- South End Green, Hampstead - smileysfootsteps
South End Green is a charming little area that is technically in Hampstead but is actually nearer Belsize Park in London, England. It has a village-like feel to it and is very popular with local Londoners for a couple of reasons. The first is its proximity to Hampstead Heath. The second is the pubs and the varied food and drink options in the area. Here is a brief guide to what to expect in four of these pubs. There are others nearby but these are nearest the green and the most popular.
The easiest way to get there is by taking the underground to Belsize Park, then head up the hill and turn right when you see the Royal Free hospital. It is also the terminus for the 24 and 168 buses. If you are on the overland train, then get off at Hampstead Heath station.
The Roebuck Pub, Pond street, Hampstead
The Roebuck is opposite the entrance to the hospital just a minute up the hill from South End Green. For some reason it is frequently quiet even though it is quite a pleasant cosy little pub. There is a nice enough beer garden out the back but not as nice as the one at the Garden Gate (see below). In the winter it can be a bit busier when the fire is burning but it is still not as full as it deserves to be. A possible reason for this is that the drinks are a little on the expensive side and the food isn’t the best. Especially when compared to other pubs in the area.
The White Horse Pub, South End Green, Hampstead
Most of this high-ceilinged pub is taken up with the centrally located bar. The areas around the sides are filled with tables. This allows for plenty of room to stand at the bar or to sit and eat with friends. One thing that sets the White Horse apart from other pubs in the area is the surprisingly high quality of its Thai food menu. There are a lot of pubs in North London that favour this cuisine but the White Horse is one of the better ones. During the week it can be a pleasant place to eat but at the weekends the plasma screens get turned to sport and things can get rowdy.
The Garden Gate Pub, South End Green, Hampstead
The Garden Gate manages to feel like a cosy pub while actually being quite large. If you are lucky, you may even be able to get a couch. On Tuesdays they do a cheap wine night with lots of discounted bottles of very passable wine. The food is largely of the British variety with lamb shanks and pork belly and has undergone a massive improvement recently. In the summer the Garden Gate has one of the nicest beer gardens for miles around. At the weekends on a nice day, there’s also a BBQ. The main drawback is that the bar can suddenly fill up with surprising rapidity, but that is just down to pot luck – it can empty out just as quick.
The Magdala Pub, South End road, Hampstead
If you cross over the bridge by the Garden Gate and look to your right after the train station, you will find the Magdala. On the pub’s outside wall you can still see the chips left in the plaster from where the last woman to be hanged in Britain, Ruth Ellis, shot her lover. The pub is split in two. On the right is a slightly dark and old-fashioned drinking bar. On the left is a brighter and sparser eating area. The Magdala is very firmly a gastropub and does superb food, although it can be a bit pricey. The Magdala’s atmosphere can be random: raucous, very quiet, or full of kids. Often in the same day. If you are coming here to eat at the weekend it is advisable to book ahead.
South End Green also has numerous restaurants, cafes, and shops. It is well worth a visit if you are near Hampstead or Belsize Park and fancy a food or drink stop when visiting the Heath.
Jason Ward - The writer of 'The Uneven Passage of Time' (book), and the websites The Word of Ward, and Scifiward.
