The Washington, Belsize Park, NW3

Official site of the Washington, contains event details - thewashingtonhampstead.co.uk

Official site of the Washington, contains event details - thewashingtonhampstead.co.uk

Randomness Guide to London - Washington entry

Randomness Guide to London - Washington entry

For a pub that looks so unprepossessing from the outside it has a spectacular interior. Many original Victorian features remain, including what looks like a Lincrusta ceiling; mahogany woodwork; and masses of etched and cut glass, for which the late Victorians are unsurpassed. It has the high ceiling you would expect in a late Victorian pub, and the varnished bare-boarded floor looks original. Furnishings are mainly banquettes, normal chairs and solid wood tables, and I did spot a high table (apparently made from a butcher’s block!) and a couple of high stools. They had five real ales on, although nothing out of the ordinary – London Pride, Pedigree, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Young’s Bitter, and Sharp’s Doom Bar. I had the Young’s Bitter, at a fairly reasonable £2.90 a pint. The food menu looked reasonable, although I didn’t eat there. The sarnies on toasted bread came in at the £4 - £5 mark. The negative points for me about this pub were the cash machine skulking in a corner, the plastic padded fronts to the bar counter, and the coloured lights strung through the potted plants and above the superb back painted mirrors near the toilet entrances. I didn’t care much for the plastic sign near the toilet entrance advertising the “Wash Room”, but these sort of things are necessary I suppose. But I would still recommend this pub for the many fine original features that remain, and they did five ales on even if they were some of the more commonly seen brands.

It was very busy in here early Saturday evening and I had to wait a while to be served as the staff had done a disappearing act. Landlord, Malt & Hops and Pride were available along with a large variety of standard and premium lager. A very mixed clientele was present from Primrose Hill Nathans to ex Britannia locals. I find it hard to get comfortable in here and would rather drink in the Steeles or head up to Hampstead.