The Alliance, visited

The key change at The Alliance - after its summer makeover - is the conversion of the room on the right hand side, as you face the pub, into a dining room.

We've been twice now, once for lunch and once for the evening menu. Both times we enjoyed the friendly welcome and excellently prepared food. I would say it's not so much gastropub grub as unpretentious, exceptionally good home cooking. The menu is simple - grilled steak, vegetarian moussaka, etc. - but it's all fresh ingredients, well presented.

The refit is pleasing, although the bar side hasn't changed as much as I was expecting. The dining room has a clean, light and airy feel with a wooden floor - and currently is graced with an exhibition of interesting photographs on the walls. The lighting's a bit bright for the evening meal experience. They should invest in a dimmer switch and some tea lights to give it a cosier feel at night.

Beer: Greene King IPA on draft. Not my favourite but it's nice to have a solid enough real ale within walking distance.

At this end of West Hampstead, decent places to eat are in short supply so the transformation of the Alliance is well appreciated. And it's certainly worth the walk if you live at the other end of the 'hood - though probably for Sunday lunch until they get their lighting sorted out.

The Alliance is at 40 Mill Lane, NW6 - on the corner with Ravenshaw Street.

Update October 24:
The Alliance seems to have thrown in the towel on the dining room idea. It's now reverted to being a conventional bar room, with large TV screen and pool table. They're still doing food, but abandoning the effort to create a dining ambience. Presumably the demand wasn't there.