The Duke of Hamilton, Hampstead

The first thing to say is that the new management of this pub, under The Cock (!), is still keeping an excellent cellar to high standard, though the number of guest ales has reduced from four to two. Sadly the rest of the recent story is not so encouraging and there are signs of an increasingly unhappy atmosphere. In the short five months of The Cock's reign, the original very pleasant manager has left, as has the chef (not replaced, so very little food now), two long standing bar staff and now the replacement manager. Staff turnover is on the high side. The pub is seldom as busy as it was under the old regime, partly due, perhaps, to The Cock's insistence that there be unsuitable recorded pop music played, often on the loud side. The pub looks good in its new dark red livery, but very little welcoming atmosphere is created by the management.

30 Jul 2011 11:59