please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Falls into that slim category of acceptable Greene King pubs, presumably because its attractions entice enough trade for the landlords to plough their own furrow and resist corporate control. Hence, two of the three ales were guests and a Redemption Hopspur went down very well. If a Dane were to visit, they'd be praising us for our understanding of the now ubiquitous 'Hygge' concept.
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Very small corner pub which actually has considerably more seating provided by the bench seating outside under the canopys than is available inside the pub. Lively mixed crowd both inside and outside on this last Friday evening before Christmas and there were actually twice as many bar keeps working the small serving space than there was along the entire long bar of the Swan next door , so there was absolutely no queuing at the bar.
There are four ales available usually available but for our visit on entering one was reverse clipped, but fortunately it was the dreaded GK IPA (how we cheered ). This left Abbott Reserve from the GK stable, a bit too loopy at 6.5% for an extended session, and Redemption Hopspur and Woodforde's Wherry, the latter two being in excellent condition.
Small but lively pub with well-kept choice of ales and good service levels. You have to go a long way to find a better pub than this in Bloomsbury.
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you will do well to find a better pub in the area
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BEWARE OF MISLEADING REVIEW FROM NICKEAGLE
I first reviewed this pub on 6th April 2006. My opinion has not changed. It is still a brilliant pub.
Im really surprised at the recent negative review by Nickeahle. I am a regular at the Queens Larder, it is my favourite pub in London!!!!
I don't often remark on other peoples reviews but I have never witnessed such a deliberately misleading, and malicious one so I am making an exception!!!
I think the incident that Nickeagle ( otherwise known as DavidE on the same misleading review he has posted on another site!!)is referring to might be Thursday night at about 11.30 . I heard about this incident from someone who was in the pub that night. Apparently the barman was pulling the blinds back outside the pub. He obviously didn't realise that rainwater had collected in one of the blinds and it fell on a girl sitting outside. This is a totally different situation that has been inferred by Nickeagle by saying that the barman poured about 5 pints of water on her ( it does rather conjure up the vision of the barman tipping jugs of water over her doesn't it???!!!) This is a gross misrepresentation of the fact. I should certainly be wary of any further reviews from Nickeahle .Apparently the girl ran inside the pub and told the staff who helped her to clean up etc. I'm sure they would have offered to pay for dry cleaning etc, that's what normally happens in similar circumstances. I wonder if Nickeagle (or DavidE as he also calls himself!!)is the guy that was sitting inside the pub when this happened with a female companion who went over to the Portuguese barman and jumped on the bandwagon , threatening to have him deported, report him to the police etc??? A bit of racial abuse there!!! ( gives a little insight to the reviewer and the company he keeps or perhaps the beer was particularly strong that night!!!! Apparently he was inside the pub when this happened. The review does rather give the impression that he was at the scene giving a first hand witness account. If he did in fact see anything it would have been through a window!! I just can't understand why he would want to get involved in something that was clearly an accident and none of his business!!!! Get a life mate!!! There plenty of good causes out there for you to get involved in!!! Lol!!
The staff at the Queens Larder are brilliant! the food, drink and service are excellent!!! That's why it is such a busy pub.
Try it for yourself. If the barman throws buckets of water over you I will personally pay the dry cleaning!!!
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What a fantastic little establishment. The feel of This place always feels like a second home whenever I'm in London. It's one of the few remaining places in London that still has regulars and due to the general ambience and
friendliness of the staff I always feel like a regular too. Couldn't recommend it enough.
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We attended this bar, and saw a member of staff pour around 5 litres of water over an innocent vulnerable girl, who ran into the toilet in tears.
At no point was there any regret as both the manager and barman found this hysterically funny.
The manager told us he did this all the time and gets away with it. He boasts that he knows all the rules and is able to use physical violence against customers and be within the law.
Was suffered physical force and verbal abuse.
It is advised that there are lots of bars in London, where you can guaranteed a professional respect from the staff.
Please use a different establishments instead.
