"The Spaniards Inn is one of those historic pubs that can name-drop notable patrons—Keats, Dickens, and us going method in a church pew cocoon for our Escape To The Country audition. It’s been around since 1585 but is a permanent fixture in locals’ present with families and their spaniels wandering in from a walk on Hampstead Heath, babies bobbing on laps, and old school friends reuniting with cold pints in front of the fireplace. Skip the mains unless you have a sincere love of cress, but the snacks are great. The very vintage, wood-panelled dining room is an exceptional place to nibble on wild boar sausages and we have it on good authority that 90% of the apparent ghost sightings can be blamed on the eye-blurring nature of the accompanying mustard. If we had any notes for the two Spanish brothers who built it way back when, it would be to ask whether they could please erect it somewhere slightly closer to a tube station. But we’ll embrace any travel woes for the sake of the massive, Cotswolds-esque beer garden. photo credit: Koray Firat photo credit: Koray Firat photo credit: Koray Firat Food Rundown Wild Boar, Pork And Ale Sausages A pub snack for the ages. Pre-sliced, bite-sized sausage pieces skewered with cocktail sticks, ready to be liberally dipped in spicy English mustard. Eye-watering goodness. video credit: Heidi Lauth Beasley Handmade Scotch Egg Great sausage meat with a lovely crumb, but our favourite thing about this scotch egg is its golden beetroot piccalilli buddy. It’s tangy, a touch spicy, and extra chunky. Crab Thermidor On Toast This is like the stomach-lining toast of our student past meets the tinned fish-loving sophisticate of our future. Another stellar snack. video credit: Heidi Lauth Beasley 100z Ribeye Steak The perfect thing to order if you’re looking for a no chat alibi due to excessive chewing. Comes with cress for reasons we don’t understand but perhaps Dickens might." - Heidi Lauth Beasley
