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The Washington, Belsize Park, NW3

50 Englands Lane
NW3
NW3 4UE
Phone: 02077228842

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Pub Type

Castle (Mitchells & Butlers)

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


Bucking Fastard left this review about The Washington

A fine building on a street corner in upmarket Belsize Park,this has a CAMRA 3* Heritage designation which it lives up to.Entered at the apex to the right behind a sudstantial wooden divider is a side section with a marble topped bar with bar stools set for dining,a long high table ,access to the servery and a door to the gents.It has it's own side door and is discrete.
The rest of the pub is open plan and L shaped with some large banquettes,a row of low backed seating booths and down the far leg more impressive red leather banquettes,a real fire,large wildlife mirrors and some decent wood panelling. The best tables here are also set for dining.There is an interesting etched glass section behind a door marked private in the lobby of the far distant side door but with no access all i could do was to admire the etched glass which divides this area from the pub.My guess is that this would have been an entrance to the hotel operation on the upper floors.
The U shaped bar is very attractive with the high ceiling allowing substantial upper glazed screens,most impressive.Lighting throughout is good ,mostly modern with some long flexes and some globes.
Food is a major focus with not many mains under £18,although there are pub snacks at around £7,3 for £17.A major disappointment was three reversed pump clips on a Monday lunchtime.According to the menu regular ales are TT Landlord and Doom Bar so I had to make do with keg Neck Oil ,£3.65 the half was a rip off,although the barmaid was very friendly and polite.Overall it's a classy pub and the score reflects the heritage yet I wouldn't rush back here even if real ale were to make an appearance.

On 8th March 2024 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


Will Larter left this review about The Washington

A large corner hotel with plenty of heritage features - it has three star rating on Camra's guide (see link below) - at time of writing this shows the pub having closed in October 2023 but in fact it reopened after a refurbishment. When I was here a year ago the guys running the place were really enthusiastic about the pub's history and the preserved features. They told me it was due for a spruce up later in the year, and assured me this would be done with all due respect. At the time of my visit there were three beers on the bar, with two spare pumps (see photo) - not surprising on a Tuesday afternoon in January. I had a half of Doom Bar, which was in very good condition (NBSS 3.5). I wouldn't mind coming back some time to see how it's looking.

Date of visit: 17th January 2023

On 15th January 2024 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3700 recommendations about 3439 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve of N21 left this review about The Washington

A post Covid revisit found the Washington still functioning well. Only three ales available for this visit with two of the five pumps with Doombar clips two with St Austell Proper Job and Tribute on the last one. The Proper Job was on fine form.

On 11th August 2022 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve of N21 left this review about The Washington

Have not visited this one in many a moon, so finding myself back in the area on a mid week lunchtime I decided to make its acquaintance again and was very pleased to find it unchanged and seemingly in rude health.
Noticeable for its CAMRA listed historic pub interiors which is well described below, it does make the pub slightly dark granted, but there was plenty of light on lunchtime on one of the longest days of the year to enjoy it by, and rather it being a bit gloomy than the modern gastro trend of making you eat and drink in a shiny fish bowl.
The horseshoe bar supports five handpumps and alongside the usual house beers of Doombore, TT Landlord and St Austell’s Proper Job, Hop Back Summer Lightning was one of the guests and this was on fine form. I also noticed some interesting London craft options from the likes of Bevertown, London fields and Mondo Brewing.
This is a fine pub and one of the best in the area.

On 23rd June 2019 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Washington

Situated on the Swiss Cottage/Chalk Farm border of Hampstead, this pub dates from 1865 and I remember it once as having more partitions; over the years it has been opened up. Quite justifiably, this pub is listed on CAMRA's London Regional Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors; it's a veritable cornucopia of cut, etched and painted glass, ornate tilework, partitions and stucco ceiling, all of which could be better appreciated if this pub weren't so gloomy. Furniture is mixed with some upholstered bench seats, some button-backed as well as a little modern furniture.
Somewhat erroneously, the countenance of the eponymous US president looks down from the corner splay; lavatories are termed 'Wash Room' for 'Presidents' and 'First Ladies' - this really is a bit naff, especially when you consider that the pub was in fact named after Washington in West Sussex, from where, depending on who you believe, hailed either an early landlord or the area's developer. This pub is quite big on food but I wouldn't call it a gastro pub. It is however not what I'd call a boozer either.
I come here periodically, if only for the interior, but it does get very crowded on most nights - the Friday/Saturday midnight licence is a bonus.

On 12th December 2017 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


hondo . left this review about The Washington

Quite a dark but very ornate interior. 5 real ales served from a horseshoe shaped bar. Food served.

On 21st November 2013 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Rex Rattus left this review about The Washington

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.

On 13th March 2010 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve C left this review about The Washington

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.

On 27th October 2008 - rating: 6
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]