After winning CAMRA’s North London Pub of the Season in the summer 2022, The Magdala in Hampstead went onto being the runner up in the branch’s 2023 and 2024 Pub of the Year Competitions. But in 2025, the pub has finally done it, winning the ultimate accolade of CAMRA’s North London Pub of the Year 2025!

Manager Alex with CAMRA's John Cryne

The pub is infamous for its association with Ruth Ellis, the last woman hanged in England, for shooting her lover to death outside the pub on Easter Sunday 1955. However, its latest claim to fame, as the winner of CAMRA’s North London Pub of the Year, is a lot more positive.

John Cryne, from the local CAMRA Branch, said, “This pub was closed for at least five years, and we were concerned that it would never open again. This is despite the efforts of locals to get the pub listed as an Asset of Community Value. Then the new owners, Twickenham Green Taverns, who are experienced pub owners, really invested in this pub. Their commitment has shown by the number of CAMRA awards it has received over the last three years. So we are delighted the Magdala finally got the top Branch Pub Award”.

John added, “The Award is determined by CAMRA members voting for a list of some of the very best pubs selling real ale in North London. To get on the shortlist is an achievement but to win is really something. The Magdala is a lovely looking establishment with a range of terrific well-kept beer so it’s really is a pleasure to see them rewarded for all their hard work”.

John Cryne and the Magdala team

Alex, the pub manager said, Thanks to everyone for their support since the pub reopened and it’s lovely to have such a diverse group of people interested in cask beer. I and my team continue to delight in serving good beer and it’s great to get this recognition for their hard work ”.

The Magdala now goes forward to be judged against real ale pubs across London to find CAMRA’s Greater London Pub of the Year.

Check out the Ham & High which has an excellent article about the Magdala winning CAMRA's Pub of the Year award.

For further details contact: John Cryne: 07802 174 861; moc.liamelgoog@2enyrc.nhoj.

Magada: 020 7433 8322, ku.oc.aladgameht@olleh

Extra facts

• CAMRA is the Campaign for Real Ale and is a volunteer membership organisation with over 200 volunteer branches across the UK and over 140,000 members.
• CAMRA nationally was formed in 1971. It exists to promote good beer, protect pubs and defend consumer rights.
• The North London branch of CAMRA covers most of the North London postcodes plus WC1 and parts of WC2, and has almost 700 pubs in it.
• The association with Ruth Ellis is not the only association that the Magdala has with famous people. The pub’s first incarnation was in 1885 and it was named after Robert Cornelis Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala, who died five years after the pub was built. He held many high profile posts including Commander-in-Chief, India; Governor of Gibraltar and has associations with London. Two years after the pub was built, he became Constable of the Tower of London. He died in 1890 and is buried in St Paul’s Cathedral.
• The full address of the Magdala is 2a South Hill Park, Hampstead, NW3 2SB
• Opening hours are 11am-11pm Monday- Thursday; 11am-12am Friday; 9am -12am Saturday; 9am -10.30pm Sunday
• For more details on the pub, visit: www.themagdala.co.uk/
• Twickenham Green Taverns, which owns The Magdala, also operate The Sussex Arms in Twickenham and The Express Tavern in Kew.