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Detail Pages
The Priory Tavern, NW6
NW6
NW6 4BT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Priory Tavern
Perfectly described below with even the small attendance at 6.45pm on my visit fitting perfectly into Tris’s described demographic below!
It refreshingly has no background music (or if it was on it was so low I couldn’t hear it at the front of the pub). They do have live music - jazz every Sunday evening and a Blues Night on the third Thurs of the month. Also a quiz every Tuesday at 7.30pm but given that is only 45 mins from my arrival time this evening there was no evidence of the gathering masses to partake.
Beer wise plenty of keg options and some not often seen on the shiny plumbing. Two hand pumps only one operational dispensing a very fine pint of TT Landlord in a TT glass! I would say this is more gastropub since Tris’s visit (was tempted by the crushed kale, quinoa and put lentil salad but I had had a very nice lunch at Restaurant St Bart’s earlier and not peckish enough this evening to dive into another meal).
I would have had no hesitation in posting a higher score with more cask options but this is a really lovely pub and a pleasure to while away some time in (not on laptop obviously and discretely using mobile to record these simple observations).
On 16th April 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 115 recommendations about 115 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Priory Tavern
This pub takes its name from its location, part of the curtilage belonging to Kilburn Priory, founded in the 1130s by three Benedictine canonesses (Christina, Emma and Gunilde) on land given to them by a hermit called Godwin, to serve with a hostium, pilgrims travelling between St. Albans and Canterbury along what was once the Roman road of Watling Street, now Kilburn High Road. It fell prey to Henry VIII’s Reformation in 1536, but the name remains in the form of this former Truman’s house of pilgrimage.
Externally this is an attractive corner pub in West Hampstead, bordering on Kilburn. It displays some good Truman’s signage and lanterns as well as attractive cream and mottled green/blue faience tiles.
Internally it’s a fair size with an island bar of stripped wood, possibly original, with a bare wood pot shelf which looks newer. It’s also topped with an interesting neon Ben Truman sign.
The rest of the pub is mainly part stripped wood panelling as well as pale stripped floor boards, possibly original. Walls are white with a green ceiling and at least one unattractive fan. The rear of the pub appears more geared towards dining, though this isn’t a gastropub and there’s a small, partially open kitchen. The front area is more pubby with some conventional dark furniture, some low modern sofas and a few velour-covered stools with the oche and dartboard to the side along with a selection of board games and daily newspapers.
Customers are mixed being an older middle-class bunch with some hipsterish youngsters.
Unlike the rear, the front is really quite brightly lit, illumination coming courtesy of some fake Victorian ceiling lamps; music played but at an acceptable level.
The Priory Tavern also has a dog ban as well as a ‘no screens & no machines’ policy. A ban on children would mean the complete vanquish of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Food is made onsite and comes from their own in-house smoke oven.
Ales: Exmoor Ale and Purity’s Ubu, both with the clips reversed, thereafter just Marston’s 61 Deep at an extremely reasonable £1.95 a half and very good it was too - and so it should be given that the pub won Regional Cellar Keeper of the Year 2015.
We thought that this was a very decent pub - the Thursday to Saturday midnight licence is an added bonus - and much improved since our last visit about six years ago. However, the lack of ale was a big disappointment, especially given the above credentials. Nevertheless, this is certainly worth a visit if in the area and is probably the best pub in NW6, though the competition’s hardly stiff. Had the other two ales been on and in similar condition to the Marston's, I'd give the pub a higher grade.
On 6th December 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Priory Tavern
U-shaped hipsterised pub with the varnish stripped from the long curved island bar and a generally grubby feel. Bits of arty arrangements, including a rather natty ALE! sign made up from Tim Taylor beer mats (see pic). Dart board, an extensive range of board games and a Tuesday quiz night noted. Upright piano and acoustic guitar in situ, not sure if they were tuned and available to play or not. Three pumps, just TT Landlord on (“we’re running low on beer” said the barman, which for a Friday seemed a bit of a stupid position to be in) with clips from Flacks and Long Man turned. My TTL was the first out, no pull-through so sloppy bar skills. Could do better but I’m sure the local boho squad love it. 5.5
On 22nd March 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Priory Tavern
The Priory Tavern is a decent looking pub that is situated quite close to Kilburn High Road Overground Station.
Once inside there is a single room with an island bar,there were low leather settees and large chunky wood tables to the front,plus a darts board to the front right,the rear had normal tables and chairs,the room is bare boarded throughout.
There were two real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Vale Wychert which was a nice drink,the other beer was Taylor Landlord.
There was some background music playing during my Thursday afternoon visit which i did'nt really like.
This is a pleasant enough pub that seemed a bit more upmarket than the pubs on the high road.
Pub visited 1/5/2014
On 1st May 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]