The Red Lion, St James

To the query below: "what it's like when it's busy, I don't know..." the answer is: "Very, very busy." At five every weekday the pub gets stuffed to bursting with mainly local officeworkers. Lunch is also busy.

It's a testament to the success of this pub, or perhaps to the art of traditional pubmaking, that even crowded this pub is a good place for a pint, so long as you're prepared to stand up and get a little jostled. This is not a residential area, so it won't be as homey as a neighbourhood local can be, but it's still what they call a "proper pub"--people drinking and chatting in an open, relaxed environment. In fact, it's more welcoming and homey than many neighbourhood pubs are, these days.

The service here, in my experience, has always been great. Despite the crowds they're efficient and best of all, always seem to serve people in the correct order. The decor is stunning.

10 Dec 2013 12:33

The Duke of Hamilton, Hampstead

I went in there once, a few years ago. Maybe it didn't have much prententiousness, but it didn't have much friendliness either. Or any atmosphere of any kind--it was just boring. Didn't particularly enjoy my pint, didn't see a reason to go back. So the new changes are a no-lose situation, IMO: either it will remain a pub I don't go to (just for different reasons), or maybe, just maybe, it will turn into something OK...

27 Feb 2011 13:39

The White Horse, Hampstead Heath

Try as I might, I can't figure out how such a beautiful building, with plenty of original, quirky victorian features, can be made to look so boring. Everything about the pub turns out to be boring. Decent and boring. Go for a pint, admire the ceiling, then go somewhere more interesting for your second.

16 Apr 2007 10:05