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The Garden Gate, NW3

14 South End Road
NW3
NW3 2QE
Phone: 02074354938

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Pub Type

Castle (Mitchells & Butlers)

Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Garden Gate

This is a large 1920s'/30s' 'brewers' Tudor' pub (formerly the Railway Tavern) with a superb beer garden where barbecues are held in summer which stink out the whole of the neighbouring South End Green. I first came here in 1985 when it was a bit rough round the edges and had a peeling lino floor. Now it's a lot smarter with tables both large and small and conventional chairs. Food is contemporary, but this isn't a gastro pub. Thankfully it's devoid of gimmicks such as pool or irritating distractions such as Sky sports. A popular venue with medical staff from the Royal Free Hospital, the pub can get quite crowded which results in very slow service at peak times. Typically there are six rotating ales on pump as well as craft beers and premium lagers, the bar has recently been fitted out with a new tiled bar back. On the down side, the gent's lavatories could really do with a makeover - they are a bit smelly - you can smell them from seats in close proximity to them.

This pub is definitely worth a visit and makes for a nice little crawl around the South End Green area.

On 19th September 2015 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve of N21 left this review about The Garden Gate

The positives of the Garden Gate is that it has one of the best outside drinking areas of any pub in London with its wonderfully green plant festooned beer garden, and it offers one of the best ale choices from independent brewers in the surrounding Hampstead Heath area.
The downside is that it gets ridiculously busy during fine weather days and during those times the smallish serving area in the main bar and the way the internal seating is packed in to maximise the number of paying punters is not conducive to a comfortable or quiet drinking experience.
But when in Hampstead its worth searching out for the non standard ale choice and if you get a seat in the garden then that’s a bonus. Its renowned for its Sunday lunches and BBQ’s, but I have never eaten here so best looking at Trip Advisor to see how it fares as an eating place. But a fine pint of Broughton Greenmantle didn’t let me down before I had to move on because as Tris correctly points out below, this is one of the majority of Hampstead pubs that do not go for irritating distractions such as televisions showing the sport, which is great for most of the time, but no bloody good when you are desperate to catch the 6 Nations.
Fortunately the White Horse just down the road could accommodate this.

On 20th March 2014 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Rex Rattus left this review about The Garden Gate

I wasn’t expecting much from what looked to be a very busy pub in the heart of Hampstead Heath. But I was encouraged by the sight of handpumps clipped for Hopback Summer Lightning, Brakspear’s Oxford Gold, Liberation IPA, and Downton Ed’s American Red, as well as Old Rosie and Wyldwood ciders. Sandwiches, including chips are around £7, and main courses mainly £10 - £12.

The pub’s now been completely opened up, but it still retains one or two interesting features, such as the leaded light glazed panels at the top of the windows, and the glazes “Saloon Bar” sign in one of the doors. The furnishings are good quality normal tables and chairs, and all the tables had on them a small sprig of flowers. There was also a large vase of lilies on the bar counter. These all show that someone is making an effort to make the pub comfortable and welcoming. There is also a beer garden to the side, which was very popular on a very hot July day.

This is not the sort of pub I would go out of my way to visit, although the ale selection was pretty good. Or perhaps I’m becoming blasé. But I would definitely drop in for another pint if passing.

On 29th July 2013 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve C left this review about The Garden Gate

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.

On 20th October 2010 - rating: 7
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


john mcgraw left this review about The Garden Gate

yes it's the same pub same name and here's another picture of it taken on the 27 June 2007

On 28th June 2007 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve C left this review about The Garden Gate

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.

On 27th February 2007 - rating: 5
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Philip Carter left this review about The Railway Tavern

I only have a picture of it when it called The Garden Gate. Hope it's the same place.

On 23rd December 2006 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]