I'd also go for privet in that situation. It grows quite quickly, can be kept short and narrow, and will regrow if it has to be cut back to the wood. Also not fussy about soil type and climate. It does need cutting several times over a summer (unless the weather is really dry) if you want to keep a crisp, clipped look, but with such a short length that should be manageable.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
As you write that you love deep green, why not regular yew? It does not need a lot of pruning (twice a year maybe), makes a dense structure, and does not need a lot of width. Once settled, it can grow about 30cm per year. It looks fabulous.
In particular, yew hedges will get wider slowly, but yew has the great trait that after X years it can be cut right back to the trunk and it will regrow just fine. I assume that a fastigiate yew is most suitable, but other people will know more, or some online research will provide answeres. I'm pretty sure that for narrow hedges yew is a good choice though.
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