The Magdala, NW3

Opposite Hampstead Heath Station ( North London Overground Line ) is The Magdala – the “Tavern” part of the pub’s name has seemingly been dropped. It’s a pub with two contrasting, interconnecting rooms and which is still probably best known as the pub outside which Ruth Ellis shot her lover in April 1955 and subsequently became the last woman in the UK to be hanged. The main room on the left is a gastro pub operation with a featureless and bright interior of bare floorboards and long wooden tables and, in one corner, the ubiquitous open kitchen. The much smaller room on the right is, carpeted, cosy and, by comparison, characterful. It includes half height wood panelling, a small original panelled bar counter and a fine marble surround fireplace. Seating includes some comfortable, upholstered chairs, although the rather garishly coloured fabric on some of the chairs does jar. On the wall in this room, a framed article tells us the story of Ruth Ellis and how she met her fate in July 1955. Apparently, there used to be a plaque outside and some bullet holes ( believed to have been introduced by an enterprising former landlord ), but these seem to have gone. The pub retains the green tinged leaded windows telling us that it used to be a Charringtons house. The surviving 1930’s interior in the right hand room earns the pub an entry in the CAMRA book of London Heritage Pubs. On my recent Sunday lunchtime visit, the right hand room had a good customer mix – a few venerable Hampstead locals, several groups of diners ( revealingly, preferring to eat here rather than the larger room ) and a few runners who had been out on Parliament Hill. A silent TV was showing France v Ireland in the Six Nations. Beers on were Doom Bar, Greene King IPA and, notably, the rarely seen Bays Bitter from Devon which was £ 3.50p and a pleasant pint. I like the way that this pub has retained two contrasting areas. I’d probably call in again if passing through