Bull & Last
Gastropub, Traditional British · Dartmouth Park, London
Restaurant in London, United Kingdom
Book with PearlThe Read
Victorian Gastropub Precision
Price
££
Chef
Ollie Pudney
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Bull & Last is a Michelin Plate-recognised Victorian gastropub on Highgate Road that delivers generous, well-executed British cooking at a ££ price point. With a lively ground-floor bar and a quieter first-floor dining room, it suits casual lunches, post-Heath dinners, weekend mornings better than formal occasions. Easy to book and consistently credentialled; one of North London's better gastropub options.
About Bull & Last
The Bull & Last page is useful if you are choosing a serious British pub for a relaxed occasion rather than a formal celebration. It is a Michelin Plate-recognised Victorian gastropub on Highgate Road, with a lively ground-floor bar and a quieter first-floor dining room. The page places it in Dartmouth Park and lists a ££ price range, smart-casual dress, wheelchair accessibility, local sourcing, a rustic, cosy, classic character.
How to think about the venue
This is a strong fit for casual lunches, post-Hampstead Heath dinners, weekend mornings. Saturday and Sunday opening from 9am make it useful beyond the usual dinner slot. The ground floor suits drinks and a livelier atmosphere; the first floor is the better choice when conversation matters. The page also notes bedrooms, which may be relevant if you are planning a longer North London visit.
Before you go
Use the page to compare the venue's format, price positioning, occasion fit before booking. Check the current opening details, table availability, floor preference, any specific food or drinks-list information directly when planning, since these can change. It is less naturally suited to formal anniversaries or large celebrations than to straightforward pub dining.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 12–11 pm · Tuesday: 12–11 pm
- Location
- 168 Highgate Rd, London NW5 1QS, United Kingdom
- Website
- thebullandlast.co.uk
- Phone
- +44 20 7267 3641
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Bull & Last presents as a grounded, neighbourhood Victorian pub that leans into the gastropub tradition rather than fashion-forward hospitality trends. The frontage and location on Highgate Road give it an authentic, historic presence, while the writing on its food — a Michelin Plate in recent years — marks it as a place where pub warmth meets considered cooking. The service and bar remain central to the experience, so the place feels familiar and relaxed rather than showy: a local pub with ambitions in the kitchen, comfortable for regulars and visitors who appreciate solid, well-executed British cooking.
Best For
This is a dependable spot for midday meals and relaxed evenings. The write-up calls out weekday lunchtime life on Highgate Road and highlights the kitchen’s seriousness — attributes that make it a natural choice for lunch and for classic dinner formats such as the Sunday roast. The balance of a genuine bar and ambitious cooking also suits group visits and casual catch-ups: you can drop in for a midday meal, meet at the bar, or settle in for a heartier evening plate that reflects why the place has earned recent culinary recognition.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the pub’s signatures. Start with the Scotch egg — a staple that signals the kitchen’s attention to traditional British bar food — and order the fish board to share if you’re with company. If you’re planning a weekend visit, the Sunday roast is an obvious call and exemplifies the kitchen’s ability to handle classic, hearty dishes. The menu rewards straightforward choices that showcase well-executed pub cooking rather than overly fussy experiments.
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 12–11 pm
- Tuesday
- 12–11 pm
- Wednesday
- 12–11 pm
- Thursday
- 12–11 pm
- Friday
- 12 pm–12 am
- Saturday
- 9 am–12 am
- Sunday
- 9 am–10 pm
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Cross-shop The Bull & Last against Pearl’s other London bars and restaurants by occasion, price, atmosphere. Its ££ gastropub format, lively bar, quieter upstairs room, weekend morning opening make it a useful option when you want well-regarded British cooking without a formal fine-dining setting.
Restaurant context
When The Bull & Last is the right fit
Within the gastropub category, The Bull & Last is the right fit for relaxed British cooking, a pub-led atmosphere, flexible timing across lunch, dinner, weekend mornings. Choose it when you value a lively bar downstairs, a calmer dining room upstairs, a ££ setting over a formal or destination-led occasion.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Bull & Last guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Bull & Last
| Venue | Price | Format | Best for | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Bull & Last | ££ | Gastropub, sit-down dining | Casual lunch, post-walk dinner, weekends | No published awards |
| Drapers Arms | ££ | Gastropub, dining room | North London neighbourhood dinner | No published awards |
| Hinds Head, Bray | £££ | Gastropub, à la carte | Destination gastropub, day trip | No published awards |
| Hand and Flowers, Marlow | £££ | Gastropub, Michelin two-star | Special occasion, destination dining | No published awards |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What kind of venue is The Bull & Last?
It is a Michelin Plate-recognised Victorian gastropub on Highgate Road in Dartmouth Park, London, serving a British pub format with a ground-floor bar and first-floor dining room.
Who is The Bull & Last best suited to?
It suits casual lunches, post-Hampstead Heath dinners, weekend mornings, relaxed British pub dining. The page describes it as less suited to formal anniversary dinners or large group celebrations.
What should I check before visiting?
Check current opening details, availability, whether you would prefer the livelier ground floor or quieter first-floor dining room. The page lists a ££ price range and smart-casual dress.
