Hampstead · Camden
The King William IV
The old coaching inn that became Hampstead's gay temple
- Address77 Hampstead High Street, Hampstead, London, NW3 1RE
- Phone020 8054 1562
- Websitekingwilliamhampstead.com
- OwnershipIndependent pub
About The King William IV
A Georgian coaching inn from 1767 right on Hampstead High Street, for decades a landmark pub of London's gay scene and now an independent tavern with live music.
This Grade II listed building operated as a coaching inn from 1767, when it was called the King's Head; it took its current name after the coronation of William IV in 1830. For much of the twentieth century and into the 2000s it was one of north London's best-known gay pubs, with a back courtyard that served as a meeting point for Hampstead's LGBT+ community. Since 2015 it has been run by veteran Irish publican Jimmy McGrath and his family, who have turned it into a traditional pub with a regular live-music programme and a back garden that gets busy in summer. Although Heineken UK owns the building, the management is independent, and the pub keeps the big-bar character and inclusive atmosphere that made it famous.
On tap
Three rotating cask ales (five-star Cask Marque rating) alongside the usual lager and cocktail offer.
Food
Simple, affordable pub food, built for a long night of drinks and music.
More pubs in Hampstead
- The FlaskThe pocket-sized classic of Flask Walk
- The Freemasons ArmsThe pub with a garden and an English skittles alley
- The Holly BushA gas lamp burning high above Hampstead