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Chat about:
Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Alan Winfield
Submitted on Sunday, 6th August 2017
With picture contributions to 6053 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (7 more images)
Detail Pages
The Bull & Last, NW5
NW5
NW5 1QS
Served areas
Reviews of The Bull & Last (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Steve of N21 left this review about The Bull & Last
A very nice looking square corner pub from the outside with a limited number of bench tables on the outside walls.
Once inside it more resembles a restaurant with most if not all the downstairs tables being used for dining. And then an additional dining room upstairs. There’s no real place for vertical drinking here and not a great deal of opportunities to sit and just have a beer.
And on that front only one of the three handpumps on the bar was badged with a lone Oakham Citra. With all the outside tables taken I had to perch myself on one of the few bar stools and felt like a spare part amongst all the diners. I thought about returning to try the food but when seeng the price point this one is pitched at I can’t see myself returning at all.
On 7th May 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Bull & Last
I recall back in around 2007 this once unprepossessing boozer had a note in the window which read 'Use us or lose us'. It reopened in 2008 as a serious foodie gastropub in the true sense of the word - along with the Wells across the Heath in Hampstead, these are probably the only two genuine gastropubs in the borough of Camden that merit the adjective; as mentioned, most of the tables are laid for dining and there's a dining room upstairs which apparently offers more of a restaurant experience, if that's possible.
The pub was a coaching inn in 1820 but perhaps not when it was rebuilt in its current Victorian guise. The exterior has a fine display of planters and hanging flower baskets and some presumably Charrington's spherical lanterns; there are picnic benches. The layout is fairly conventional with a bare floor, coal effect fire, rear bar and some brown t 'n' g panelling to parts of the walls and whole ceiling with hanging metal lampshades; paint is predominantly pale grey. There's also an open kitchen which will produce smells, noise and in summer, heat - I don't care much for them.
Furniture is conventional - there are some stools to the bar so that the selfish can block it and drinkers' tables - around three - are round and small. When I first came here in 2008 the food was indeed very good; oysters with shallotte vinegar for starters. The pub also supplies hampers so that you can picnic on the Heath and starting at just £40 for two, would be ideal for locals Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter. This is also a doggers' pub and hounds are invited to eat marrowbone and pigs' ears, presumably off the floor which sounds absolutely repulsive, especially in a place that serves food. Music played over the gramophone and it was a little bit too loud.
The barman was very friendly, thankfully not wielding an over-and-under 12-bore shotgun. Ales: one unused pump, Hallet's Heartbreaker for Worzels then Harbour's Daymer Extra Pale Ale, Redemption's Big Chief and Redwillow's Feckless at £2.25 a half which is decent value for the area and very tasty too.
This may be a good place to eat but the lack of drinkers' seating is a deterrent and the Dartmouth Arms is just around the corner. As I no longer live near here, I don't envisage a return visit.
On 17th February 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Bull & Last
The Bull & Last is a nice looking corner pub that is situated close to Hampstead Heath.
Once inside in an L shaped room which is bare boarded,the seating is normal tables and chairs with small stools,there is an open kitchen to the right of the bar,food is obviously served and was doing a decent trade,though you could sit anywhere.
There were three real ales on the bar,i had a drink of XT4 which was a very nice drink,the other real ales were Redemption Big Chief and Wild Weather Betrayal.
There was decent background music playing and the pub was fairly busy on my Friday afternoon visit.
I was happy enough having a drink in this pub.
Pub visited 2/6/2017
On 6th August 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
View more reviews of The Bull & Last (11)
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- Official site of the Bull & Last - www.thebullandlast.co.uk
- Twitter - Bull & Last
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Bull & Last - whatpub.com
Kentish Town, 0.72 miles, 13 min walk (show)
Hampstead Heath, 0.94 miles, 18 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : Yes - 6 rooms. - last updated 23 December 2018 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 31 October 2014 by Pub SignMan
- Beer Garden : No last updated 30 July 2013 by Will Larter
- Car Park : No last updated 30 July 2013 by Will Larter
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 31 October 2014 by Pub SignMan
- Darts : No last updated 31 October 2014 by Pub SignMan
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 31 October 2014 by Pub SignMan
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 30 July 2013 by Will Larter
- Jukebox : No last updated 31 October 2014 by Pub SignMan
- Karaoke : No last updated 31 October 2014 by Pub SignMan
- Live Music : No last updated 17 February 2018 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 17 February 2018 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 17 February 2018 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 31 October 2014 by Pub SignMan
- Pool Table : No last updated 31 October 2014 by Pub SignMan
- Quiz Night : No last updated 17 February 2018 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 30 July 2013 by Will Larter
- Real Cider : No last updated 31 October 2014 by Pub SignMan
