The Lansdowne has a varied reputation of being fantastic or being the epitome of Primrose Hill pretentiousness and rudeness. The truth, as always, lies somewhere in between.

The Venue
Sitting on the right side of the railway tracks in pretty Primrose Hill, The Lansdowne is one of an increasing number of gastropubs that are slowly dominating the London drinking landscape. It features a rather posh restaurant upstairs, nicely complemented by a canteen-esque ground floor bar.

The Atmosphere
From its grubby-chic, which may be an ironic nod to its well-heeled surroundings, to the lack of music, this place has a charming worn-down feel that woos the twenty-to-thirtysomethings who form the majority here. Despite their fearsomely bad reputation, the staff are merely adequate. There’s always a significant level of chatter giving the place a buzz and, all in all, it’s an agreeable place to spend time in.

The Food
The food is prepared in the same kitchen as the upstairs restaurant, albeit with a less upmarket menu. That said, you’d still be eating some of the poshest pizzas and pastas you’d find in a pub – and if it tastes as good as this, who cares? Given the quality of the food, prices are reasonable.

The Drink
There’s something for everyone with the fairly extensive drinks menu of The Lansdowne, covering a wide range of spirits, wine and beer. They even have one or two guest ales, which is a pleasant surprise for a place of this type.

The Last Word
If you love traditional pubs, don’t come here. If, however, you have a more contemporary view of the British drinking experience, are middle class, think you’re moderately trendy, possibly work in media, can admit that you probably do fancy yourself just a little bit and don’t mind hanging out with like-minded brethren – you could do far worse than The Lansdowne.

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