please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Can be okay if you go to the old bar (more food less) half which has more character and feels more pub-like and less eatery. Had a pint of Proper Job which was quite nice - though should be at 5p short of a fiver.
|
A return visit. Noone playing scrabble. Pub quiz not happening on this night.
Instead, I had the front room to myself and a very good pint of Youngs Bitter. Provided the chance to properly survey the victorian surroundings.
Fine pub. Worth a visit.
Photos at my blog - http://bit.ly/2cRaZHD
|
A cracking little pub. Good beer and good service. what more do you need
|
This is a wonderful little pub in a great location near Hampstead tube station and the Heath. I take many of my foreign guests here to show them a real English pub. You get some great old characters in the left hand saloon bar. The Flask used to be a socialist hang-out and you imagine Michael Foot in here playing dominoes and nursing an ale. Great decor. Not cheap admittedly but what does one expect around here?
|
Very expensive, not great bar service, strong focus on expensive food. It has lost a lot of its unique character
|
Handy for the tube, after a walk over the heath. Last visit had a bizarre selection of 1920s music and an awful lot of people playing scrabble. Youngs was ok.
|
The beer here is very inconsistent these days: sometimes completely undrinkable. At the prices they charge they should be capable of ensuring quality. I was charged over �10 for a large Jameson's and one pint of beer! I know this is North West Twee, but really, that's what I call taking the p***.
|
Realaxing for a pint or two.
Muzzy - 18 May 2012 16:18 |
Pettymuch the same as it has been. The Sambrooks Wandle was fairly insipid. Now following the 'Hampstead Standard' of charging round the four quid mark for a pint of ordinary ale.
anonymous - 10 May 2012 18:12 |
Visited the bar on a Saturday afternoon. It's a proper pub, with old and well-used fittings, but lots of character. Pity that the character does not extend to the bar staff - service is nothing more than functional. Clientele a mixture of locals and visitors. Excellent Young's Winter Warmer, which was perfect on a very cold day.
|
OK range, Youngs etc.
staff could pretend to be more interested in the patrons, given the high prices charged for beer and food.
decent atmosphere.
|
Clever pm from kon23uk so for them (and other morons) I will clarify my last comment. The lager purchased by myself was crap! you would find more life in a cemetry that was closed. This was my 2nd visit in 4 months with the same result, the dis-interested bar staff when dragged away from their private conversations did eventually change it for a slightly livelier one but the snide asides about customers "being fussy" did nothing to make me think things will improve in the near future. and finally kon23uk the pub itself was very nice.
|
Lager is absolute crap!!
|
Good pub and a good sunday roast.
|
Such a lovely old pub. Good beer, good staff, good quiz nights. Might be a bit of a rush and consequent delay on food at times, but still a great place to meet up with friends.
|
Still one of the best pubs in Hampstead. Consistently good beer and friendly staff. I haven't tried the food, but it looks reasonable. Not quite as 'local' as it used to be.
|
Had a decent pint of Wandle (fellow drinkers were on Young's Gold (which they rated as well). It's stilll among the better Hampstead pubs but there is something that is lost compared to what it used to be like. Maybe someone more articulate than I can elaborate on just what that is as I have to admit to being to dense at this juncture.
anonymous - 6 Mar 2011 21:59 |
Perfect Christmas Day lunch venue. I had booked this for myself and my parents, as I knew it was a great local pub, but was a bit anxious about the food. However the food turned out to be plentiful and very fresh and tasty. It was served by charming, happy staff, not at all surly or innattentive, and was well worth the money paid. It was neither rushed nor overcrowded and was a relaxing home from home for Christmas Day.
|
I'm only here for the beer. Fook the pies.
|
Previous experiences were good, however the last one was pretty horrible. After waiting an hour for two sandwiches and a pie (on a not very busy evening) we enquired if our food was on it's way; "I assume so was the barman's response". A few minutes later we were told they had run out of 1 of the sandwiches. Even though we were completely amazed that this could happen in a restaurant (places run out of food, but they don't wait an hour to tell you!), it's the way the situation was handeled that really put a sour taste in our mouth.
