I think this is a great pub, totally welcome addition to the area. Saturday night was really good. Great food, music, drinks and staff. I say well done The Stag.

recommended to the unadventurous, quiet, rather boring couples.

Unfortunately like the Freemasons Arms this has been taken over by cash hungry owners not interested in the local community but only in their profits. Initially it would appear that an improvement has been made by flash décor and friendly staff, but scratch under the surface and the truth is a shallow and fake gastro pub. A real shame when all this local community could do with is a genuine local place to drink, eat and be jolly!

I take it all back, I don't know if the staff saw my last review but things are certainly looking up! There are little pools of light from standard lamps now scattered throughout the pub. There is a warm and cosy atmosphere and the popularity is increasing. The real ale seems consistently good and there are even a few newspapers lying around. 10 out of 10 for effort.
P.S. try the cottage pie

This was recently a cheerful and cosy pub with excellent home-cooked food, good real ales and a lively local clientelle. Now, like the British economy, it has become dark, cold and gloomy - and takes a lot of money off you. The daily papers have gone - presumably because there's no longer enough light (or interest) to read them. Put it down to trendiness if you like but the supply of good British beers is haphazard and sporadic (there was none for a week!) though there are plenty of foreign lagers designed to be drunk in a very different climate. The cottage pie costs as much as Marco Pierre White's (how many Michelin stars has he got?) though the bar staff say theirs is better. After investing in a mediocre burger, I haven't summoned up the courage to test their claim yet. The garden of course is an excellent asset in summer but it remains to be seen whether the heating arrangements are sufficient to attract more than the bravest smokers throughout winter. Overall it's sterile and depressing - all the more so because it's quite popular among the 30-year-olds - but nothing worse than a little more light, warmth and decent beer couldn't put right. At least there are no football screens.

A good new pub in Hampstead but still have a long way to go to be great...

If this is buy the same folks at The Regent, you can tell. The burger menu is the same, which offers lots of choice but is way too expensive considering you don't get chips, fries or even coleslaw on the side.

And the decor is nice and new and makes the place look fine but is it trying to hard? Palm trees at the door which pokes you in the eye as you walk in and out is not a good idea.

The drinks are a little over pricy and even thought the service is fantastic it kind of takes the plesaure out of the place.

The one good thing is the staff; down to earth, fun, nice to talk to and know their stuff with out coming across all-know-it all. One thing i did enjoy is there no need for security (considering they are the bottom end on Hampstead), they have employed a large kiwi guy as manager who is the nicest guy around. They have done well there.

Over all it's well on its way to being a great little spot in North London, just as long as they don't get "to cool for school", which is way too easy nowadays.

I have been a couple of times now.... When I say a couple I mean 3! 2 for drinks and 1 for food..... All times the service has been excellent, the food top quality and also good value for money. The Sunday roast was particularly good and possibly the best I have had in London.

Very comfortable environment to be in and most importantly the staff are not "to trendy" to talk to you and even crack a smile.

Just hope that it keeps up the excellent start.

The couches and fireplace make The Stag look and feel comfortable. They have very good music and the bar staff pour a decent Guinness. They also have a pub dog which sometimes joins you making it feel really homely. The Stag is a bit quiet during the week but at least you can get a seat.