Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
New pub visits 2024 with Mobyduck
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Holly Bush, Hampstead, NW3
NW3
NW3 6SG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Holly Bush
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.
On 23rd September 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Holly Bush
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.
On 1st August 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Holly Bush
A cracking little pub almost at the top of Hampstead hill. You have to go up a flight of steps to get to the pub. Once inside there are several different rooms on three levels, many wood panelled and in all the rooms almost every table is candle powered. The building itself is Grade II listed and apparently used to be a stable block. The beer range isn't that impressive really with Harveys Best and a couple of Adnams beer usually featuring. I've never had a bad pint in here though and I've had quite a few over the years as I often stay at the Marriott at Swiss Cottage just down the road. I call in here every time I'm in Hampstead. It's a great little pub and is regularly featured in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide..
On 17th August 2008
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Hollybush
This pub is on the CAMRA regional inventory pubs with outstanding interiors. Large single bar with many seperate drinking rooms. 4 real ales on tap but with Adnams Broadside at £3.20 a pint you will need to bring your bank manager with you, still very much worth a visit. 5 minutes from Hampstead tube station up a very steep hill
On 28th June 2007
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]