|
I visited several decent pubs yesterday. But the Flask was marginally the best. Its location in an alleyway off Hampstead's main drag makes for a wonderful location. There are a couple of tables outside in Flask Walk. But the interior is definitely worth seeing. The pub has bare wooden floorboards, high ceilings, original tilework on the walls and some impressive coloured glasswork panels separting the 2 main bars. Beers are mainly from the Wells & Youngs range - Youngs Bitter, Special and London Gold and Wells Bombardier. Although, they also had Sambrooks Wandle. Addlestones cider was a welcome sight. An old pub with plenty of character.
|
Nice pub of the high street with a small bar for the locals,a little cheaper on that side. But can't pour a pint to save their lives.
|
Rather typical refurbished Youngs Pub in Hampstead, just off the main high street. On a saturday afternoon it was pretty busy with families and couples eating but there was space for non-drinkers and we perched on a spare table. The multi-room layout is fine and the original features are impressive, although I've had better pints of Youngs Bitter. This place was reasonable and I'd think about returning if in the area.
|
Just had a quick pint in here, but it was a welcoming warm pub with an open fire. No TVs or music and the atmosphere was good. Free baked potatoes was a great and unusual idea.
|
Wonderfully inviting and warm pub. I've visited several times recently whilst staying in London and I must say it really does stand out from the drab faceless boozers of elsewhere. It has an almost labyrinthine interior, with an original public/lounge divide and a secluded conservatory/dining area in the back. Unfortunately lacking much outdoor seating. The food is excellent, although it does get busy on weekends, suggest booking if you are a group. Must suggest the Schweinehaxe on a Sunday as it is mightily impressive and a wonderful alternative treat to the usual sunday beef served elsewhere.
|
It still retains its multi-room format � Public Bar, Saloon Bar, and a couple of rooms at the back separated by archways. A few high stools/tables were in evidence, but furniture consists mainly of normal tables and chairs. Real ales on offer were the normal Young�s/Wells range � Bitter, Special, Kew Gold and Bombardier. It was pretty empty when I was in at 12.20 on a weekday lunchtime, with the staff seemingly hanging around waiting for the customers to turn up in order to give them something to do. I didn�t see a games machine, fruit machine or TV, but I didn�t go into the Public Bar. The Saloon Bar seemed a quiet and peaceful place for a quiet pint, but I doubt whether it is always like that. It retains many of its original features, including etched and cut glass, and some excellent painted panels in the divide between the Saloon and Public bars.
There was some jazz playing in the background, making a welcome alternative to the banal pop music that gets dished up in most pubs these days. This is an attractive pub, set in the attractive Flask Walk. Definitely worth a visit.
|
We re-visited The Flask when back in Hampstead over the August Bank Holiday - and what a disaster it was!
What a complete difference from the pleasant experience I encountered last Summer. The food (when it finally arrived) was dried-up, flavourless, unseasoned and generally awful. The person serving on the bar informed me that there was no Young's Special or Bombardier available - yet people were being served it in the public bar. Maybe it's drawn from a secret well somewhere?.. Ordinary had obviously come to the end of the barrel. When I pointed this out to the woman behind the bar, I was rudely informed: 'no-one else in here has complained about it. You must be wrong'. Hardly the sort of exchange that I would expect to get into with a member of bar staff. My wife and I decided to stick to wine after that scene - wine was satisfactory, despite being our third choice from the list.
By judging the tone of the service at the bar, we quickly realised that there would be no point in complaining about the quality/service/price/wait for our food, as there was obviously nobody in charge in the pub. We stayed to finish our wine at the back bar - only then were we aware of the Manager standing next to us, voicing her opinion rather loudly about complaining customers - absolutely unbelieveable! I don't know if this is still managed by Young's or is a leased pub, but they certainly need to take it back into the fold and take a serious look at it. Such a shame to see a rapid decline such as this spoil what is, essentially, a characterful and charming pub in an envious location.
