The Magdala, Hampstead - pub details

Magdala
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Address: 2a South Hill Park, London, NW3 2SB [map] [gmap]

Tel: 0871 951 1000 (ref 11782) - calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras

Nearest tube stations Belsize Park (0.4 miles), Hamsptead (0.6 miles), Gospel Oak (0.7 miles)

Nearest train stations Hampstead Heath (0.1 miles), Gospel Oak (0.7 miles), Finchley Road & Frognal (0.9 miles)

Pub facilities/features:

  • Food served
  • Outside seating

Pub suggested by Jason on 28 Jul 2004

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> Current user rating: 7.4/10 (rated by 22 users)
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other pubs nearby:

Garden Gate, Hampstead Heath (0.1 miles), Zamoyski, Hampstead (0.1 miles), Roebuck, Hampstead (0.2 miles), Roebuck, Hampstead (0.2 miles), Freemasons Arms, Hampstead (0.2 miles) - see more nearby pubs

 

user reviews of the Magdala, 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 28 shown - see all reviews

Recently reopened after a refurb, which has tidied up the main bar without changing it noticeably, and given a bit more priority to the regulars' public bar. The public bar is warm and welcoming on a cold day, but the chairs are a bit odd - everything else is traditional, these look like something out of the Roebuck in its disco days. Otherwise, it looks promising.

The main bar is buzzy, and the staff are polite and welcoming. But, FFS, if I sit down at a table and have a pint, I don't want to be chased out by a 'waiter' informing me that a party of six are coming, and could they have my table?

No mate, it's a pub. Do try and remember that

adelondon - 28 Oct 2011 13:44
Went last Sunday and enjoyed myself immensely. The public bar is reassuringly old fashioned and was very busy. Staff were nice. Guest Ale was Celtic Teap which was excellent, apart from that Pride and Greene King IPA were the Ale's on tap. Ended up staying several hours and chatted to an assortment of the interesting and varied locals.
gtillson - 20 Oct 2010 20:14
This place is definitely on the slide. It's staggering around like a drunk with a head wound, not quite sure why it's bleeding.

The food used to be a bit special - now it's smaller portions, less tasty, same quite high prices. The place is increasingly overrun with kids and the old regulars are crammed, rather forlornly, into the smaller public bar.

As for the staff… they seem to "forget" they're working in a pub and insist on table service, meaning the attendant service charge for a round of drinks is added to your food bill.

Real shame this.
adelondon - 8 Apr 2010 16:22
The Magdala is a friendly, pleasant local, and despite being a short stone's throw from South End Green it's less often as crowded as the pubs there, and all the better for it, and even when it is a bit busier it's always relaxed and easy going. One bar is very traditional, one rather more modern, the older could do with a tidy up and a new carpet, but it's still much preferable to the modern one which is very loud if there's more than a half dozen or so people in it, as it's all hard surfaces. I've eaten there a couple of times but I'd have to be pretty hungry to do so again - it's not that the food is poor, quite the reverse it’s great, but the prices are steep, and on one occasion I questioned whether nine, (yes – nine), chips was really adequate considering the money being charged, (according to the Magdala, it is).
It’s too dear to eat in and one bar is noisy, (the contrast between the two bars is quite striking), those details aside this is a good, friendly pub, and whilst there’s not a great variety of beer, (Pride, Greene King IPA and usually a guest), it’s well kept and pleasantly served.
Definitely still the best pub in the South End Green area though – and by some degree too.

Teuthida - 14 Nov 2009 14:39
With regard to the Ruth Ellis connection: When I was last in that neck of the woods the bullet holes from shooting her lover were still visible in the external wall tiles....Uh Uh I suppose neck of the woods is an unfortunate euphonism in view of her fate!!!
Latitude - 4 Oct 2009 19:18

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