Committee member Peter Wallace writes:
Pub-goers in Belsize Park can relax – The Stag is back in business!
Opening day saw a rush to the bar as locals made up for the pub’s four-month closure following the take-over from the previous independent owners by Youngs Brewery.
With the number of pubs closing across the country (locally, Ye Olde Swiss Cottage and now the recent South End Green Social), the re-opening of one is something of a rarity.
“I’m very excited”, said general manager Andy Donbavand. “This pub is part of the community and we want it to stay that way. Many of the staff live locally which is really important”.
The challenge of the pub on the corner of Fleet Road and Lawn Road has been to update the 152 year old Victorian pub and but also to retain what makes it so special.
The lay-out of the main downstairs bar remains the same though mounted stags, new art work, etched mirrors, and open fireplaces have been added.
It’s upstairs and outside in the garden area where the changes are most obvious.
The former upstairs dining area has been re-modelled ‘Upstairs at the Stag’ with a separate kitchen for private food and drink events, a new seated ‘living room’ and an impressive outside raised terrace for cool drinks on warm days.
There are four giant TV screens in the garden area, though Andy stressed ‘only for big sporting occasions’, plus a bigger bar and a new ‘garden room’ to hire for birthdays and family celebrations.
The Stag has always had a strong musical heritage, Ed Sheeran among others.
Manager Andy promises a full schedule of garden events: “Yes, Ed would be very welcome too!”
And what about the beer ? The blackboard lists of craft beers by the front door remain with of course, Youngs Ordinary and Special beers alongside Timothy Taylor and Homerton N1.
Andy’s brought the same chef he’s work with before and promises “the kind of plain food people want – including jam roly poly puddings !”
Locals will be hoping the “new” Stag will retain the same free-wheeling attitude of previous years … when England and Tottenham star Peter Crouch came bounding into the pub hours after scoring his hundredth Premier League goal: “I want 100 tequilas, no, not just for me, but for everyone in the pub, cheers everyone !”
Welcome back!