We will not be returning until dramatic all-round improvements have made, which I doubt will happen in my lifetime.
|
We stopped off in here to eat quickly before moving on to the the cinema. Having waited excessively long and having queried the arrival of the meal (twice) we could see that others were complaining before us.
When my �9 dreary 'salad nicoise' finally arrived it was served in a prawn cockatail glass(!) with a handful of lettuce leaves, a bit of egg and one tiny slice of potato and what looked like tinned tuna. I live in Paris and I can tell you that is not a salade nicoise! I compained and the chef had the cheek to simply dump the food in a larger bowl. My refund was refused so I walked out in protest without touching the meal not wanting to create a scene in front of my friend. A �9 salad should effectively be a substantial meal. We went elsewhere to eat after out film.
I will never visit this pub again.
|
Well known Youngs pub in alleyway, best seen from the outside. As you move further to the back to find a seat you will find the the decor becomes drab
|
New Manageress in tow: German bird. Doesn't seem to have made much difference yet, other than clutter up the bar with yet more bloody dining tables. ( bit like shifting the deck chairs on the Titanic). Previous manageress (English bird) gone to take over the Roebuck, which will be getting the usual Young's makeover shortly. Ho-hum. Painting by numbers I call it.
|
This is still a lovely pub - the Victorian panels are a work of art � but the modern high table in the front window is awful. This front bar used to be so cosy, now its big table often has a 'reserved' sign on it (this is a pub, for god's sake) and it's not a patch on the old, rumpled table and chairs.
Sort that out and you're laughing.
|
Being a dedicated Youngs drinker for many a year, I recently called into an old haunt of mine in Hampstead, namely The Flask. I must say how pleased I am that Youngs have sympathetically restored the place and kept a lot of the character. In the public bar were faces that I recognised from nearly 20 years ago - the old buggers still haven't managed to die yet! The staff and managers were very pleasant when encountered. They obviously love the place - and it shows in their attitude. Ordinary was well kept, and there were a nice selection of whiskies too.
The only down side to my visit was the lack of seating at the front of the pub. Could this be the reason that the other pubs in the area were all much busier? On enquiring, I was told that the local authority had requested their removal due to noise pollution complaints from local residents. When you consider that there has been an inn on the site of the Flask for nearly 200 years, would it not come as a shock to those purchasing a property in the area
to realise that pubs do sometimes get a bit noisy?!? Perhaps 'Disgruntled of Hampstead' should consider a move somewhere considerably quieter - the Outer Hebrides, perhaps??? This is a charming pub and deserves to be left alone to do what it has done for all these years(and quite successfully, I might add) - serve good beer to the Hampstead locals. Otherwise, you may arrive in Hampstead to see the Flask become yet another estate agents before too long! Now there's a conspiracy theory!...
|
What a fantastic pub they have kept the atmosphere as well as alot of the old characters that drink and now eat there, The food offer is superb i dont know whether the other people who comented on this pub actualy have been there? As it was a pleasure to be in.
|
The refurb is HORRIBLE. it looks like an Eclipse bar or closer yet - an All Bar One. We still go in here but only on the "old side".
The refurb really took away some of the soul of this place. Such a shame as there are very few traditional pubs in the 'hood left (best are The Holly Bush, The Duke and White Bear).
|
You know there is something wrong with a "Youngs" pub when the staff do not know what a "Ram and Ord'" is!
|
Haven't seen it since the refurb, but hope they haven't ruined this lovely old pub. Not as famous as its namesake across the Heath in Highgate, this is nevertheless an exemplary local boozer.
|
was a bit wary on hearing about the refurb of this local institution but it's actually not bad. to be honest it's bohemian heyday had long since passed anyway and it had become faintly depressing. the food's definitely upped it's quality from the motorway service-station slop they used to serve up. will be back for more.
ritaz - 20 Jan 2008 00:37 |
okay its clearly a chain pub but i still like it. think the refurb is an improvement, its a really lovely pub with nice features, a half decent beer selection, primarily youngs ales i seem to remember. hampstead has a reasonable selection of pubs all quite different to suit different moods, i'm not often in the mood for uniformed bar staff and pre-printed menus but somehow this place keeps pulling me back.
|
As regular readers of my reviews will know, I am not a big fan of Youngs refurbishments, but this is certainly not one of the worst. The original partitioning between the public / saloon bar side has been retained and the public bar still has a traditional feel to it.
