It’s strange that when you’re armed with the knowledge that you’re sat in a public house with pedigree your pint always tastes that little bit better. The Spaniards Inn is one such fine pub.

The Venue
Pick a day when the sun is shining and you’ll be able to make full use of the beautiful, well-sized beer garden. There are plenty of wooden tables and chairs of different sizes to accommodate various parties and several large canopies for those seeking the shade (or shelter should the weather take a turn for the worse). A garden wouldn’t be a garden if there weren’t any plants in it and that’s what sets The Spaniards Inn beer garden apart from much of the competition. Furthermore, there is a chicken coup housing three chickens that the kids fall in love with as soon as they catch a glimpse of it. Those who have brought their dogs – yes, it is dog friendly – might want to sit away from the coup as excitable dogs have a tendency for thinking up inhumane games.

Inside, it’s also dog friendly, so long as your dog hasn’t brought half of Hampstead Heath with him. If your dog is a bit muddy then have no fear as a trip to the doggy wash will do just the trick and he’ll be just as welcome as you. The low ceilings and oak panels give this pub an authentic traditional feel with numerous rooms hidden away in various corners.

The Atmosphere
All sorts of people wind up at the Spaniards Inn from local students to old men chasing a pint. Families, business partners and couples also regularly drop in as do those who have been walking on the Heath. The spirit is always upbeat and friendly, although some of the over-enthusiastic posh old folk can become somewhat irritating but that’s what all the added space is for – an escape route is always in sight!

The Food
At £1.20 for a packet of crisps, the price of snacks is quite steep but seeing as houses in the area sell for tens of millions that is only to be expected. The main courses are a little more reasonable at just under a tenner each and include your usual sausage and mash, rib eye steak, fish and pasta dishes as well as some more interesting choices like salmon and crab cake. Sandwiches are served until 6pm, most of which cost less than £5 unless you opt for one of the giants like the £7 Ploughman’s Lunch, a beast of a sandwich filled with apple, cucumber, pickled onion, chutney and any of the following two – honey roast ham, roast beef, Cropwell Bishop stilton or Quicks cheddar.

In the summer, when the sun is shining the folk at the Spaniards take full advantage of the hot weather and get the barbecue out. If this sounds like your cup of tea then you’ll want to get in early as this is a particularly popular feature on the already busy weekends; and let there be no reason for your dog to miss out on all the scrumptious food – dog treats are £2 at the bar.

The Drink
The Spaniards Inn has lots to offer in the way of drinks and nobody will ever go thirsty, not least because of the numerous taps that can be found around the venue with the words ‘drinking water’ attached to them. In the fridge there are many bottled juices, most of which are organic, and on the counter is a large juice-maker filled with oranges for those that prefer the freshly squeezed taste.

Behind the bar is a decent selection of lagers including Franziskan Weissbier as well as your more common brands and a healthy variety of ales including Adnams, Pride, Sussex Best and Morrhouse’s Black Cat. There is also a fine selection of ciders. If you can’t decide which drink will best compliment your meal, the menu has suggestions to make things that little bit easier and if that doesn’t help and the sun is shining then you can never go wrong by ordering a nice cold jug of Pimms to your table.

The Last Word
The Spaniards Inn is a brilliant all-rounder and an ideal pit stop for those trekking across the Heath.

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