The Easter Bank Holiday is approaching and with it, one hopes, good weather.
For this reason we have compiled 10 pubs in and around Hampstead that have a garden to sit in.
One of them doesn’t have a garden but is a pretty place to stand.
Here are the nine we found:
The Stag in Fleet Road
The Stag, in Fleet Road (Image: Google)
This 151-year-old pub has a large beer garden with cabanas, so you can sit outside all year round.
The Garden Gate, in South End Road
This 19th-century, dog-friendly gastro pub has a vast, heated (if spring nights are chilly) beer garden.
The Magdala, South Hill Park
With 1930s wood interiors and stained glass, the Magdala has come to be known as the pub where Ruth Ellis, last woman to be hanged in Britain, shot her lover after he stepped out of the pub on Easter Sunday 1955. There are what appear to be two bullet holes in the outside wall of the pub, although they aren’t authentic. The garden used to be bigger, but has been altered to a small outdoor area with a few seats.
The Roebuck, in Pond Street
This gastro pub opposite the Royal Free Hospital has a big garden with pergola and heaters, which you wouldn’t know to look at it.
The Freemason’s Arms, in Downshire Hill
Pub guide website What Pub? says this roomy gastro pub has a large garden that was allegedly the site of 17th century games of Pell-Mell (a Dutch ball game which gave its name to Pall Mall), though the pub is first recorded in 1820.
Spaniards Inn, Spaniards Road
Built in 1855 by two Spanish brothers, this Grade II-listed pub is close to Hampstead Village and Parliament Hill and has a very popular beer garden.
Holly Bush, in Holly Mount
A multi-roomed pub at the top of some steep steps leading from Heath Street, this grade-II listed pub was built in 1643 and still has a garden.
The Duke of Hamilton in New End
The Duke of Hamilton has been a core part of Hampstead life since 1721 and was once famed as the favourite watering hole of actors Richard Burton, Peter O’Toole and Oliver Reed.
It has both a front terrace and a large, partially covered yard area with plenty of seating.
The Wells Tavern, Well Walk
The Wells Tavern is described on its website as “in parts as cosy as a pair of favourite slippers”.
For warmer afternoons there are a few tables outside, while inside there is a bar, fireplace, board games, dog bowls and squashy sofas on the ground floor.
Then on the first floor there are three differently decorated dining rooms.
The Flask, Flask Walk
This watering hole, which sits in a very narrow street, has no beer garden but one or two groups can squeeze into the outdoor seating area to the side of the pub.
There may be more that we have missed out – let us know in the comments!
