Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 28 and Version 27 of Spaniards Inn, NW3 7JJ

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formatted_website_text=' class="external">thespaniardshampstead....'
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latitude='51.570161'
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longitude='-0.174025'
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A Castle (Mitchells & Butlers) pub in Hampstead. Claims to have 23 draught products, refreshingly few of which are standard lagers. Cask Marque plaque at entrance.

Keats is reputed to have written "Ode to a Nightingale" in the gardens, and Charles Dickens mentioned the Spaniard's Inn in his novels. The gardens are superb, particularly in summer. They include an aviary! Inside, the place is a warren of small wood-panelled, and somewhat claustrophobic rooms.

Decent but fairly commonplace range of cask ales on handpull, Harveys Sussex Best is a usual fixture but was off last visit. In September 2008, the line-up was the Sussex Best, Bass, Deuchars IPA (£2.95/pint), Adnam's Southwold Bitter, as well as Weston's Vintage Cider and Country Perry. Decent draught selection, including Belgian fruit beers, Kirin Ichiban, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Franziskaner, Leffe and Pilsner Urquell.

Despite a really nice selection on tap, Joel went for bottled beers on a visit in March 2008, of which there was an excellent selection too. The Goose Island IPA (a very floral/fruity American IPA) was delicious, and I was very glad to see Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier (a dark German smoked ale) and Fuller's Vintage Ale 2006 in the fridges too. We particularly enjoyed Karmeliet Tripel (a 3 grain belgian golden ale, very fruity smelling), and the Rauchbier.

The food looked OK but not outstanding — good for most areas but not a patch on some of the other Hampstead and Highgate pubs.

Getting there:

  • it's on the road from Highgate to Hampstead, metres from Kenwood House;
  • the bus 210 runs past;
  • it's 10-15 minutes walk from Hampstead Station.

See also:

Last visited by Ewan, September 2008.

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