Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 48 and Version 18 of Holly Bush, NW3 6SG

Version 48	Version 18
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Pub in [[Locale Hampstead\|Hampstead]]. It was [http://www.daviscofferlyons.co.uk/newsdetail.aspx?id=600 acquired] by [[Category Fuller's\|Fuller's]] in early 2010; some of the comments below predate this, but aside from the beers available, it does not appear to have changed very much.	Good Beer Guide pub in [[Locale Hampstead\|Hampstead]].
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It has a really nice interior, with nooks and alcoves, candles on the tables, lots of wood, exposed floorboards, and wines written up on a blackboard on the wall. The spaces towards the rear of the pub include a large room adjoining the kitchen <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/7041803677/ photo]</small> and some smaller rooms to the side <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/7041803785/ photo]</small> towards the toilets, and are all rather dark even during the daytime. There's a separate bookable room upstairs in a light, airy space with comfortable seating.	Really nice interior, with nooks and alcoves, candles on the tables, lots of wood, floorboards, wines written up on a black board on the wall. There's a separate dining room upstairs but we didn't get to check it out. There are a few seats out the front too; the pub is actually situated in a very nice little courtyard off a very steep side street.
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[[Allolex]] held a birthday dinner here in early 2007 with about ten friends, and they had a table big enough to accommodate all of us. There are a few seats out the front too; the pub is actually situated in a very nice little courtyard off a very steep side street. Note that they allow booking of the regular pub tables and can get very busy on Sunday lunchtimes and on evenings towards the end of the week, so at peak times it's best to either book or arrive early.	[[Kake]], [[ilmari]], [[Bob]], and Phil visited on a Thursday evening in February 2008. Many of the tables had been booked, since it was Valentine's Day, so Kake arrived early to bag a table; this turned out to have been a very good idea. Don't know how busy it normally gets on a weekday evening.
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There are four handpulls on the bar. When [[Kake]] et al. visited in February 2008, the staff seemed to know a fair bit about the beers and wines on offer; we overheard them give sensible advice on both. On a visit in June 2011, the ales available were all from the Fuller's range, including London Pride and Gales Seafarers' Ale. (The Good Beer Guide notes that cider may only be on sale during warmer months.)	Beers available were Broadside (£3.05), Harveys Sussex Best (£3), London Pride, Batemans XXXB (£3), and Tinners Cornish Bitter (the guest; £3.05). The staff seem to know a fair bit about the beers and wines on offer; we overheard them give sensible advice on both. Cider is sold in the summer, according to the Good Beer Guide.
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Food is served noon-3pm and 6pm-10pm Monday-Friday, noon-5pm and 6pm-10pm Saturday, and noon-5pm, 6pm-9pm Sunday <small>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/3955034005/sizes/l/ photo of menu as of September 2009]</small>. There are also bar snacks available, including home-made sausage rolls (£2.80 as of September 2009).	Bar snacks are available: mixed nuts (85p), Fairfield crisps (like Kettle Chips; 95p), mixed olives (£1.50; we liked - very nice mix of different kinds of olives), and home-made sausage rolls (£3).
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[[Kake]], [[ilmari]], [[bob]], and Phil gave the regular menu a go in February 2008. Everything we tried was good. Mixed olives (£1.50) were a very nice mix of different kinds of olives. Half-pint of prawns (£5) turned out to be six huge shell-on prawns <small>[http://flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/2267312791/ photo]</small>. One warning: although the Adnams rarebit (£5.50) was described as a starter, it was enormous <small>[http://flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/2267302921/ photo]</small>. Salmon fillet with mash, spinach and tarragon and white wine sauce (£12); duck and cherry sausages with cheddar mash and red onion and marmalade gravy (£9); and organic beef and Harvey's pie with cheddar mash and salad (£9) were all sampled and deemed to be very good. The pies were true pies, with pastry all the way around. We were less enthusiastic about the desserts, but [[bob]] thought the cheese plate (£6; Stinking Bishop, Denhay mature Cheddar, and Blacksticks Blue) was very good. These prices are slightly higher than you'd pay in most pubs, but we felt the quality of the food was worth it.	The proper food menu has lots more on it, and everything we tried was good. Half-pint of prawns (£5) turned out to be six huge shell-on prawns <small>[http://flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/2267312791/ photo]</small>. One warning: although the Adnams rarebit (£5.50) was described as a starter, it was enormous <small>[http://flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/2267302921/ photo]</small>. Salmon fillet with mash, spinach and tarragon and white wine sauce (£12); duck and cherry sausages with cheddar mash and red onion and marmalade gravy (£9); and organic beef and Harvey's pie with cheddar mash and salad (£9) were all sampled and deemed to be very good. The pies were true pies, with pastry all the way around. We were less enthusiastic about the desserts, but [[Bob]] said the cheese plate (£6; Stinking Bishop, Denhay mature Cheddar, and Blacksticks Blue) was very good.
