The Garden Gate, NW3

I visited here on Saturday night after an absence of over three and a half years looking at the date on my previous comments and I have to say that my major complaint then was the service which I’m glad to report is much improved. The five strong ex public schoolboy management and staff are quick and polite, but the measures are still a little shy, although not quite enough to kick up a fuss. The layout is the same with a U-shaped seating area and no TVs or music, but there is still a bottle neck at the bar which is far too short for the size of the pub and the seating opposite is too near meaning that it is difficult to move around the pub when busy. The premium lager selection is still available and there are five hand pumps that were supporting a cider along with Brains Dark, Cornish Coaster, Scottish Joker IPA and Old Speckled Hen. This is still a food led pub and it is probably more prevalent now that it used to be as it was packed with people still dining at 21:30. The food did look good, but the pricing is at the top end for a gastro pub. The garden is still a major draw with covered seating all around the edges and a BBQ that is fired up on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in the summer months, but again it is pricey with the cheapest plain burger coming in at £6. This place is so much better than it used to be, but it is far to food orientated for my liking and although I would have no problem returning I wouldn’t stay for more than a couple of pints.

Official site of the Garden Gate, contains menu - www.thegardengatehampstead.co.uk

Official site of the Garden Gate, contains menu - www.thegardengatehampstead.co.uk

Abundant with expensive premium lagers for which you have to ask to be topped up every time one is ordered. Half of this large pub is smoking and the other half is not and they have a good food selection. The bar staff are cold and distant, but I think this is due to the manager only hiring people that have never worked behind the bar before. I was a little put off when I ordered a pint of Star and as the beer was a little lively the barman was pouring some into a half glass and then into my pint glass. Then when I asked if he could top up my ¾ full pint he said “that's as much as I can fit in”… Hmmm!!! There is a big beer garden that is great in the summer, but it does very get busy very early.