A local landmark since 1865, The Washington has had a facelift – although the owners’ postmodern, cosmetic embellishments and Gatsby-esque artworks do nothing to obscure the period charms of this
stately gin palace. Ales from Yorkshire’s Timothy Taylor, Warwickshire’s Purity and London-based Redemption head the Brit beer brigade, and there’s a big menu of trad/modern pub grub – think white
onion and cider soup, salt-and-pepper squid, chicken Caesar salad, fish and chips, rib-eye steaks and old-fashioned puds – plus some cheap-and-cheerful tapas. New to the set-up is Martha’s (named
after the wife of the US president commemorated in the pub’s handle) – a 1920s American-style booze bunker hidden…well, we wouldn’t want to spoil your fun. However, when asked what cocktails were
available in this speakeasy, the bartender replied “none, despite various suggestions to the bosses”. It’s an unfathomable oversight in well-heeled Hampstead.