The Queens Head

Perfect summer pub

10 Apr 08, 19:11 Above expectations

This pub is like a TARDIS: room after room which then opens up into a lovely garden, all of which is unexpected from the outside. It has a wide range of wine (try the pinotage) and it has a pretty extensive menu for a pub and good daily specials - I can vouch for the fish, veggies and the thai curries. It also does some decent puddings, if you have space.

It's the kind of place you could take your parents for Sunday lunch and they would be happy. The garden gets busy in summer with Pimms drinkers, but it's also worth a visit in winter as like Meg P. says it is cosy and the open fires a lovely.

I can see clearly now the fug has gone...

30 Jul 07, 13:26 Above expectations

The Queens Head is an old pub which has over the years had various extensions added, so that it is now labythinthine and full of hidden corners and cosy crannies to spend an evening. It's an old building, so the roof is low, which along with the (ahem) decor, adds to the cosy atmosphere - plus there's a real fire in winter - while outside it boasts surely one of the biggest pub gardens in this bit of London.

The selection of beers isn't anything to write home about, but there's a huge wine list, and besides, most people come for the food. The QH offers a full and extensive menu, spanning classics such as bangers and mash (though I think they're called something like Hand-reared lincolnshire sausages with mashed potato and caramelised onion gravy) as well as more exciting things, and plenty of specials. The food is well-priced, quite nice and comes relatively quickly in the evening, though beware the lunchtime crush - if you order at the wrong time (after a big order has gone in) your lunch may take a while to arrive.

A while back, they used to do platters to share, which seemed like a great idea, but they're obviously concentrating on proper dinners now.

In all, it's a good local pub, and is big enough that you can usually get a seat, plus with good food and drinks, and the possibility of cosying up to the fire in winter and sitting outside in summer, it's got all bases covered. It's an old pub - I've seen a mouse there before, and there aren't many toilets - but it's run by friendly people, and has a large, loyal clientele.

However, I've given this pub 4 stars, rather than 3, because since the smoking ban was introduced, it's improved immensely - there was something about the low ceilings and the furniture and the carpets which used to make the QH the smokiest pub in London, which meant that wherever you were sitting - even in the non-smaking corner - there was someone sparking up not too far away while you were trying to enjoy your dinner. Nowadays, that's a thing of the past, happily, and patrons of the QH are able to once again taste - and enjoy - their food.