please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Long, narrow single roomed pub. Mirrors on one wall, bar on opposite side. Piano. Couple of benches outside.
Good Beer Guide 2019 entry but I wasn't massively impressed with the Windsor and Eton Guardsman, served in unasked for handle glass.
Old school pub and worth popping in should be in the area but not really a destination pub.
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Another pleasant visit though one slight criticism is the four bar stools they have at the main bar. Tonight two couples facing each other and sprawling out managed to take up 90% of the available bar space making it awkward for people to get served. Losing two of those stools would make life easier for all concerned (apart from the lardarses sitting in them that is)
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It does have a good feel to it - and can be a quiet oasis of calm of a mid-afternoon. The three handpumps consisted of the permanent Redemption 3, something per cent brew another 3.5 summer ale and a porter. There does seem to be a definite aversion to standard bitter here.
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Real Ale selection fine when visited on a Saturday afternoon pub crawl. All seating taken as a few people eating and not the best pub for standing room unfortunately. Some tables outside at the front if weather ok. On google map you can see right inside if want to check it out first. Worth a visit, one of our group thought best of 7 visited that day.
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First visit following a recommendation, quiet afternoon. Pleasant enough. Disappointed to see only 3 pumps, one for the stout so when ?I asked for a traditional copper coloured bitter I was advised that "we don't really sell bitter in here".
The redemption was well kept, if a little too cold and was tasty for a lower gravity beer. It was ok for the afternoon on.
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My partner and myself have been regulars in here for a while. Like the Jazz and the ale and whiskey. She likes a rum and coke and thought I would have one that night to. We got a glass nearly the size of a half pint with a rum and full to the brim of coke. Of course we complained we couldn't taste the rum. It wasn't a spirit glass that would give you a small amount of coke and the shot. Over our complaint he threatened to throw us out and said this is the coke measure. He was arrogant and rude to my partner and continued to talk over us and not listen. He said we should have asked for a small measure. What a lot of tosh. He should ask us. After all he was quick to ask if we wanted doubles which by his reckoning in that case shouldn't we ask for them as doubles not him ask us. This guy, Jack I think his name was at least that was what he said is the new manager of three months . Rude and totally lacking in any way of treating customers. We were not swearing or violent and here we were being kicked out of a pub for a coke. Every pub after we went in asked us how much coke do you want. Awful attitude and although this review won't make much difference to most who go in there might make a fe think twice about handing over their hard earned cash to someone who really doesn't care about the customers just about charging for a large coke when a shot would have done. So there we were as he had taken the drinks off us and over ten pounds lighter as we walked out.
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Have to say I was a little disappointed on my visit recently. I had been recommended this place as a good real ale pub but on my visit there were only 2 ales available.
Having said that the Mama Knows Best was fine and the pint my colleague had was good as well.
The staff were friendly and the pianist was belting out a tune with some enthusiasm considering it was an afternoon session!
The pub has a small local feel to it though the toilets are somewhat cramped.
Would visit again as it's handy for Kings Cross or St. Pancras and maybe next time the range of ales will be greater.
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A good unassuming pub with several real ales and antique furniture salvaged from churches, offices etc. The food is mostly cold: cheese, chorizos etc., nice but not if you're supposed to be on a diet!
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A decent pre-gig alternative for the nearby Scala prior to a Alanna McArdle-less Joanna Gruesome show (other pubs are closer, but are rather hit-and-miss), even if there does seem to be a little too much emphasis on the craft beers. On my return post-show, a mouse was scurrying in and around the floor, much to the bar staffers' amusement.
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This is the place to go when you need a drink before catching a train at Kings Cross - and probably letting at least one train go so you can try another beer.
It is my idea of a local with 3 handpumps (one for Redemption Trinity - a 3% but very flavoursome beer) and two ever changing, stronger beers. Also does ciders and craft beers (again varies but Weird Beard & Buxton amongst others). Food is cold cheese or meat variants - the cheese sandwiches are excellent enormous doorsteps! No piped music / TV but music nights and a piano on occasion - well, the piano is there all the time but it occasionally has someone playing it. Also has board games.
Definite 8/10!
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A better experience this time; in fact we were the only people there. Still not a great choice on the ale front, far more if you're a keg fan. However the quality of the two ales we had was excellent.
