The Magdala, Hampstead

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.

14 Nov 2009 14:39

The Stag, Belsize Park

Painted a painfully out of place black on the outside, it only gets worse once you get inside, dark and unwelcoming, poor service, eye-wateringly expensive food. Sadly no longer free of Nathan Barleys.
On the plus side it's got a great garden, now with far, far better accommodation than previously, and with heaters too. There�s only two beers; Black Sheep, Landlord, which are well kept and, surprisingly for the area, reasonably priced, just don't ask for a top up even if there's a inch plus head on your pint and you're almost alone in the pub - apparently that's one way to make yourself unpopular, and I was my most politest I could be too!
Previously it was always a friendly local, as far as the building itself it was somewhat underwhelming, and there�s no doubt The Stag was crying out for some TLC or even a complete renovation, however what happened was it got wrecked. If you like spending too much money on your dinner, like staff who are far too cool to waste their time giving good service to paying customers, and you'd like to pretend you're in Shoreditch or Hoxton without the trouble of getting the bus; this is the pub for you.

14 Nov 2009 14:24