I enjoyed a good pint of Youngs Ordinary in the "public" side at only � 2.50.
The Flask is no longer THE pub in Hampstead in my book, but I'll certainly go again next time I'm in the area
|
Oh dear! One of my favourite pubs of all time. I knew when they closed it that we would be sad when they re-opened it at something else. The signs said "Closed for improvements". What they did is appalling. Goodbye old friend. I'll never cross the threshold again. This was a classic Young's pub and they've finished it off good and proper! Wells Bombardier...? Do me a flavour!
|
Wow, what a nice job has been done on this pub. I was worried that it would be changed too much. I had a nice pint of Wells Bomberdier. I was very shocked at the price. A nice pint but very expensive
|
Reopened last week after extensive refurbishment. I was impressed with the interior as it is brighter and easier to sit comfortably, but the music was far too loud.
The staff were all dressed in Victorian outfits on Friday night, it�s just a pity that the prices are far from Victorian.
Hopefully all of the dullards that have been cluttering up the surrounding pubs during its closure will herd back into the public bar, which I�m told has lower prices than the lounge bar.
|
Why is this pub so well-known? It's an absolutely bog standard Young's house in my opinion. Could do with a lick of paint (no sign of any revamp when I was in there last weekend) and could, if truth be told, do with dispersing the crowd of old boozers that seem to perennially congregate in the front bar by the door. A classic example of a pub trading solely on reputation and location - there are better places in NW3; avoid this one.
|
The smoking ban certainly will bring in a different crowd. The pub is closing in 2 weeks for refurbishment and then it will, apparently, be re-opening as a gastro pub.
Another one bites the dust!
|
I'm looking forward to seeing what the smoking ban does to this place in just over a week's time. Personally I feel it will bring a different crowd in. Reputedly haunted. One of my top five Hampstead pubs, for the company and general feel of the place.
|
Had the worst pint in a long while here last night. Warm, soapy, flat. Fortunately, it was also well short and on this occasion I counted my blessings.
|
Had another go at this place on a Thursday night.Nice place with a mixed clientel and not too crowded.Decent Bombardier and I tried the Steak and Ale pie for �7.50.Good for that price. Female staff very friendly.
|
I�m pretty sure that �the dour paddy behind the ramp� has jumped ship and 2 younger blokes are now running The Flask. The staff are fairly friendly and the pub is open until midnight on a Friday and Saturday, but once that last bell goes they suddenly start a mad rush to get everyone out.
The men�s toilet in the lounge bar is one of the most disgusting smelling I have ever been into, but it has always been like that. Maybe Youngs should fork out for a plumber or get the council round to look at the drains.
I would never go out with the intention of drinking in The Flask, but sometimes end up there for the extended last hour at the weekend.
|
I'm not really a fan of Young's pubs, but if you can ignore the relatively poor selection of beer The Flask really is a nice, cosy little local with a typically mixed Hampstead clientelle. The staff have always been friendly whenever I've been, and the reasonably priced food (well reasonably priced for Hampstead!) is of a consistently high standard. Highly recommended!
|
A very, very smoky (seems to be no extraction) pub. Staff were quite impolite too. Beer was pretty good, but that doesn't excuse the rest of it.
|
Winter Warmer hasn't arrived anywhere as far as I can see - though on the Young's website it says the beer should have been around from October 24th.
