please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
As a gay man I've known the "Willy" for the past forty years and have seen it go through many changes but today's "Willy" is the best it's ever been! The refurbishment undertaken almost three years ago was very carefully structured, reinstating the pub's original features to their former glory coupled with some very pleasant and timely decor updating. The place now reflects shere opulance with its numerous chandeliers and furniture that must have cost a small fortune. The staff are really charming, providing excellent service and one always feels good vibes when here. This is a real, traditional pub,just like the the nearby Duke of Hamilton, (both individually privately-owned pubs) not one of your corporate-owned bland gastro joints that seem to have taken over the area. The "Willy" does, however, serve food all day but this is reminiscent of good, old-fashioned pub grub- excellent quality, large portions and is very reasonably priced. No wonder that, in today's economic climate, so many people working in the area have chosen it as their first choice when it comes to going for lunch. Their very carefully-selected and reasonably-priced wine list certainly complements the menu. One certainly does not have to take out a second mortgage to afford to eat and drink in this place!
Recently guv'nor David and his motley crew opened "Elevation", a self-contained balcony lounge bar on the first floor and this already has been booked on numerous ocassions for private functions; recently a civil partnership reception took place.
Anyone looking to book "Elevation" for a Christmas function better get their skates on since dates are being reserved fast!
Although the "Willy" is prominently a gay venue, gay owned with gay staff; nonetheless it is very straight-friendly. We are not talking about a sleezy cruisy place here (although I musat admit that these places do appeal to me at times!) and all customers get along with each other very well, each showing respoect for the other. You won't find bad attitude here!
This can be demonstrated every Wednesday evening when resident hostess Sheila Bleige (she'll oblige!)hosts her outrageous quiz nights. Banter and customer participation are the order of the evening and one can see customers of all kinds having a whale of a time.
Cabaret nights take place on a reqular basis, the next being on Friday 31st October, Hallo'ween night. Whatever you do, make a note to come down- you won't regret it and there will be many surprises!
There is also a secluded garden at the rear of the pub- a suntrap indeed but this year we've not seen too much of it- maybe we'll have some better weather in October.
Finally, for late-night tipplers, this place is a boon since it has a late license to midnight every Friday, Saturday & Sunday- the longest pub hours in Hampstead, so let's drink to that!
My rating: 10/10
John Graham
Holford Road
Hampstead NW3
23.09.2008
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In the area again almost a year since Ive been in the place; nice friendly atmosphere as I've always experienced in the past and suprisingly for London, the same cute brazilian barman from my last visit. Well mixed both in sexes, sexuality and ages..an example of how a cosmopolitan pub/bar should be.
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I wouldn't mind a beatiful Swedish girlfriend. Has she got any friends?
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This pub is thoroughly ok....I went in here with my beautiful Swedish girlfriend , didn't feel the slightest bit intimidated as open heterosexualists and had two lovely pints of beer.
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I have frequented the KW4 in Hampstead a number of times now and always felt really at home there. The staff are friendly and helpful. You go into a pub thinking you will only find draft beer and wine but this one breaks the mould. They make really good cocktails and jugs...well the KW4 iced tea certainly did it for me :-) I read some of the negative comments below and just don’t get it. The pub is certainly still a gay pub but now it’s more welcoming to everyone. I guess you could say its "Straight friendly". This time that I went I was there for a quiz night and had a blast with the "hostess" Sheila Bliege. Am going back this weekend with my boyfriend to catch one of their cabaret shows and it’s nice to see a different venue from the norm doing this type of thing.
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We went to Hampstead to go to the Everyman Cinema (which by the way is fantastic!)so we went into the King William IV for a roast lunch. We found a lovely corner spot with club chairs and sat for a good few hours reading our papers, people watching and chatting. This pub had really friendly and helpful staff, decently priced wine on the menu but best of all the roast meal was great!There was a choice of four roasts including vego, the lamb was tender, cooked properly and miracles for London served hot!The music in the background was good but not too loud...we will definately be making this pub a regular for us and we don't live in the area
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Gave the KW4 another visit yesterday afternoon. Whilst Im no lover of the internal decor the service was very friendly and efficient. The food was good, albheit slightly pricey, but this is Hampstead. Its certainly very cosmopolitan and all the staff were definately gay.
One very cute young brazilian barman was very friendly, didnt get his name, but loved him calling his boss and regular customers "darling" reglarly. Made to feel very welcome; will return again when back up that way, maybe evenings are different to daytimes.
Maybe the supposed Gay Comunity should support the pub and be welcoming to anyone who uses the KW4. Its not exactly a secret that its a gay place afterall.The one thing obviously that does go against it is the lack of late night hours but thats the local licencing authority for you.
