The Magdala

Hampstead gets its fair share of entries in the history books, what with all the poets & playwrights who have graced its quaint cobbled streets. The Magdala adds its own gruesome footnote courtesy of Ruth Ellis, who shot her lover outside the pub in 1955 & became the last women to be hanged in Britain. Bullet holes in the wall & a framed newspaper are the only allusions to the incident in this homely boozer nowadays, where ramblers from Hampstead Heath stop in for a pint & the honest British food finds favour with the locals. Pork pies with homemade piccalilli, lamb chops, & crispy pork belly with bubble & squeak are typical dishes on the hearty menu, with guest ales & a handful of wines making up the drinks list.