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In response to the previous comment � people are entitled to miss David, but to imply that the pub is poorer in his absence is simply untrue. Florence666 does not speak for the majority. Rather, she is clearly one of David�s friends. How do I know that? Because they are the only ones who didn�t have to wait to be served by him; who found his strange behaviour �entertaining�; and the only ones to whom he extended something vaguely resembling a welcome.
David is a one of a kind personality, enjoyed from afar by many - like a comedy sketch character you wouldn�t wish to have a one-on-one with (Basil Fawlty springs to mind). The comments on this site are evidence of his reputation for being rude, unhelpful, xenophobic and downright aggressive � qualities withheld from his friends like Florence666, but reserved for the pub�s majority clientele of tourists, business travellers, young professionals and mature students. May they now drink in peace.
The Queens Larder has enough character in itself, in its staff and regulars, and the thousands of people from around the world who pass through its doors each year. In my opinion, it will continue to be the best pub in the area, with no fear of losing that title. God Save the Queen�(�s Larder).
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Very sad to see that barman David has left the Queen's Larder. I found him to be one of the best barmen in the area. He was very efficient. I never had to wait long to be served when he was behind the bar. He was also very entertaining and livened up the atmosphere in the pub, as well as being very friendly. David always made you feel welcome when you visited the pub. The atmosphere is not the same and I now have to wait a long time to get served. Because David no longer works there, I will not be frequenting the pub as much as I used to. Just doesn't have the same ively feel about it. If at all possible, the owner should try to get him to come back. He had been a barman there for as long as I have been going in there (a part of the furniture), and he was also one of the reasons I really used to enjoy going to the Queens Larder. It is a real loss for the owner and the pub that he no longer works there. He was an asset to the pub. I feel sure he will be very much missed by all of the regulars. He is by this regular.
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Went in here for lunch midweek and had some uninspiring food and beer. There are better pubs a short walk away.
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Plastic atmosphere arrogant bar staff and average beer many better pubs around every corner. Oh and the trad jazz and Clowns do yourself a favor give it a miss.
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This is an wonderful pub, with a fine selection of beers, a great food menu, and one of the best atmospheres you could hope for in central London, with its unique blend of locals, professionals and tourists - very busy on weekdays, but a joy to visit when it is quieter and relaxed on the weekends. The staff are a wonderful host of characters who really make this place special - they are well known to regulars and run the pub effortlessly - these chaps are first class.
I find it hard to fault this pub except I have to mark it down for not serving tea and coffee, and for the dreadful selection of music. If I wanted to find the kind of music this pub plays, I wouldn't know where on earth to look. Either they are trying to be strangely retro or the CDs are just cast offs, thrown on without any thought, rhyme or reason. On my visit I managed to hear a strange compilation of cheesy 70s pop music, a Martine McCutcheon EP, and then a never ending greatest hits of Billie Holiday. The young man who was working said he couldn't change the music but I wish he could have! I feel some classic pop/rock albums that people know and love would be appreciated; jazz indeed, but more of a selection, and perhaps more modern; and to complement the theatrical posters adorning the walls, surely some of the more popular musical soundtracks are in order. A more carefully selected playlist on the jukebox here could really polish this pub off and help it hit perfection.
Without a doubt - visit this pub!
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Great staff, great atmosphere, entertaining regulars.
There are usually lots of regulars with alcohol dependency, getting absolutely off their faces, and falling over outside. Some of the regs are in a truly terrible state, yellow teeth and guts the size of beer barrels. Some of them fight at the bar or fall asleep standing up. It's a good place to people watch.
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Tiny place tucked away off Russell Square the Queens Larder at least offers outside seating to take the overflow from inside. The area has a lot of hotels and so is heavily infested with tourists which does drag the pubs down a bit. The nearby Royal National is the starting point for Kontiki European coach tours so lots of Aussie yobbos as well.