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Disappointing visit once again! After eventually being served, on trying the two ales that were on, neither were drinkable. Giving the old place the benefit of the doubt, I went back a week or so later, to find only one undrinkable ale on. I would have been happy on both occasions to have had a Gunness, if I could find one redeeming feature to warrant spending further time in there.
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We're new customers, and love this pub. Clearly some punters are unhappy with how it's changed which is fair enough. However, as far as pubs go, this is one of the better licensed premises in the area. Yes, so it may not have the old charm of the Holly Bush, but not many pubs do. What this place lacks in traditional atmosphere, it more than makes up for with it's friendly and efficient staff, well-priced food & drink, gorgeous garden and town-centre location. My girlfriend & I will definitely be having a Bulmers or two this summer in the KW4...
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Dreadful. The management have deliberately thrown out the gay community and turned a great institution into the same old faux cosmopolitan, trendy rubbish. Shameful
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Absolutely dreadful refurb of this once great pub, what have the designers done, awful colours inside, not inkeeping at all with the building. Very strange atmosphere. Have the Faucet Inn company sold it?
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It was 10pm on a Saturday night (01.2007) quite busy .. bar service great ... but , oh dear, apart from the bar staff, most of the people there were straight couples !!! This did not feel like a gay pub at all. Have the gay clientele deserted KW ? Maybe its to do with the new decor and harsh lighting ... or to do with the music turned up so loud you can not have a conversation with your friend who is just two feet away. We drank up and left ...
rolly - 28 Jan 2007 13:45 |
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind paying £3 a pint if the beer is perfect, but unfortunately it was served too warm and didn't taste me (see my comment on the nearby Holly Bush where I ended up).
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This used to be a decent, friendly boozer where thankfully idiots like FrancisLong were in the minority as non gays and "fameles" were made more than welcome by the gay regulars who were obviously more comfortable with their sexuality than Francis is.
Has now been destroyed by yet another horrendous refurbishment and has little to offer other than the pleasant beer garden which still remains. Very sad!
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guess you will either love or hate the recent refurbishment, some things dont change - as previously who ever is in charge of the cellar needs to go on a training course (the theakstons and greene king very poor)A rather odd mix of local gay customers and "ladies" that lunch. Service is pleasant and prompt. The place is incredibly smokey, has terrible piped music. Not that great over all there are better places nearby - ie Hollybush
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Recently re-furbished, now looks better from the outside. The inside however shows old wallpaper and cabling generously overpainted and excessively illuminated. This used to be a fun pub some years ago, full of characters and attitude queens, sadly less character now but some evenings quite busy. The selection of ale here was rarely a good choice in my opinion and never kept well. The new-look comes with new ales, Theakston XB, Mild and Old Peculiar, although they are rarely all on, not great when they are on, and difficult to purchase through staff often too involved with chatting to eachother to serve customers. This pub always had potential and still holds potential. I would hate to see it become another restaurant or estate agent. A little more effort required please ...
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Perhaps Francis, like the bar man who demanded that I and my 8 day old baby leave the King William garden because the pub "is a gay pub", thinks that gay people do not have children and families.
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I totally agree with 'anonymous'. The pub is destroyed. Thank God they have kept the bar. Living in Hampstead I see the pubs disapearing like nothing else. A sad chapter in the village.
And Francis there are female gays as well AND its NOTHING special by being gay! Think you should spend more time in a spelling class than in the pub!
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YIPPEE! finaly, the re-furb has happened. Unlike anonymous I was not horrified by the way the Willy turned out and I would suggest to her that if she doesn't like it, remember these few things. 1. It is a gay pub and some of us may not like the placwe filled with females. 2. Maybe it was dirty and smelly befor because it was littered with fameles and their husbands....
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I went to this pub back in April and my husband and I loved it. Although maybe a bit run down it was a beautiful old pub. We were in the area this weekend and went back for a visit and were horrified at what they have done to the place. I am talking about the refurbishment. Someone should do time for doing that to a pub. Terrible flock wallpaper with sickening lilac paint and all the old bar stalls gone. Just such a disapointment as a pub like that is a rare find!
anonymous - 19 Sep 2006 14:45 |
By all accounts the pub will be closing for a refurbishment some time in August. Not before time either! From what I hear it will still be a gay pub but without the dust & dirt but with working lights!
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From the outside this pub looks interesting and possibly upmarket on the inside. Instead when you get inside it feels rundown, tatty and smells like an old pub well due a massive refurbishment. It's one saving grace is a pleasant beer garden, but it isn't worth going out of your way for.
anonymous - 25 Jul 2006 20:36 |
I'm a gay man who used to frequent The King William IV in the mid 90s. It was a lovely, traditional pub in one of the most beautiful parts of London. Some of the regular clientele left a lot to be desired. The pub seemed to be permanently inhabited by a small coven of pernicious, spiteful, vacuous queens and one particularly poisonous fag-hag, who all thought they owned and ran the place. I'm sure the pub's a much brighter and friendlier place now. One good thing came out of it, I met the love of my life there, and I've never looked back.
