This is typical of many wannabe gastropubs – if The Horseshoe would only stop trying to do so much it would be a fantastic pub.

The Venue
Why do pubs do it? Strip it back and become bland, that's what has happened at the Horseshoe. Exposed brick has been painted in glossy white, making everything appear cold, and this isn't helped by the dark wooden flooring. The bar has also been stripped back to bare wood that, rather than look kitsch and funky, only highlights the coldness of the space, and even the large light fittings are white and fail to inject much in the way of warmth into the pub. If you’re coming here for a nice pint then you will be disappointed, which is a shame as their beer selection is good.

The Atmosphere
The Horseshoe is a pub desperately trying to be a restaurant and, as such, it can be a little off putting if all you want is an ice-cold beer. Still, the staff are friendly to all and do manage to combat the coldness of the setting somewhat. It could just do with a little more, well, heart. The cave-like feeling to the pub makes conversations in hushed tones a must – hardly what you want from a night out.

The Food
The prices of the grub at The Horseshoe are actually very good for Hampstead, with main courses starting at little over a tenner and not reaching the heights of the £20 mark that many pubs have started to achieve. And this is to their credit. The portions are large and the ingredients freshly sourced, including things like razor clams with chips or a Sunday roast that is said to be excellent. However, there is little to set it apart food-wise from hundreds of other venues that have had exactly the same idea.

The Drink
But this is, thankfully, all forgiven when you clock the excellent draught choice, which includes a number of unusual ales that exclusively come from a local Camden brewery. However, what really sets this place apart is their microbrewery where they produce their own beer. It’s just a shame that this isn’t more obvious – if you hadn’t heard about it from the locals then you may not even know that this is indeed the case.

The Last Word
Please London pubs, stop doing minimalist – that should be the sole domain of the chain restaurant.

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