The Old Bull and Bush

The Old Bull and Bush is a historic public house on North End Way at North End, near Hampstead Heath in London. The building is Grade II listed and is associated with the long history of licensed hospitality in the area. Although the pub's exact foundation date is not established, a farmhouse stood on the site by 1645, and the premises received a licence to sell ale in 1721. This makes the site one of the longstanding drinking and social venues connected with the Hampstead and North End districts. The pub developed from a rural alehouse into a popular leisure destination as London expanded. It is traditionally associated with William Hogarth, who is said to have drunk there and to have been involved in planting out the pub garden. In the nineteenth century, the venue broadened its entertainment role: it obtained a music licence in 1867 during the tenancy of Henry Humphries. The Bull and Bush subsequently became a destination for day-trippers, including Cockneys seeking recreation outside the denser central parts of London. Its cultural profile was strengthened by the music-hall song “Down at the Old Bull and Bush,” performed notably by Florrie Forde. The song helped make the pub's name familiar beyond its immediate neighbourhood, although the establishment itself remained a local hospitality venue rather than a national consumer brand. The pub also lent its name to the proposed Bull and Bush, or North End, station on the Northern line. The station was never completed, but platforms were excavated and an emergency entrance survives in the surrounding area. The building underwent a major reconstruction in 1924 while it was owned by Ind Coope, followed by another refurbishment in 1987. In 2006, the interior was redesigned in a modern gastropub style, including an openly visible kitchen, and the refurbished premises reopened on 24 March. Before England's smoking ban came into force in 2007, the pub was notable as one of the few entirely smoke-free pubs in London. Today, The Old Bull and Bush operates as a food-and-drink pub managed by Mitchells & Butlers through its Premium Country Dining Group brand. Its offer combines the character and heritage of a listed public house with contemporary pub dining and beverage service. The venue's identity rests on its historic building, Hampstead Heath setting, literary and musical associations, and role as a destination pub serving local customers and visitors.

The Old Bull and Bush occupies a site with documented roots in the seventeenth century. The earliest recorded building was a farmhouse dating from 1645. By 1721, the premises had secured a licence to sell ale, establishing its role as a public drinking house. Its location near Hampstead Heath placed it between the built-up capital and a popular open recreational area, helping the venue develop as both a neighbourhood pub and a destination for visitors. The pub is linked by tradition to the painter and satirist William Hogarth, who is believed to have drunk there and to have participated in developing the pub garden. Such associations contributed to the establishment's later heritage appeal, though the exact extent of Hogarth's involvement is not documented in detail in the available material. In 1867, during the tenure of landlord Henry Humphries, the pub received a music licence. This formalised an entertainment function that complemented its drinking trade. The venue became popular as a day-trip destination for Cockneys, reflecting the nineteenth-century practice of travelling from the urban centre to places offering gardens, music, food, and access to open countryside. The pub's wider cultural reputation was reinforced by the music-hall song “Down at the Old Bull and Bush,” which was notably sung by Florrie Forde. The song transformed the name into a recognisable reference in popular entertainment and remains one of the best-known cultural associations of the establishment. The pub also gave its name to the proposed Bull and Bush, alternatively North End, station on the Northern line. Construction progressed only to the excavation of platforms before the project was abandoned. An emergency-only entrance descending 197 steps to platform level remains associated with the site near Hampstead Way. A substantial rebuilding took place in 1924, when the pub was owned by the Ind Coope brewery. The building was refurbished again in 1987. In 2006, a further renovation repositioned the interior in a contemporary gastropub style. The redesigned premises included an openly visible kitchen and reopened to customers on 24 March 2006. The changes modernised the customer environment while retaining the site's historic pub identity. The Old Bull and Bush was also distinguished by being completely smoke-free before England's statutory indoor smoking ban began in 2007. In the present day, the pub is managed by Mitchells & Butlers under the Premium Country Dining Group brand. It continues to operate as a food-and-drink venue at North End near Hampstead Heath, using its listed architecture, historical associations, and setting as central elements of its hospitality proposition.

• 2007

  England's smoking ban came into force

  [1]The Old Bull and Bushen.wikipedia.org

  The national indoor smoking ban removed the pub's unusual pre-ban distinction as a completely smoke-free London pub.

• 2006

  Gastropub renovation and reopening

  [1]The Old Bull and Bushen.wikipedia.org

  The interior was renovated in a modern gastropub style, with an open kitchen, and reopened on 24 March.

• 1987

  Refurbishment

  [1]The Old Bull and Bushen.wikipedia.org

  The pub underwent another refurbishment.

• 1924

  Major reconstruction

  [1]The Old Bull and Bushen.wikipedia.org

  The building was substantially reconstructed while owned by Ind Coope.

• 1867

  Music licence obtained

  [1]The Old Bull and Bushen.wikipedia.org

  During Henry Humphries's tenure as landlord, the pub received a music licence and expanded its entertainment role.

• 1721

  Ale-selling licence granted

  [1]The Old Bull and Bushen.wikipedia.org

  The premises obtained a licence to sell ale, marking the documented beginning of its public-house role.

• 1645

  Farmhouse recorded on the site

  [1]The Old Bull and Bushen.wikipedia.org

  The earliest known building at the site was a farmhouse.

A heritage destination pub combining a Grade II listed setting and Hampstead Heath location with contemporary gastropub food and drinks.

• Food service · 2006

  Pub dining

  The pub's contemporary hospitality offer includes food service in a destination-pub setting. Available reference material characterises the post-2006 operation as a modern gastropub, but does not provide a verified current menu or specific signature dishes.

• Drinks

  Beverage service

  As a licensed public house, The Old Bull and Bush provides alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks alongside food. The available sources do not establish a specific current drinks range or proprietary beverage product.

• 2006

  Modern gastropub repositioningStrategy

  Background

  The historic pub required an updated customer environment while retaining its identity as a destination venue near Hampstead Heath.

  Action taken

  The interior was renovated with a modern gastropub design and an openly visible kitchen. The premises reopened on 24 March 2006.

  Aftermath

  The refurbishment established the contemporary food-led format described for the pub in later reference material.

  Source

1. 1The Old Bull and Bushen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Old Bull and Bush official websitethebullandbush.co.uk