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I tried this one for the first time in c. 25 years towards the end of March. I'm afraid it was a terrible pint of Bombardier ....
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I was a keen King Willy goer and have fond memories of the days it was fun. The pantos, pram races, shows etc etc but over the years it has changed so much. Gone are the days when everyone knew everyone and it was a fun place.People who go there now will not remember those days and the landlords Peter sharpe, Colin, Bill and Sandra but to name a few.I wonder what happenend to the group that sat around the round table.Later landlords were not nice and the Willy lost its charm but memories of those times will stay as that was the best.
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The pub itself is really nice with original features. The bar is fine old dark wood (very heavy). I've been to this pub many times, and it's quite-very gay. But me being stright, i have never had a funny look even coming in with my husband. I was told that KW is the oldest gay pub in London. There are now rumours that its going to be demolished and made into a nice (stright) bar! What a horrible thought! They might as well close it down. It wont work!
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Not a bad pub especially in Summer, has excellent garden at the back. Was fun a few years back. Unfortuntely the pub is being taken over by straight clientelle so don't expect things to improve and the atmosphere will probably go down hill. Worth a drink if passing but don't bother with the food!
anonymous - 25 Feb 2006 16:13 |
if you think about how much ka-ching walks by the king's door every day [hampstead high street, darling] it is surprising how unspoilt this pub still is - not a fusiony nibble, sauteed prawn or chocolate souffle in sight. instead the atmosphere is relaxed, and it sometimes gets a bit noisy with the many different nights they host [hula party in february - genius] great place to drink & not be rushed.
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Looks very inviting...
Went in on a freezing cold night for a beer. Nice and welcoming, friendly staff.
Then I realized it was a gay pub....
I enjoyed my pint and left.
Recommended. If you like that sort of thing.
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Used to be one of the few nice gay "proper pubs" left in London, but apparently it's being boycotted at the moment because the manager was exceptionally rude to some of the regular clientele. Good selection of beers though, and the staff I've dealt with have all been great. If you get peckish you can pop outside to the crepe wagon which does the most gorgeous crepes. They're refurbishing the place soonish (it's brewery owned) so I'm a little nervous it's going to become another generic bar-type affair.
anonymous - 5 Sep 2005 14:32 |
I would agree with the comments about the toilets- half an hour after requesting toilet roll there was still none there and they were really dirty. Had to request for top up on my beer every time and still wasn't given a full pint!
anonymous - 31 Aug 2005 20:58 |
overly camp. if you like that sort of thing, its a dream. good caberet. dave roze
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big refurb coming up soon for the KW4, going one step up from the friendly but slightly dusty local it is now to a more modern, stylish - but still glam gastropub. keep your eyes peeled for this one.
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reallygone down hill over the last few years with not much going on and a poor atmosphere. the toilets really stink and are among the worst i've experienced.
neil t - 28 Aug 2004 00:58 |
May be worth mentioning that this is a gay pub, but not that bad as gay pubs go (and has improved I believe recently).
The buildings good, no idea about the beers as I've not been for a few years.
Their website is at http://www.kw4.co.uk/
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We like it because they're dog-friendly. Always a water bowl at hand and a gentle stroke from all staff and clientele.
Wolsey & Henry - 22 May 2004 11:09 |
needs abit of money put into it by the owners for a change rather than taken out it, lovly building ,great staff
and loyal patrons deserve it
thanks colin
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friendly atmosphere - great staff, the building is falling apart unfortunately; but apparently is being done up soon
Peter - 14 Dec 2003 19:25 |
Went there for the first time in years a couple of months ago.
What aaa change. Great place now. Graham and Marsha, two of the staff are heaven on earth. Such lovely people. Worth going in just to spend a while chatting to them.
Monday night is now a jazz night great music.
I would highly recommend it to anyone.
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Freindly great staff worth a visit
Natalie - 22 Aug 2003 20:05 |
Nice gay pub, but last time I visited there was no real-ale. Hope there is some there now!However this pub's a more chilled-out alternative to the Black Cap in Camden. Visitors to the Black Cap who read this will know what I mean!
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Got the best Creperie in London just outside.
Clad - 27 Feb 2003 11:56 |
Clientele exclusively "musical" gentlemen.
Nigel - 29 Nov 2002 11:36 |
rubbish, over priced
gil - 3 Nov 2002 21:36 |
100% gay pub in the heart of gay ole Hampstead
Phil - 7 Jul 2002 23:54 |
