Sir Richard Steele, Belsize Park

The Licensee has confirmed no cask beer (Oct 2024) - "Unfortunately, the Steele’s doesn’t serve cask ales; probably because its customer demographics are mainly young lager, other types of fizz, wine and spirit swirlers, although many years ago it had a more mature following and did indeed sell cask ales."

They were due to have Bass ale on (Bass sign on back of the pump clip). We have also been informed that "The kitchen’s now up and running, but I’m not too sure about its hours, although the pub’s noted for their Sunday roasts."

The previous upstairs function room has now been relocated into a new build

on ground floor level. This was conditional on the previous freeholder’s planning application (Faucet Inns/Steve Coxshall, it is believed), to convert the

two upper floors into self-contained residential units.

21/02/23 - from an article in the Camden New Journal - It is being taken on by Jimmy McGrath who per the article bought it from the Receivers of Faucett Inns. The article speculates that this might make it easier for a new owner to buy the Black Cap, Camden. The reopening was on 17/02/23. Mr McGrath previously ran the pub 40 years ago! His son is of course Kirk McGrath - the joint owner of Tapping The Admiral and Pineapple. McGrath senior also owns the King William IV Hampstead.

After a long campaign against by CAMRA and local residents, planning permission was finally given for conversion of the upper floors to flats involving the loss of the first floor bar. From the Camden New Journal of 04/01/18, "After a long-running planning wrangle, which saw Faucett Inn go to a Whitehall planning inspector to appeal a decision by the Town Hall to block its scheme, it won permission to renovate upper floors and create a new function area on the ground floor. It is also building new toilets and a kitchen."

An extremely popular, multi-roomed corner pub, brimming with bric-a-brac and paraphernalia. With a patio garden to one side it is hard to miss the huge corner sign advertising the defunct Wests Brewery which it once was then passing to Charringtons. There is a fine bowed stained glass window. Sir Richard Steele (1672-1729) hailed from Ireland and was a literary man founding in his time both Tatler and the Spectator. Food served all day at weekends.