The Holly Bush

A perfect traditional pub, oozing with character and serving up some of the best pub food around.

This place is no secret to London’s weathered pub-lovers. It is likely in the top-5 list for any London pub connoisseur worth his/her salt. From all angles, in all weather, all times of the year, it is a story book pub. No matter which way you approach it, whether from the Heath or from Hampstead centre, you walk through some of the nicest parts of this historical little section of London. And there it lies, in an unlikely residential area, on a street too small for any traffic to have traveled on it for many years.

I made the mistake of going on a Sunday. It was pissing down rain, and I thought we were early with a 1pm meeting time, but who was I kidding, it was already packed to the gills. I’d say you should avoid Sundays, but how could I suggest something so ridiculous, this place was built for the Sunday pub lunch… into afternoon… into evening… into closing.

It’s tough to get any more traditional than this place. Rustic wood throughout, fireplaces, tables crammed in everywhere, and neat little nooks around every corner. After waiting for about an hour over some fine bitters (Adnams Broadside, excellent choice) and lagers, and fighting hard for a table, we finally secured a nice spot in the back corner. It wasn’t easy, but once you get the table, it is worth the effort and you can stay all day long.

We went mainly for the food, all planning on a hearty Sunday lunch to fill our bellies on the cold, rainy, and miserable day we escaped when we walked in the door. Looking at the menu, I knew I was in luck. I saw roasts and pies, all sounding a bit gourmet, and I knew I was going to get exactly what I came for.

We ordered a range of the dishes, I went for the lamb shank with roasted veg and cheddar mash. Wow! The meat slid right off the bone, perfectly cooked, and the mash had just the right amount of mature cheddar to zing the taste buds. We started with some prawns which were excellent, and I had plenty of nibbles of my wife’s salmon and smoked haddock pie, wow again! The pie was flavourful, topped with spinach, and hearty. We finished with a cheese plate, which none of us needed, but had some stinky bishop on it, which is a personal favourite and impossible to pass up. Much (possibly all) of the food on the menu is organic, and the only disappointment at our table was some unripe pears in the goat cheese salad… but then again, this place shouldn’t be judged by its goat cheese salad (dumb choice). In fact, it would be near impossible for anyone to con themselves into a healthy and light option with all the delicious, large, and filling dishes popping out of the kitchen and being devoured by satisfied customers. On value, the price is well-worth it, £11.50 for the lamb shank £9.50 for the pies.

We relaxed, had some pints, stuffed ourselves silly, and barely made it out of there alive. Had I not made it out alive, I would have happily entered the after life with that as my last supper. It was an excellent meal, a perfect Sunday in from the cold weather, and something I should do more often…

Category: Dining
Expectation: Solid square meal
Satisfaction: 5 out of 5

Category: Drinking
Expectation: Beer
Satisfaction: 4 out of 5
- Good selection (guest ales, Adnams, lagers, Leffe) but missing a Weiss beer which would have been nice.

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Who's this guy?!

Hyde Park London to Hyde Park Cincinnati! My wife and I just left a wonderful five year stay in London. We had an amazing time and most importantly, we had some excellent meals. I am a total amateur foodie, but I think that is what a foodie is. I love food, eating out, and sharing dinner and drinks with friends. I am writing this blog because I am a passionate consumer of food, beer and wine, and the venues that bring them to me. I like to cook, but I am no chef. I like to eat out, but I am not a snob. I will share with you my down-to-earth opinion of my dining experiences, because I feel like it. Maybe you will read, but probably you won't. There are people who get paid for this, people who are trained for this, people who make their career writing reviews, and that is not me.

Who am I as an eater? Am I like you? I am a bit of an over eater, majorly indulgent. I love a good meal. I enjoy a good burger, a thick ribeye steak (medium rare), a hearty burrito with extra spice, a fiery indian curry, a sweet thai curry, an oozing chocolate fondant, and most importantly, sharing it all with friends. I love Cincinnati chili. Bring on the Skyline! I'll take a jumbo 4 way (onions), and a couple of cheese coneys (mustard and onions) because they are too small to pass up. I can also appreciate the finer and more delicate cuisine, but I always veer towards the hearty and heavy even when at a classy place.

And I love drinks as much as food. I love a nice cold beer on a hot day, or a cold day, or a Spring day. I am spoiled by 5 years in London's vibrant pub culture where the imperial pint was born. If a restaurant or bar doesn't sell beer by the glass, forget it. I also love a hearty red wine in a proper big glass. What types, grapes, regions? I don't know, I like to try them all. I also love a good scotch, but rarely feel special enough to treat myself to one.

I am also sensitive to value. I have spent enormous sums on dinners out in London, and felt that every penny was worth it (Notting Hill Brasserie can't be beat), but I hate walking out of a restaurant and feeling like the price was too high for the dining experience.

So, I guess this blog is more for my enjoyment than anything else, but if you are reading it, I hope you enjoy!