All in all though the Queens Larder has a nice environment and while the service was a little quirky I didn't have any of the problems that seem to have afflicted some of the previous reviewers. GKIPA, Old Speckled Hen and Royal London on pump so for some people the appeal may be dictated by their liking or otherwise for GK offerings.
It was quite late when I arrived here and the pub was relatively quiet and thus I found it very pleasant. If it was more crowded then I would be less enthusiastic but you can do worse than drop in here for a drink if in the area.
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Not too bad a pub, but due to the area is full of tourists and office workers. It also does not take many people to make it full. I would recommend if you just want a quick pint of which the four ales are good. But if you want to sit and relax it is not the place to be, unless the weather is fine and most people are outside
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small and cosy pub - particularly if you can sit ouside; can get quite congested
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Very compact corner pub, with little room for seating and thus there are often more customers outside than in if the weather is half decent. Even less room for the two barmen almost tripping over each other trying to serve and work the till. Quite a traditional dark wood interior. Three handpumps serving Greene King beers - IPA, OSH and an excellent London Gold (�3.30). Overall, not a bad spot for a quick pint.
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I walked into this pub hoping for a quiet drink because it looked small and cosy and I just wanted a peaceful hour to enjoy a beer. First of all I waited for half an hour while the barman served all his friends and regulars even as they walked in behind me. Made me feel like a nobody. Then when I asked for a beer the barman stared at me with these crazy bulging eyes and said "Which Type of Beer...?" The bar errupted in laughter and I felt totally humiliated. I still had a bitter anyway and sat on a stool, which one of the regulars then told me belonged to 'Nick'! Some big guy then sat down when I got up and I felt everyone was looking at me. My phone rang and as I answered it the barman shouted "this is a public house, not a public call box"! I went outside and when I came back in my drink had gone! There was only a mouthfall left but I like to get my money's worth. As I left I tripped on the door step onto the cobbles and I could hear everyone inside laughing at me. I wont be back for more public humiliation.
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Friendly though not chatty barstaff, okay selection of ales (and well kept). Usually packed in the after-office hours, quieting down in the evening. Food's decent and there's additional seating upstairs.
I'm only an occasional visitor, but I've never seen anything but perfectly civil behaviour from the staff.
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Lovely place, beer often quite good too.
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We always visit this little pub enjoying its cosiness and good but pricey beer but not anymore. I enjoy a joke as much as the next person but was aghast the way the barman (tallish, 50s, potbellied, posh sounding, snide) treated a young foreign girl who was asking for food.
It appeared the barman had his regular audience, 2 guys at one side of the bar with a wedge of notes and a older gent (who kept getting his glass topped up for free as it was a "short measure".... and lady friend (who is supposed to be a MBE) at the other. The food board is on the wall and the young woman was reading it and asked when she asked for food he informed he no food was served after 3 oclock.... then she asked for crisps, he pretended he didnt know what she was on about and was so sarcastic she got vey upset and by this time everyone had gone silent and she said she was embarassed and left... the barmans lady customer herself was incensed with his behaviour and went on to call him a c*** and berated him for his behaviour. This shocked me but I had to agree with her, what a toad. We wont be back.
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Never received such bad service in my life as i did in this dreadful place this evening. To be fair it may have been staff related but it was a terrible experience from start to finish all the same.
First off although the bar was near-empty the barman couldn't serve in order of arrival. So, i stood waiting whilst he served a guy arriving WAY after me.
Secondly, when i came to pay for a large round and i handed over my Amex card, he took it, said nothing, and then after realising they didn't take it he just said "No" as he handed it back. There was no "I'm sorry sir but we don't take Amex"; just "No" which was quite frankly rude.
He then listened in on my conversation with my friends and tried to justify his rubbish service.
I feel awful posting this review because his much younger, taller slimmer colleague was a great barman. However, the shorter older (slightly wierd) fatty was, quite frankly, rude beyond belief without any understanding of his own impact on his customers.
God help this bar with him in gainful employment.
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Nice little pub. No food in the evening. They had Morlands and Speckled Hen on as well as Leffe Blond and Hoegarten.
