Flask
77 Highgate West Hill, Highgate, N6 6BU, London
Strolling through green Hampstead with a stout cane in one hand and an anthology of Keates in the other is a fine way for any English person to wile away an afternoon. Where better to imbibe refreshment than at the thoroughly old school Flask?
Nestled in a charming little pedestrian alley, Flask's interior is thoroughly enticing - near pitch-black wood and gleaming brass scream at you to go in, and the beautiful original partition (kept after a recent sprucing up) does a fine job of keeping the traditional alongside the more modern.
The beers are, to be expected for a place with more than its fair share of retired diamond traders as regulars, consummately excellent and include Fullers London Pride, Adnams Broadside, Greene King IPA,Timothy Taylor Landlord and other guest ales, the spirits selection is pretty varied as well.
Rather oddly, the place does a fine plate of fish and chips - you can even take it away for much less than a tenner. The tables and chairs that are slapped on the street are excellent for perusing the eccentric Hampstead bunch that mill around, though be sure to get there early: you're only allowed out on 'em until nine o' clock. Such deadlines indicate Flask's provenance - it's not a rowdy gaff, but a great one none the less.