The Holly Bush, Hampstead, NW3

This place has very recently been added to the Fullers portfolio so there were three of their ales on as well as Harveys Best and there was also an unused hand pump. There was also a selection of standard and premium draught, but unfortunately on my last visit the Pride was not at its best. I also had to wait at the bar for a while before one of the eight, yes eight, staff members standing behind it managed to pull themselves away from their conversation to serve me. The bar area is quite small for the size of the pub meaning that it can become quite crowded, but the pub is a maze of rooms and little tucked away areas. The upstairs area used to be a restaurant, but I’m not sure what the plans are for it now although Fullers are known for serving up food in their pubs so I’d imagine that it would stay the same. This is a highly rated pub and although it’s not my favourite in the area I can see the attraction and it is worth a look.

A veritable maze of small rooms, nooks and crannies. The LHS room on entering is marked "Coffee Room" on the etched windows. The interior is dimly lit, wooden floors and panelling, some painted exposed brickwork, old photos of the locality etc. The old Benskins signs and adverts survive and add character and historical interest, but I also like the Thomas Crapper ad next to the toilets which is rather quirky yet apt. One nice touch I noticed is the sign advising of the last tube train times from the nearby station, what a good idea. Food looks good and sandwiches are said to be made with home baked bread. Four handpumps, one unclipped today. Adnams Bitter, Hook Norton Hooky Gold and Harveys Sussex Bitter making a rare appearance this far north.

This is quite an atmospheric pub that doesn't look as if it has changed much over the years. Ales on were Purity Mad Goose; Adnam's Broadside; Old Hooky; and Harvey's Best. The Mad Goose was pretty good, and at a typical Hampstead price of £3.20 a pint. I settled in the Coffee Room, containing normal tables, settles and chairs. The front bar, as you enter, contains only a couple of tables. Its Allied Breweries heritage is proclaimed by the “Benskin's” pub sign. There's lots of dark varnished wood, and the walls have that yellow/brown patina that comes with age and smoke. It doesn't look as if it has been painted for many years – if it has, they've done a remarkable job of making it look old. I don't know if the hot food was any good (the oven was on the blink when I was in) but the ham and mustard sarny I had wasn't up to much. It did have a bit of rather nice salad garnish, but the bread wasn't fresh, and I couldn't taste the mustard. At £4.40 a throw they could have done better. But I won't condemn a pub on the basis of one sandwich! As a pub I really liked it – comfortable, attractive, full of character and with decent ale. There was no music playing – a plus in my book – in fact I didn't see any of the machines that seem to blight pubs these days. I found it a quiet, welcoming, pub, and definitely deserving a return visit.