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Quaint small pub serving passable ales. Friendly barman when i was in. They do sell food but mercifully you can't smell it. Worth a visit as there is a distinct lack of decent pubs in central London these days.
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This is a fantastic haven from the cold frosty London streets during the winter months. The pub is small (cosy) and the staff are very friendly.
Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen and Fireside were available along with a selection of standard and Premium lagers.
I�ll definitely revisit here again.
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We found this place while we were staying at the excruciatingly awful Royal National Hotel and its attached equally awful "London Pub". The Queens Larder is a haven of sanity with well-kept Greene King on draught (I lived in Braintree so I like Greene King - sorry). The prices weren't all that shocking and the bar staff were friendly and helpful, even putting up with our 8 year old (and quiet) son. Bit cold to sit outside but we had a nice view from the window across the square so we could watch the world go by. I'd have no complaints if this place was my local. They serve food, too though we ate at Cagney's next door and wished we hadn't.
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I love this quirky little pub. Real characters serving behind the bar, a cosy atmosphere, good outside seating. A real mix of regulars and tourists. Pretty quiet on Sunday nights but even when it's busy I've always managed to find a seat within about 10 mins. Definitely one of my favourite places to drink in London.
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Pleasant enough corner. Very small so best go in the afternoon if you want a seat. Greene King beers unfortunately but there's Leffe on draught if you're feeling rich.
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Found this pub by chance last night. Cosy, strange little place. The premium lager on offer was Stella, which tasted a little watery, although it's rarely you get a a good pint of draught Stella. Pint was �3.35, so is quite pricey. Liked the uptight looking formaly dresses barman. Friendly crowd, good covered bench area outside, (with environment killing heaters, so was warmish), and strange plastic benches. As a member of the Hand Dryer Appreciation Society, (toungue in cheek, find us on Facebook), I say that their hand dryer in the gents was efficient and needed no hand wiping on the jeans.
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The last review is spot on. The pub HAS lost it's charm AND its character, which is such a shame. It has been cloned into yet another common and garden gastro type pub, all too frequent these days, with expensive prices. I used to love to go in there but now prefer some of the other pubs in the area like the Swan. Management must be doing something right as the pub is always packed in the evenings. Too packed for comfort in fact. There are enough pubs in this area to give this one a miss.
Alex6 - 26 Dec 2007 21:45 |
Yeah, I used to love this pub too. Stephen Fry popped in for a pint one night while I was there: it was that kind of place. Still like it, but it's lost much of it's charm. It's lost a feeling of intimacy - of being a local - of being just that slightly quirky. Of being English, I suppose.
Beers are now verrry expensive, and nothing to get too excited about. Yeah, I too had what must be my most expensive pint in a boozer right here. Still, it is often quiet enough to relax and read the paper for an hour or so on a saturday afternoon. Weekday evenings tend to be quite busy these days.
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Very disappointing. The staff are stressed and rude at lunchtime. Everything seems to take forever, and is never worth the wait. Poor menu. Sour beer.
The Swan is a few doors down and compares well. The Lamb (Youngs) and The Rugby (Shep'Neame) are the other end of Great Ormond St, and both are much better.
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This has been my local work pub for over three years. It used to be a joy to visit, what with Posh David's wit and wisdom and the relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Since the takeover, however, the majority of our workforce now go to the Rugby Tavern, rather than the pub on our doorstep...
The odd clowns above the bar, the downright peculiar music choice, the unbearably RUDE barman (you'll spot him a mile off!) and the extortionate prices (of both the drinks and below par menu) have driven us away. It's such a shame, as it really used to be a lovely place! Posh David is still there, some of the time. It's a shame that the egotistical buffoon of a barman doesn't take a leaf out of David and Sean's books of manners! Some of us still frequent it after work for a swift half but that's all time and money you'd want to spend here.
anonymous - 14 Jun 2007 11:03 |
Never too over crowded despite its tiny dimentions: perhaps the financially cripling prospect of buying round no. 2 has a culling effect. Great place to sit and read, or meet up for a chat after work, or invent stories about the other patrons. Claustrophobics needn't be put off as the pedestrian area out front has a few tables and is perfect for a bit of fresh air. The bar staff are charming and efficient too.
