The Magdala, Hampstead - pub details
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Address: 2a South Hill Park, London, NW3 2SB [map] [gmap]
Tel: 08721 077 077 (ref 11782)
Belsize Park (0.4 miles), Hamsptead (0.6 miles), Gospel Oak (0.7 miles)
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
NB: Information may be incomplete or out of date as this pub is not currently registered.
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> Current user rating: 7.4/10 (rated by 20 users)
> Local guides: London pub guide, North West London pub guide
other pubs nearby:
Garden Gate, Hampstead Heath (0.1 miles), Zamoyski, Hampstead (0.1 miles), Roebuck, Hampstead (0.2 miles), Freemasons Arms, Hampstead (0.2 miles), White Horse, Hampstead Heath (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 26 shown - see all reviews
| 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 |
| This seemed to me to very much a pub of two halves. It still retains its original two-bar format, hence its inclusion in CAMRA’s inventory of London’s heritage pubs. The bar on the left has been stripped out and appears to be the sort of minimalist bar that you might find in a Young’s pub; the much smaller bar on the right, however, retains its inter-war feel, with dark wood panelling, carpeted floor, and the original bar counter – thus giving it a more traditional pub feel. All the windows seem to still have the original leaded lights round the edges. No prizes for guessing which bar I preferred, and where I spent my visit. The clientele seemed to be polite, well-spoken, probably well-heeled, locals. The real ales on were GKIPA; London Pride; and Leeds Brewery’s Samba, the latter advertised as a fruity summer blonde. I went for the Samba of course, which I found to be pretty lifeless for a blonde, but maybe it usually performs better. Blondes usually do. Anyway, this is a reasonable pub. Not great, and certainly not as good as some other Hampstead pubs, but OK for a swift sojourn. RexRattus - 28 Sep 2009 11:13 |
| Kudos to the staff, who are very charming. But on my last visit last Sunday, the main bar looked dead on its arse. Meanwhile, The Garden Gate, not 100 yards away, was packed to the rafters. Problem with the Magdala is it doesn't seem to know what kind of pub it wants to be these days. Sort it out, please: this could be a cracking local. adelondon - 15 Jul 2009 17:52 |
| Hooray for The Magdala. Popped in here a couple of Sundays ago after walking in and straight out of the hideous Garden Gate around the corner. We were a crowd of 6 very tipsy people and probably a tad loud but the staff and the clientele (even the ones with young kids) didn't bat an eyelid. Ace food, fine range of ales and alcohol in general and smashing staff. Genuinely friendly, very laid back and charming. It looks a bit rubbish from the outside, like it may be a coffee shop or something but it truly is a treasure, my congratulations to the people who make it what it is. JohnMcC - 6 Jun 2009 03:14 |
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