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[[Bradders]] visited for Sunday lunch in September 2009. The Holly Bush is evidently very popular; I turned up early (11:55am) and there was already a small queue outside! Most of the tables were already reserved when I got in, but I was able to nab an alcove. I had a pint of the Old Hooky, which tasted perfectly fine, and had the sea marsh lamb (delicious) followed by the chocolate brownie with pistachio mousse (also superb). My dining companion had beef (which as per her request was served without horseradish sauce) and one of the dessert specials, tiramisu with poached berries. It's worth noting that although we didn't notice that the specials were listed as only being available from 6 onwards, the bar staff offered to check if they could be done earlier and quickly confirmed that they could (although obviously this may not always be the case). Having ordered at about 12:45pm, we were eating by one; the portions were very good, as well as nicely prepared. The only issue we had was that the bill seemed a little high, but on checking it (it was clearly itemised) it was obvious that one of the staff had entered another table's drinks against our bill. This was immediately rectified with a prompt apology and I think this was just bad luck. Overall, a very good Sunday lunch experience and I'd definitely come again. Booking strongly recommended, though.	These prices are slightly higher than you'd pay in most pubs, but the quality of the food is worth it. Food is served noon-10pm Mon-Sat and noon-9pm Sundays and Bank Holidays, though they warn that availability will be reduced between 4pm and 6pm on weekdays as they ramp up for the evening.
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On [[Ewan]]'s visit in June 2011, there was space in the darker back areas for eating, and the fish pie was excellent quality.	[[Bob]] and [[Kake]]'s verdict: We will definitely come here again.
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Accessibility: A step up to get in. The ladies' is up another step, and the gents' up a couple more. The pub itself is at the top of a steep hill, and the pavement outside is fairly high.	Comment added by Ash: The Holly Bush has been one of my favourite pubs for years. However, recently it seems that the food is very hit or miss; either excellent as usual, or really really bad. On a summer 2008 visit along with [[ilmari]], we were kept waiting an hour for our pies, and then they were dry and overcooked, one was slightly burned, and the carrots served alongside were uncooked. The only positive aspect was that the manager was happy to refund the money we'd paid. If they'd only told us when we arrived that the kitchen was going crazy, we'd have gone elsewhere.
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* [http://fancyapint.com/pub/1308 Fancyapint review] * [http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubreviews/23720/ Pubs Galore comments]
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	* [http://fancyapint.com/pubs/pub1308.html Fancyapint review]
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* [http://www.qype.co.uk/place/44358 Qype comments] * [http://hiphopsbeer.wordpress.com/2009/05/15/the-holly-bush/ Hip-Hops review] * [https://www.kentishtowner.co.uk/2018/02/21/review-holly-bush-hampstead/ Kentishtowner review] * [http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/the-holly-bush Spotted By Locals review] * [http://tastyfever.wordpress.com/2010/05/14/pub-22-the-holly-bush-hampstead/ Tasty Fever review] * [https://willstrangebrews.wordpress.com/2015/04/19/taverns-in-town-11/ Taverns In Town article]
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<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[Ewan]] and [[Kerry]], June 2011. Opening hours and food times taken from the Holly Bush website, July 2011.</div>	<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[ilmari]] and Ash, summer 2008. Food times taken from menu in pub, February 2008. Opening hours taken from Time Out website, April 2008.</div> Comment added by Ash: After previously leaving some excellent reviews here for the Holly Bush, I was astounded when I visited on Friday 18th October 08 to have dinner to be told by the manager that I was barred, as I had dared to complain (food taking over an hour to come, and then burned and inedible) the last time he'd seen me, which had been at least 6 months previously and I'd visited several times since. Amazing, considering that at least 3 bars in Hampstead have closed in the last couple of years! He refused to give any further comment and simply told me to go elsewhere, rudely. Considering that I had until today considered the Holly Bush my local, and an excellent watering hole at that, I am sad to say that I can no longer recommend the pub. A last comment, I am fairly close friends with the chef, and he admits this isn't the first time this kind of thing has happened. A real shame, an excellent pub ruined by an incompetant manager. For beer I would now recommend the Duke of Hamilton.
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category='Bar Snacks,Cheese,Featured Article,Fuller's,Function Room,Good Beer Guide 2007,Good Beer Guide 2008,Good Beer Guide 2009,Good Beer Guide 2010,Good Beer Guide 2011,Good Beer Guide 2012,Good Beer Guide 2013,Good Beer Guide 2014,Needs New Photo,Pub Food,Pubs,Real Ale' edit_type='Minor tidying' fax='thehollybushpub' formatted_website_text='hollybushhampstead.co.uk/" class="external">hollybushhampstead.co.uk' host='2a00:1098:86:4d:c0ff:ee:15:900d' hours_text='noon-11pm Mon-Sun' latitude='51.557761'	category='Cheese,Food Served Evenings,Food Served Lunchtimes,Good Beer Guide,Good Beer Guide 2007,Good Beer Guide 2008,Good Beer Guide 2009,Pubs,RGL Recommended,Real Ale,Real Cider' edit_type='Normal edit' fax='' formatted_website_text='www.hollybushpub.com/">http://www.hollybushpub.com/ ' host='82.71.45.236' hours_text='noon-11pm Mon-Sat; noon-10:30pm Sun' latitude='51.557255'
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longitude='-0.179326' major_change='0'	longitude='-0.177748' major_change='1'
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opening_hours_text='noon-11pm Mon-Sun'	opening_hours_text='noon-11pm Mon-Sat; noon-10:30pm Sun'
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summary='Fuller's pub in Hampstead.' website='http://www.hollybushpub.com/' website='http://hollybushhampstead.co.uk/'	summary='Good Beer Guide pub in Hampstead.' website='http://www.hollybushpub.com/' website='http://hollybushhampstead.co.uk/'