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Was in there the week-end of the Ireland/England rugby match. Thought the ambience in there was great - friendly crowd. Service was good and the wine even better!
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I realy like this pub,not sure why.
give it a try.
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The price of Leffe has actually gone down. Nice to know its not just the quality that has done so.
anonymous - 10 Oct 2006 17:44 |
No. I paid �4.60 for a pint in Belgo Bierodrome in Kingsway 3 years ago, so I hesitate to think how much they would charge now. On top of that, this is a nice place: Bierodrome is full of tossers in suits.
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Lieffe �4.60 a pint is it the most expensive every?
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Very expensive but pub itself isnt too bad
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A nice beer a real ale for �3.10 no cheap but a good atmosphere. Friendly customers and help ful staff.
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Great place for a pint or two in the early evening. Best to stand outside and people watch. Inside is indeed very compact. Excellent bar staff and decent real ales.
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A fantastic pub. Absolutely brilliant. In fact I'm going to pop in tonight for a beer.
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A great little find. Lovely pint (3 real ales available), clean, comfortable and quiet.
Recommended.
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A nice friendly pub - we spent an evening on the picnic tables out front, and it's on a good quiet street which is also helpfully close to the tube.
anonymous - 14 Apr 2006 15:28 |
I have visited this pub on quite a few occasions, especially since the new licensee Sue Bowler took over early last year. What a difference she has made to the place!! Quite an impressive and unique refurbishment (look out for the mischievious clowns sitting above the bar!!) . Her staff do her credit...and whats more...they actually seem to like working for her. You must be doing something right Sue!!!
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Stonch is a big fan of this pub. Tiny little cheery place. Good banter from the bar staff. Clearly a few regulars which is surprising and nice to see, mingling nicely with tourists. Clowns above the bar are scary.
Greene King beer but with a guest usually - Everards Original on Saturday when I went for lunch, perfect. Food was OK.
Apparently the name derives from a period when George III's Queen rented the basement of this building to use as a store room for her husband's provisions when he was undergoing treatment at a specialist's on the Queen's Square.
Combine this with the Lord John Russell and the Lamb and you have a decent Bloomsbury crawl.
anonymous - 3 Apr 2006 11:03 |
Good beer, & Dogs welcome.
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Really lovely place tucked on the corner Queen's Square. Selection isn't great, but the bar staff is friendly and the atmosphere is nice - not too smokey with some classical or jazz being played lightly in the background. Tables can be a bit hard to find on the lower level, but upstairs is quiet and often overlooked.
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I last visted this pub a week ago on Thursday and was disappointed that coffee was no longer served, especially as I was with a friend's 93 year old mother who does not drink and who wanted a coffee or tea. We were told by the owner that there is not even a kettle on the premises. I realize that this is a pub but many other pubs now serve coffee and/or tea, which I think is a nice touch. The atmosphere in the pub has also changed. It is wonderful for the owner moneywise, as it is always crowded body to body like a rugby scrum, but unpleasant if you want to go there for a nice quiet drink in the evening. The pub has lost its charming atmosphere. It used to be quite a friendly local pub in the Bloomsbury area but now seems to be more and more full of corporate types ie "lots of suits". The pub has lost all its character. The wine is more expensive than other pubs in the area and tastes of an inferior quality. The staff are all excellent and must be completely exhausted after the hoards of people they have to serve. I have been going into this pub for over 13 years but after last Thursday, think I will change to the Rugby Tavern instead. It has personality which the Queen's Larder now lacks, and I feel very sad about that as I've always had great affection for the Queen's Larder. I would like to know if anyone else feels the same way I do about the changed QL?
