The Horseshoe, Hampstead, NW3

This pub apparently has a micro-brewery on site. Stripped of its interior décor, the inside is now rather stark and minimalist with some furniture looking like it has come from a canteen. The problem here is that the pub now has rather unpleasant acoustics which makes conversation a little difficult.

This place used to be The Three Horseshoes and it must be one of the few Wetherspoons pubs that were sold as the JDW Empire expanded. The name was changed to the Horseshoe in 2005 when it was refurbished almost beyond recognition and to be honest it was in serious need of some money being spent on it. The drinkers of questionable legal age from the dance hostel over the road have been replaced by a more affluent older demographic who are more likely to visit the Pentameters Theatre, which is located above the pub, than the McDonalds around the corner. The bar has some interesting foreign beers and the A-board outside was advertising Meantime’s Pale Ale, but I didn’t spot it. I think that a few of the draught taps were unused as there were no clips on them, but in this modern gastro age there is a penchant for making the pump unreadable so that the barman has to be asked what is on offer. I was able to see that Purity Gold was available on hand pump along with Camden Town Brewery’s Best and Summer Ale. I know that there is a micro brewery in this pub, but I didn’t spot any of their wares unless they go under the Camden Town name which I doubt. This pub has had the guts ripped out of it leaving a single room with minimalist décor and an open kitchen which is located at the end of the bar which runs along the left hand side wall. The windows open up in the summer to give a nice airy breeze, which is probably handy with the inclusion of the open kitchen. There are some picnic tables along the side wall in Oriel place and there are a couple of wall benches along the Heath Street side of the pub. It can be difficult to get a seat though as passers by seem to plot themselves down whilst eating bagels or slurping on a Starbucks coffee from the shop off the High Street. One other point of note for this pub is that there are extended opening hours until midnight on Friday and Saturday, which seems to be the norm this end of the High Street. I’m more of a traditionalist when it comes to pubs and I generally tend to eat at home before I come out, but this place is much better than some bland chain bar churning out Fosters and Courage Best. It’s also great to see a pub sourcing its beers locally so good luck to them.

There is apparently now a micro-brewery here. Their house ales seem to be branded “Camden”, with two of their ales on handpump – Camden Best Bitter and Camden Summer. The Best Bitter was just fine, if served a little too cold, and reasonably priced at £3 a pint. There was a third handpump on the bar, dispensing Purity Gold. It’s now just a single horseshoe, although I didn’t notice any exterior signage to make that clear – indeed, the sign on the outside wall at the back in Oriel Place still declares it to be the Three Horseshoes. Inside it’s very minimalist; bare-boarded floor of course; some brown leather or leather effect narrow banquettes; and some school type benches/tables/small wooden chairs. It looks to food centric. There were no menus on tables, but a young lady did come up to me to ask whether I wanted a lunch menu. I did spot a lunch special advertised on a chalkboard, of lamb, pepper and potato pie, and veg, plus a glass of house wine or fruit juice, for £7 which doesn’t seem excessive as long as you want to drink wine or fruit juice. It’s not the sort of warm and comfortable place in which I like to spend my time, but OK to pop in for a swift one and to sample one of their own brews.