Good Beer Guide pub in Hampstead.

Really nice interior, with nooks and alcoves, candles on the tables, lots of wood, floorboards, wines written up on a black board on the wall. There's a separate dining room upstairs but we didn't get to check it out. There are a few seats out the front too; the pub is actually situated in a very nice little courtyard off a very steep side street.

Kake, ilmari, Bob, and Phil visited on a Thursday evening in February 2008. Many of the tables had been booked, since it was Valentine's Day, so Kake arrived early to bag a table; this turned out to have been a very good idea. Don't know how busy it normally gets on a weekday evening.

Beers available were Broadside (£3.05), Harveys Sussex Best (£3), London Pride, Batemans XXXB (£3), and Tinners Cornish Bitter (the guest; £3.05). The staff seem to know a fair bit about the beers and wines on offer; we overheard them give sensible advice on both. Cider is sold in the summer, according to the Good Beer Guide.

Bar snacks are available: mixed nuts (85p), Fairfield crisps (like Kettle Chips; 95p), mixed olives (£1.50; we liked - very nice mix of different kinds of olives), and home-made sausage rolls (£3).

The proper food menu has lots more on it, and everything we tried was good. Half-pint of prawns (£5) turned out to be six huge shell-on prawns photo. One warning: although the Adnams rarebit (£5.50) was described as a starter, it was enormous photo. Salmon fillet with mash, spinach and tarragon and white wine sauce (£12); duck and cherry sausages with cheddar mash and red onion and marmalade gravy (£9); and organic beef and Harvey's pie with cheddar mash and salad (£9) were all sampled and deemed to be very good. The pies were true pies, with pastry all the way around. We were less enthusiastic about the desserts, but Bob said the cheese plate (£6; Stinking Bishop, Denhay mature Cheddar, and Blacksticks Blue) was very good.

These prices are slightly higher than you'd pay in most pubs, but the quality of the food is worth it. Food is served noon-10pm Mon-Sat and noon-9pm Sundays and Bank Holidays, though they warn that availability will be reduced between 4pm and 6pm on weekdays as they ramp up for the evening.

Bob and Kake's verdict: We will definitely come here again.

Comment added by Ash: The Holly Bush has been one of my favourite pubs for years. However, recently it seems that the food is very hit or miss; either excellent as usual, or really really bad. On a summer 2008 visit along with ilmari, we were kept waiting an hour for our pies, and then they were dry and overcooked, one was slightly burned, and the carrots served alongside were uncooked. The only positive aspect was that the manager was happy to refund the money we'd paid. If they'd only told us when we arrived that the kitchen was going crazy, we'd have gone elsewhere.

Getting here: Come out of Hampstead Station and head to the right around the corner. Cross the road here and then go up the steep hill (Holly Hill) just to the left of the other side of the crossing. As you near the top of the hill, you'll see an old Benskins sign on the left hand side of the road photo taken from the other direction; the pub is in a little courtyard off the right hand side of the road just opposite this.

Randomness Guide to London Menu

Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 48 and Version 18 of Holly Bush, NW3 6SG