The King William IV, Hampstead - pub details
Address: 77 Hampstead High St, London, NW3 1RE [map] [gmap]
Tel: 0871 917 0007 (ref 100)
Hamsptead (0.1 miles), Finchley Road (0.6 miles), Finchley Road and Frognal (0.6 miles)
Hampstead Heath (0.4 miles), Finchley Road & Frognal (0.5 miles), West Hampstead (0.9 miles)
Pub facilities/features:
- Quiz night (Wednesdays)
NB: Information may be incomplete or out of date as this pub is not currently registered.
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> Current user rating: 4.9/10 (rated by 36 users)
> Related article: Northern Line pub crawl by Techno
> Local guides: London pub guide, North West London pub guide
> Local guides: London pub guide, North West London pub guide
other pubs nearby:
Horseshoe, Hampstead (0.1 miles), Flask, Hampstead (0.1 miles), Bar Room Bar, Hampstead (0.2 miles), Holly Bush, Hampstead (0.2 miles), Ye Olde White Bear, Hampstead (0.2 miles) - see more nearby pubs
user reviews of the King William IV, Hampstead
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5 most recent reviews of 46 shown - see all reviews
| I have known the King William IV for over forty years, and would like to correct some of the spurious reviews written on this website. It is quite clear that there is an inequality of support, favouring the William pre refurbishment- which I totally agree with. However I cannot understand some of the reviews written more recently. The refurbishment was rather superficial, and should have composed of restoring the original features; like the wooden panelling and floor. Instead wall paper has been erected, and grey paint replaces the once traditional oak featured wall panels. In addition carpet now covers half the bar, obscuring the old wooden flooring. Other features like the centre piece clock, which has existed for over a hundred years have all but disappeared. In their place cheap vulgar chandeliers hang. The real ale-when there is any, is fair. Although the choice is never greater than two, and often they have none. This seems to be a common feature of the 'new' William-they run out of stock very frequently. Sometimes they have no draft larger or real ale on offer. To make matters worse the draft larger is often flat and is sometimes served in warm glasses. Note: the cellar is not cold enough and staff should cool glasses taken from the washer. The wine suffers the same fate. Initially they had a wide choice, however the wine list never corresponded to the wine they actually had in stock. To date I think the wine list has been removed, and all they have to offer in the white variety is their house which is undrinkable. Although on my last visit, they did stock a drinkable £18 bottle-very over priced. The food initially was good, although you had to be selective with what you ordered. To be fair to the William it was good hearty pub food, although the Sunday lunch was very disappointing. The food recently has deteriorated. Once a place for great conversation with great people, has been replaced with screaming and shouting. A bar where everybody knew your name becomes a bar of strangers. The Flask and Holly Bush have become the 'new' William-what great pubs they are. The William had become the WORST PUB IN HAMPSTEAD. I feel very sad about the oldest gay pub in London deteriorating to such a state. All the regulars now either drink in the Flask or The Holly Bush. This pub now cannot be called gay. All the regulars have left and all the integrity of a once great gay pub gone. I very sad former regular. Ken ken59 - 20 Oct 2008 06:50 |
| 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 JohnGraham - 23 Sep 2008 16:20 |
| 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. Clivers - 18 Aug 2008 20:48 |
| I wouldn't mind a beatiful Swedish girlfriend. Has she got any friends? Greshon - 3 Mar 2008 12:35 |
| 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. TS77 - 29 Feb 2008 14:13 |
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