North London Food & Culture

The fight’s on: Lord Palmerston vs Dartmouth Arms

While one Dartmouth Park watering hole gets a refurb, the other's doing a roaring trade

It’s getting better all the time: the Darty. Photo: DA

So yes, there’s been a right old palaver up at NW5’s loftiest pub the Lord Palmerston, which closed its doors the other week to bemused punters.

Subsequently we had a slew of emails from worried readers, all concerned about the demise of one of the most loved spots in the postcode – not to mention the “huge pile of rotting rubbish out the back” and “man with a clipboard in there who wouldn’t open the door”, according to neighbour Mike Martin.

And…breathe. The good news is that Young’s are – apparently – giving the interior a spruce-up and reopening in early November with the expected offer of “seasonal food, craft beers and quality spirits”. So: exactly what it was previously doing then.

The smartened up new logo. Photo: Twitter

Perhaps they’re a little bothered by the nearby competition. Every time we pop by, we’re more and more seduced by completely remodelled York Rise boozer the Dartmouth Arms, for so long battled over when the previous owners closed its doors.


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With its now more lived-in look (and way more characterful ‘stuff’ on the walls) it’s once again the heart of this most hidden NW5 village community – heck, it was packed the other Sunday when we sunk a couple of pints. Speaking of which, there’s a damn good selection of craft beers and ales (especially some deliriously potent IPAs).

It’s now also doing food, courtesy of chef Adam Hardiman. So whether you’re after artisan sausage rolls, Sunday roasts or evening meals (the lamb rump and fregola looks killer), it’s a useful alternative to the way pricier Bull & Last (or often too rammo Southampton Arms).

But will the Palmerston fight back? Time will tell.

Dartmouth Arms is open daily till 11pm, 35 York Rise NW5. Lord Palmerston, 33 Dartmouth Park Hill NW5, reopens in November, date TBC

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