Never For Ever: enjoy a free cocktail with any small plate

Of Kentish Town’s eclectic watering holes, Highgate Road’s Never For Ever uniquely manages to combine pub, restaurant and bar within its relaxing interior. In fact,  think of it more as a ‘neighbourhood social’ – and as locals know, it’s also handily located for a weekend stroll on the Heath.

From enjoying morning coffee in the sofa area to traditional tables giving you space to work in the day, its appealing, loungey space is peppered with houseplants, shelves, books, board games, rugs and leather banquettes. It’s also a social hub that can accommodate weddings, Mitzvahs and birthdays in a comfortable environment.

Stroll through to the back of the restaurant and there’s a treat for pool fans (see pic below), a full-sized table that’s free to play. If you then head downstairs to the private basement, you’ll find a surprisingly versatile space that often hosts live music and theatre.

With eight beer taps running and a stage for live music, the possibilities are endless if you’re a creative looking for a space to turn into an artistic Kentish Town social hub (or simply the perfect spot to accommodate up to a hundred guests for a private party). And if you’re simply kicking about over the weekend, why not swing by the resident DJ Saturday nights?

And so to food. With spring around the corner and casual dining in mind, the kitchen team have carefully curated a menu of wood-fired pizzas and small plates designed to share. For the pizzas (£10.40-14) they use a blend of spelt and wheat flour to create a unique, thin and crispy dough, which is also super moreish.

It goes without saying that the chefs work with amazing British suppliers for vegetables, cheeses and meats, sourced as locally as possible. A tip? Try the Lamb Merguez Sausage, Sicilian Olives, Red Onion, Mozzarella, London Feta and Wild Oregano.

The new small plates menu (dishes cost £6-9.50) includes Cauliflower & Barber’s Cheddar Croquettes, and the vegan Yellow Pea Hummus, Red Onion & Caper Relish and Grilled Sourdough that celebrates the best of British vegetables with an incredible umami twist. Then there’s Crispy Courgettes with Romesco and Dukkah, Fried Chicken, Wild Garlic and Spenwood Sheep’s Cheese and Crispy Squid, Spiced Honey Glaze and Lemon – to name three.

For a quick weekday lunch try a made-to-order focaccia sandwiches (pictured below) to eat in or takeaway, as well as sourdough classic brunch delights, while during the day you can swing by for a leisurely coffee from Kiss the Hippo, London’s first carbon-negative roastery.

“The focus of the whole menu is seasonality and sustainability,” says General Manager Jonno, and this applies to the beer menu too. They only work with the smaller brewers such as local brewery Two Tribes and Lost and Grounded to deliver an exciting range on both taps and in the fridge, including a signature Never for Ever lager.

Wine fans will find a slightly more global list behind the bar. Delicious though Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio are, the team aim to be a little more creative: how about a glass or bottle of East London’s organic and unfiltered Renegade, for example?

If you don’t fancy vino, there’s a full range of cocktails including a rotational seasonal spritz on tap, while the pink gin fizz is made with Hibiscus Pink Gin, Lemon, Grapefruit and Blood Orange Soda, and the cold brew Negroni with Gin, Campari, Coffee and Vermouth Blend.  There are also non-alcoholic drinks such as the Smoky Margarita (Amber Digestif, Lime, Agave, Salt) or perhaps a Virgin Mary on a Sunday.

And finally, start the working week right with Adam’s weekly quiz night every Monday at 7:30pm: for only £2 entry you can win prizes including delicious wines, £50 bar tab and a cash pot. But now, read on for how to bag that free cocktail…

This is a sponsored post created in association with Never For Ever. If you’re a business who would like to reach out to thousands of North Londoners, please email: info@kentishtowner.co.uk