The Garden Gate, Hampstead Heath

This pub is much better than I initially expected. The staff are friendly, the ambiance quite cosy and a nice pub garden to boot.

It does get fairly crowded but is well worth it as the draft beer selection is very good.

2 Dec 2009 12:50

The Albion, Barnsbury

I think it's a bit of a joke that this pub, once my favourite local, has been awarded the Best Sunday Lunch 2009. Before the renovations, this was a hidden gem with no pretensions; just a nice beer garden, friendly staff and a comfortable feel. Now, the philosophy of the place seems to be that customers should feel lucky to score a table in order to experience horrendous service and overpriced food.
Six of us recently went for a special farewell lunch. We literally waited an hour and a half for our main course to arrive. After waiting patiently for 40 minutes, we began to enquire about the state of our food. No explanation was given each time we asked only that it was on its way. The manager only came to our table after we demanded he do so and took his time about it (he arrived another 15 minutes after we requested to speak to him). He offered no apology or explanation only that the food was coming. Finally our food arrived, lackluster and lukewarm. Money was taken off of our bill ONLY after we ourselves insisted that we should not have to pay full price for a meal that took an hour and a half to arrive.
More angering than the delay was the attitude of the staff who seemed to have no concept of customer service. If the food were the nectar of the goods (and believe me, it isn't) I wouldn't return here for lunch, dinner or a drink.

2 Dec 2009 12:35