Alex6 - 29 Dec 2005 17:44 |
Visited it early in the afternoon on a Tuesday last September. No problem to find a table. Relaxed atmosphere and matching jazz music. OK beer, but a limited selection on cask.
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Good ale and very nice sitting outdoors with a view of the square. Size is an issue--not just small inside, but not enough outdoor tables.
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This pub, I think, has recently been refurbished/bought out. I was in there (again) last night, and all the bar staff including 'Posh David' were wearing black shirts, black trousers and black ties.
It all looked a bit 'corporate', and a far from 'Posh David's' usual image. He seemed a bit subdued, but I might have been imagining it. I got the impression that it had become a plastic pub, but I'm not certain.
Still, the beer hadn't suffered.......
jcraf - 10 Jun 2005 17:28 |
Fabulous pub, lovely location, Posh David (as I've just discovered is his name) is all Chris Owen said and more. Especially fun is when it's busy and his normally perfect outfit starts to get a bit bedraggled. The beer's always in great condition, music unobtrusive, if there is a telly I've never seen it and during the Queen's Square festival it's one of the best spots in London.
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very small pub. numerous west end posters on the walls. the ale selection was nothing spectacular.
anonymous - 27 Mar 2005 23:27 |
nice pub, bit small, good outside seating (must be great in summer), good beer.
anonymous - 19 Jan 2005 18:26 |
I love this pub for enjoying a good book and many great pints. I search it out every time my travels take me to London, which is saying something since I live in Seattle. Keep up the great atmosphere and groovy-ness.
Mark Cochran - 22 Sep 2004 22:35 |
I met my wife in London (she being American) and we happened upon the Queens Larder one sunny afternoon. It was rather a quiet place, until I returned from the restroom and found my then, girlfriend, surrounded by elderly musicians. after talking and drinking for an hour or two they all took off to a local hotel , a thing that they do each month apparently!.....in aid of a charity. We had a wonderful afternoon with them and the one resounding memory of London for my wife is the afternoon we spent in the queens Larder. We've tried to time our visit to England to coincide with the last Mondasy of the month when these gentlemen meet but unfortunately this time we've had to come at the beginning of the month!! We shall miss the hospitality shown to us by everyone that day but hope to meet up with you all once again!
J J Cunliffe - 22 Jul 2004 04:24 |
You will always be given an entertaining time by Posh David at the Queen's Larder; the best bartender I've come across in London!! Ask him anything you want to know about anything, especially churches, and he will always have an answer of one kind or another. His acerbic wit is a joy to listen to!! A five star plus atmosphere rating when Posh Dave is there!! A real character in the Bloomsbury area. He serves up a mean drink as well to match his mean wit! I would certainly recommend a visit when he is there!
Chris Owen - 30 Apr 2004 14:43 |
A quaint little pub, where the bar staff serve you with a smile.
Briony - 24 Mar 2004 15:27 |
again one of my favourites, a classic london bar which is cosy and feels right. One i always stop off in, whenever i can
pat - 22 Oct 2003 14:56 |
The pub isn't bad. Certainly not when I visited last month. I am much more inclined to agree with the entry on 14/8/03 which is the most detailed and informative compared to the rather pointless jibes of 16th July and 19th August. Go to the pub and see for yourselves. I give it 7/10 what does "ruby" give it?
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Now that's just uncalled for. I'm merely trying to indicate that the Queen's Larder is pokey, dusty and frequented by old bearded men who don't like 'strangers' and drink real a.... Lee, do you have a beard?
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A cosy ex-Whitbread, small wood-pannelled corner pub. Red cloth-upholstered perimeter seating. Normally, London Pride and Bass are kept alongside two changing guest beers, but last night (13/8/03) Pride and Adnams Bitter was supplimented by Gales Summer Hog and Hyde's Jekylls Gold. I tried the latter two of these, and the Jekylls Gold was by far the best. The pub attracts not only a local trade but workers from as far afield as Dartford were drinking there last night. Quite a good pub, so give it a try and ignore the comment made by Ruby on 16/7/03.
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