The Spaniards Inn is a historic pub in the heart of Hampstead, reputed for its storied past.
Which is unsurprising, given it’s been around for 440 years.
Reportedly built as a toll gate inn in 1585, it’s one of London’s oldest pubs. Located on the north edge of Hampstead Heath en route to Kenwood House, it’s said to have served literary greats like Byron and Keats and operated as a hideaway for the dastardly highwayman Dick Turpin.
Today, its snug low-beamed ceilings and inviting wood-panelled walls play host to well-heeled Highgate regulars, their turtlenecked pooches, and visiting tipplers with an eye for history.
The Grade II listed building’s period features and leafy surrounds make it unmissable, even if the modern world threatens to encroach on its magic. To allow for the 18th-century toll house perched opposite, the road by the pub runs narrow, meaning the quaint idyll is often marred by bottlenecking traffic. But the alternative would be for the toll house to be destroyed, so it’s a net positive that campaigners have blocked the move.
Once inside, the inn’s inviting lamplight and roaring fire cast a bewitching spell of cosy timelessness. Dark floors and mahogany-brown walls create a warm, nest-like space, and the pub’s snug structure fosters a bustling atmosphere. Need some air? An expansive beer garden lit with twinkling lights provides plenty.
The Spaniards Inn offers lavish pub grub and a vibrant array of cocktails, a long (long) list of craft beers, plus an extensive wine selection. A packed seasonal menu delivers both small plates and enormous plates, including veggie- and vegan-friendly dishes and epic Sunday roasts. Choose from a brunch of waffles with fresh berries, a lunch of pan-seared scallops, or black treacle beef brisket for dinner (or simply eat the lot). Meanwhile, daily specials will wink winsomely at you from chalkboards.
As if your decision wasn’t difficult enough.
NOTE: The Spaniards Inn is open now, seven days a week. You can find out more at the Spaniards Inn website.
The Spaniards Inn | Spaniards Road, Hampstead, NW3 7JJ
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