters mainly for the quick pint and read the papers clientele, while the right hand side suits a more leisurely audience. A mixture of high and low seating is provided to suit all requirements. An eclectic selection of wall mounted lighting throughout is supplemented in the main room with chandeliers. Fairly large outdoor drinking areas are provided at both back and front. Note that the handpumps are hidden away on the end of the bar, not readily evident from the street. The pub is predominantly occupied by the younger set, while the television screens are ‘female friendly’ in that football is never shown! However, the music can be a bit loud at times. Food is served from opening until 22.00 Mon to Sat, 21.00 Sun. The menu is wide ranging, from steaks through English favourites, curries and salads to modern deli-style foods, and featuring an impressive selection of burgers. Veggie options are available. Underground/overground: West Hampstead. Buses: C11, 139, 328 (West End Green).
Formerly Rat and Carrot, Black Lion, then Old Black Lion. Greene King.
New free house/bar run by Faucet Inns, opened 2005. At the time of writing they operate some 20 premises. Was it previously The Montrose? It describes itself as "lounge and dining" and has very modern furnishings and a menu offering burgers, wood-oven pizzas and tapas sharers.
Brakspear Special, Grand Union Bitter (range changes regularly)
A bit black on the outside, has undergone a sympathetic interior conversion. A long "U" shaped bar breaks up the pub and the red ceiling, interesting lighting, wooden seating and floor create a warm ambience. There is a gastro style restaurant at the rear with the pub clearly aiming for a newer, more affluent customer. Function room for hire. Beer range changes.
At the time of visiting there were two handpumps but neither had clips and nothing was on sale. The outside brands the pub as "Juniper" although the menus inside reveal it as Smith & Jones (Barracuda pub company). Seems to have undergone a recent make-over with new carpets and funiture. Except for the lack of ale, it's a reasonable pub extending back to a decked patio.
Fuller’s London Pride, Greene King IPA, two guest ales
Large mid-Victorian pub on corner close to the stations, in the style of the North London railway. Comfortable leather covered bench seating in several drinking areas opposite long bar. Television screens in most areas for sporting events. The pub features several varieties of entertainment, Quiz night Sunday, Poker Club Thursday night, and live music Saturday night. ‘Student Night’ is on Tuesdays. Being on the group’s “Cellarman’s Reserve” listing, the pub has a choice of twenty guest beers from Regional brewers to choose from each month, and customers are encouraged to suggest preferred options. Food is served everyday between 11.00 and 22.00, and covers sharing platters, steaks, burgers, jacket potatoes, pasta dishes and the tried and tested fish and chips, sausage and mash and shepherds pie. Nibbles available include olives, nuts and so on. Underground/overground: West Hampstead. Buses: C11, 139, 328.
Mon 17.00 - 23.00; Tue - Thu and Sun 12.00 - 23.00 (0.00 Fri/Sat)
Adnams Bitter, Broadside
The only hope for real ale around here although on this visit neither ales were on. Run by Nick Marsh (ex Lansdowne) and Rob Claassen (ex Duke of Cambridge), they have brought their previous gastro experience to bear but with a clear two-room layout separating bar from restaurant, this means diners and drinkers don't trip over each other. Jazz was playing softly in the background and with covers of reggae albums on the walls, it's a sure indication that muzak will not assault your ears. There is a mad mix of unmatched tables and chairs which creates a pleasant jumble that is not your identikit gastro. It exudes a laid-back, comfortable air as good pubs should. The kitchen is open 12.30 - 15.30 and 19.00 - 22.15 (22.00 Sun). The owners also operate the organic food/deli a few doors down, which does take-away pizzas and eat-in at a small area in the back. Looked an interesting shop worth a future visit. In addition, the nearby Salusbury School has a Farmer's Market evey Sunday. And if you get bored, you could always visit Kilburn library or call in at the cop shop. This street sure packs a lot in a small space. Close to Queens Park tube/main line station.
After the opening of the cinema this gained more space and a nice coffee bar. Unfortunatley they took decison to stop selling any draft ale, sad loss as this was one of few places you could get a pint of Greene King IPA in clean and comfortable surroundings, if you timed it before the interval. If you want a drop of real ale go to the Black Lion opposite.
With three large pool tables where you hire them by the hour, this made-over pub is setting out its stall as a Bar and Pool Lounge. It has had a thorough wash and brush-up while remaining in essence a pub with pool. It had certainly become somewhat run-down in its previous guise so it is good to see investement in it remaining a pub although one suspects it might take the coming together of hell and its freezing over before real ale makes an appearance. Large floor to ceiling picture windows open in warm weather and there are outside benches. There are low slung leather sofas and DJs on Friday and Saturday nights. If all this appeals see www.westburybar.com for info.
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