My concern is that many Young's pubs with only three handpumps have now devoted the third to Wells Bombardier (the other two being used for Ordinary and Special). So unless they drop this when the seasonals come round, does that means those pubs won't be bothering with them anymore?
anonymous - 3 Nov 2006 21:45 |
Winter Warmer has not yet arrived here. Second pub on a Hampstead crawl with friends from around the UK yesterday. Mixed clientele of all agegroups and walks of life still drink here despite the loss of "real" Youngs' beer. The Bedford-brewed product on sale here described as Youngs Bitter was on reasonable form though. Bombardier was off, but would have tried it out for comparison otherwise.
|
This is a lovely pub. Full of cranks, nutty proffessors, burnt-out-roadies and eccentric millionaires. Typical Hampstead and I love it. Pity about the dour Paddy behind the ramp. You know, charisma bypass.
|
Good old English pub - if they have a jukebox they should be playing THE FLASK ...makes total sense!
|
Went there in the afternoon and evening and enjoyed it both times.Seemed to have a mixed clientel. A pleasant place with a decent pint of Youngs.Well worth going to on a Hampstead pub crawl.
|
I'm fairly easygoing about where I'll have a drink - i.e. if they've got a bar and they sell me alcohol over it then it's usually good by me. However the highest marks usually go to a proper old boozer which sells a decent pint of ale and accordingly I have to commend the Flask. Went in here for the first time in ages this afternoon and drank a lovely couple of pints of Youngs in the tiny "beer garden" that hides at the back of this fine establishment - quite a sun trap it was today too. In fact if I hadn't had to be sober enough to cycle home afterwards I'd probably still be in there now.
|
Love this pub, don't come up here often enough as now live in Kent. Nice to see Blackthorn instead of the ubiquitous Strongbow.
|
Freezing cold outside but like a furnace in here. Had some vege lasagne and chips which was pretty decent and a half. Been here on and off over the years and quite like it. Fairly busy but mellow atmosphere.
|
great tradiitonal pub - real ale served freezing cold sadly though......
anonymous - 18 Sep 2005 13:09 |
A good pub anywhere else, but overshadowed by at least two near neighbours in Hampstead: The Hollybush and Ye Olde White Bear.
|
Fine pub - still the best bet in Hampstead. Every time I go here, I keep expecting Youngs to have vandalised the pub and knocked it through into one bar - thankfully they haven't done so yet.
The conservatory type restaurant at the back seemed popular
|
I like this pub because it's a proper boozer but my missus doesn't because she says it's not female friendly. Enjoy a quick pint in here on the way to see her though often the quick pint turns into four and I get in trouble. Interesting clientele.
|
The Youngs beer in the Flask is good these days, but it has been a more lively place in the past, pretty quiet on most week nights except Friday and Saturdays. Lager is quite expensive. Public bar is the locals haunt, but could do with some refurbishment. All day Sky News in there not much of an enticement. Food is reasonable quality and price for the area. Loos could be much better, Come on Youngs this is supposed to be a flag ship pub!
|
A very old fashioned pub, with it's 2 parts split into the lounge and public bar. Full of people whose livers have seen better days, always the sign of a good pub. A proper old pub, not many still around these days..
TheGP - 27 Feb 2005 10:54 |
I found this a little disappointing when I visited. Sure, better than many, but not the legendary London alehouse I was expecting. Not as good as its Highgate namesake.
Grecian - 19 Nov 2004 11:22 |
Beer is fabulous, but this place tends to be infested by, not the sort of folk that you find in "Big Brother" (bad enough) but the sort that MAKE it. Aaaaargh! If you're a northerner, they will confirm all your prejudices about southerners! See how long you can stick it without starting to scream obscenities. Try "accidentally" dropping a glass and see the barefoot folk put their shoes on, or get worried because they left home without any.
