It might seem odd to choose to a pub for a Sunday roast based on the fact that they’re said to do “a smashing gravy”, but that’s what we did.

We got on the overground heading East and out came the iPhone to check the Good Pub Guide app to see where we could go and grab some lunch. As we trundled eastwards, I kept refreshing the app and searching ‘pubs near me’.

Up popped The Holly Bush at Hampstead. ”A unique village local, with good food and drinks, and a lovely unspoilt feel…” Perfect!

Neither of us had ever been to Hampstead before and so it was quite an adventure strolling up the steep little streets. We gawped at the beautiful houses and peered into the window of the quietly chaotic local pottery shop. We thought to ourselves, “we could definitely live here!” It’s delightful! 

We tapped the pub postcode into the City Mapper app - a must-download for people living in London. It wasn’t too far to walk and when we arrived and found it tucked down a side street at the top of a hill, we pushed open the door and smiled as the welcoming warmth from the open log fire enveloped us.

It’s a proper traditional British boozer and boasts some famous names to its resident drinkers, one of whom was famous English Romantic painter, John Constable.

The place was packed with a crowd of mid-twenty/thirty-somethings and lots of cute, very well behaved, dogs on leads. We love a dog-friendly pub.

I’d recommend booking a table in advance if you want to come here for food. We were extremely lucky, having just waltzed in off the street, to loiter at the bar area for a bit before we managed to secure ourselves a table and sit down with a menu.

We got ourselves a couple of drinks at the bar. I had an Aspalls Cider and JMG had a pint of London Pride. The table we’d sat on was reserved from 3pm which meant we only had an hour to order and eat our food.

We both chose the beef Sunday roast and were pleased when it arrived. It was very good. The gravy was as promised - utterly delicious, the food was hot - JMG’s mum HATES luke-warm food, the beef was well-cooked - not bloody, but still tender, and the carrots and roast parsnips were very flavoursome.

We’d definitely eat here again. It would be a good place to come for a meal with our friends or on a Sunday for a family get-together.

Total: Approximately £30 for two people for Sunday roast and a pint each.

Food serving times:

Monday 12:00 - 15:00 and  18:00 - 22:00

Tuesday 12:00 - 15:00 and 18:00 - 22:00

Wednesday 12:00 - 15:00 and 18:00 - 22:00

Thursday 12:00 - 15:00 and 18:00 - 22:00

Friday 12:00 - 15:00 and  18:00 - 22:00

Saturday 12:00 - 16:00 and 18:00 - 22:00

Sunday 12:00 - 17:00 and 18:00 - 21:00

The Holly Bush

22 Hollymount

Hampstead

London

NW3 6SG

hollybushhampstead.co.uk

Note to self: run around Hampstead Heath one day.