Vasili - 30 Jul 2004 12:20 |
always my favourite hampstead boozer, sadly, like the place itself, it has become expansive and gentrified. the old tap room was a great place to sit and read the 'london review of books'. always reminds me of pinter's 'no man's land'. odd ball characters and plutocratic eccentrics will be missed. goodish beer.
richard - 1 Jun 2004 13:18 |
Nice quiant pub on a lovely mews. Good for a late summer evening visit.
anonymous - 14 Jan 2004 18:56 |
I think anonymous 1 10 03
may be thinking about the Flask in Highgate - another grat pub. The Flask in Hampstead doesn't have a "big outside area" but still a very place to spend an evening, and you can drink outside on flask walk.
ben - 9 Oct 2003 16:24 |
Visited again on 03/10/2003. Gone down slightly. The staff are not rude but you feel pressurised to sling your hook at 2315 on Friday Night which is a bit early. The food was good on my visit, but the Youngs special was slightly below par.
|
I used this pub for thirty years,and the most pleasing aspect was the speak easy atmosphere with always an intelligent lively conversation available amongst Hampstead regulars...many famous names included, butthat was disregarded there.
Dag Crawford - 2 Oct 2003 20:47 |
fantastic in the summer in the big outside area. pretty flowers too. In winter, indoors is really cosy. Friendly bar staff too. good beer & food. One of my favourite drinking holes in London.
anonymous - 1 Oct 2003 21:28 |
One of the remaining old style Hampstead ale houses, and the only one belonging to Youngs now the Horse and Groom has gone. Well kept ales and good atmosphere for quiet conversation.
Still retains separate public bar although the garden has given way to a conservatory style rear bar, which at least keeps the food away from the lounge areas.
Ben S. King - 7 Sep 2003 22:24 |
This place was a real find, tucked away down a charming side street right by Hampstead tube it has a perfect location. It is a really nice looking pub and well laid out with plenty of bar space and a nice conservatory for food out back. A good range of Young�s beers including Waggledance, one of my favourite thirst quenchers on a summer�s day. Didn�t stay long but I�m sure I�ll visit again.
|
Good Youngs Pub. There are 3 bits - sports saloon, main lounge, new conservatory and some seating outside.
It's all quite grand and well looked after and the conservatory is much much nicer than it sounds.
The beer is well kept and there's always a good atmosphere.
Lastly, Ruby - you must be confused with another pub as (a) it is rarely mobbed in summer (it's more of a winter pub) and (b) there is no grassy knoll outside.
The Flask in Highgate is mobbed in summer and has a knoll, was it this one you were thinking of?
Jason Nathan - 30 Jul 2003 13:08 |
Bit depressing in the summer inside. Great decorations but what is it with England. Bloody hot and the lager's luke warm.
anonymous - 22 Jul 2003 20:49 |
I agree, beautiful place, good decor, friendly hard working staff. One of the nicest pubs that exists.Good menus, lots of space.
anonymous - 4 Jul 2003 14:56 |
Beautiful authentic pub, relaxing and calming atmosphere, good looking staff. Perfect location and size. Food-to die for. It used to be a school about a century ago. Somewhere to take your partner to get them in the mood!LUSH!
anonymous - 2 Jul 2003 12:25 |
Nasty Irish guy behind the bar was very rude to me and my friend (still not sure what for... I think he overheard us joking with the friendly barmaid and thought we were having a go)then he had a go at her for not keeping us happy. Not the most relaxed atmosphere and if the staff are surley I'm guessing the boss could be the reason! Otherwise a grand looking place and a lovely spot to sit outside and have a beer.
Kevin - 16 Jun 2003 14:03 |
The Clash and the Sex Pistols used to hang out here before it was all fancy. Nice little boozer still, even if it is too tidy!
Pam - 10 Jun 2003 23:52 |
I would recommend this pub too, but with reservations. It seems as though things are slowly going down hill here. When I first drank here in 1996, there was frequent entertainment, friendly bar staff and very good food. My latest visit saw surly bar staff who closed the pub an hour and a half early (the pub was full of people!), poorly kept ale, no food to speak of and loads of dirty glasses and full ashtrays. What a shame considering the wonderful area and atmosphere.
|
A classic gentrified Hampstead boozer, serving the complete range of Young's beers in excellent condition. A recommended part of any "Hampstead crawl". Features a closed-off small front bar at the front of the pub and a much larger saloon bar at the rear. Friendly staff, too.
|