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Visited during lunchtime before the might U’s visit to Stevenage and a rare win. The challenge outside is to argue with them that this is the best pub in London – which it isn’t! I was first in at 12.00 and started with a pint of the 3.0 Trinity Redemption, which for its ABV packs a real flavour punch, I had two in all. On a blind tasting you’d never guess it was such a low strength beer. I was joined by 5 more U’s beer hunters and the only other customers were a group of Norwich fans on their way to defeat at Fulham. The other two beers were the Otley Oxymoron, a wonderful dark beer at over 5% and the Crouch Vale Amarillo 5% which was a bit too sweet for me, but all three were kept very well. But that sums up the problem for me with this pub, one beer at 3% and the other two at 5% or over, if they had a fourth pump and had a session bitter of around 4% that would be perfect. It had a pleasant relaxed feel in contrast to the busy buzz of a Thursday night; you could happily sit and read the Saturday Grauniad for a couple of hours in the sofa by the front window where we were. I’d be more than happy to have this as my local, given the paucity of real ale and decent pubs where I live. 7.5/10
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First visit yesterday afternoon. It looks nice from the outside, and inside very comfy. The usual mismatch furniture with chapel chairs and all sorts, but friendly. Only three handles, but then there were three good ales. Redemption Trinity and Red Rye (I had the red) and Waen's Chilli Plum Porter (which was even better than the Red Rye). If you have good ales, you can be satisfied with a limited number, surely? The bottled beer menu showed some fearsome prices, especially as they were 330ml bottles, but then that's always the way with the bottles.
Why does BITE have twelve entries for this pub, eight of which have no comments at all?!
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Crazily busy on a Friday night. After hearing so much about it the place was a let down. Only 3 real beers on with loads of keg (craft) taps. Had Moncada Notting Hill Amber which wasn't great. Couldn't face another battle at the bar so left
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Rather ambivalent about this pub. Superficially it’s well laid out, high ceilings, good number of tables well-spaced out, but it has the feeling of a café that serves beer. Seemed very popular for after work gathering but where isn’t on a Thursday? Not too many suits and the crowd, predominantly mid 30’s upwards looked like media or social workers to me. Beer – 3 hand pumps and I tried two the Moncada Notting Hill Porter at 5%; Redemption Trinity at 3%. The one I didn’t try was a 4.2% golden ale from Wales whose name escapes me, my mate had a pint and it was far too floral for my liking. The two I tried were well kept and the Porter was especially good. There is a good range of bottled beer and four traditional ciders as well. The beer was ok, the service I experienced was fine, though my mate had an unpleasant encounter over a short measure, but overall it didn’t really do it for me. It was noisy with chatter but no juke box thankfully, though there was a piano player at the front of the pub, but not really a traditional pub feel or atmosphere. They certainly try to create the atmosphere with the low lighting and candles, but that for me is why it felt like a café bar rather than a pub. The best pub in London slogan is mere hyperbole. Could do with another hand pump to add to the range of beers available. Worth a visit though. 6/10
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After a meeting locally I ventured in here around 16.15 with a couple of colleagues.
A large Victorian pub that has been revamped with the original features left in tact.
A good selection of ales, ciders & lagers with 3 ales on hand pump. I had 3 good pints of Grapevine Tryst @5.4% from Fallen Brewing Co each pint served in an old fashioned pint pot...very good.
Friendly bar man who was attentive and efficient.
Steady stream of punters during the 2 hours I was here.
Decent pub and worthy of a place in the GBG
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Great pub retaining an old world charm within London. Only three real ales but they do pick some good ones (Whitstable East india Pale Ale, Decadence Stout and Redemption Trinity). All in good order, the latter is an excellent ale at only 3%. Think they also had a real cider too. Relaxed atmosphere and helpful staff. Did not try the food but pork pies, cheese and meat platters on offer.
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Has won CAMRA Greater London Cider Pub of the Year.
The below nicely sums it up:
'Another beer-focused modern makeover of a forgotten and decaying local, this place reopened in June 2010 but seems to have slipped under the radar of many of the capital’s beer hunters, perhaps because while pursuing quality and a warm welcome it’s gone for a more accessible and less geeky approach than some.'
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Part of a tour of pubs which was overall not very satisfactory, comprising the Pakenham, Queen’s Head Acton st (easily the best) Calthorpe Arms (easily the worst) Euston Tap and Doric Arch.
This was easily the best pub we sampled, pleasant interior, pretty good service and not packed. The only downside was the beer choice, 3 ales on and all were golden, 2 from Hophead and 5.2% whose name I forget. I stuck with the American Pale for a couple of rounds but we moved on through lack of choice. Will definitely return but will check they’ve got a choice between golden, dark, bitter etc. 6.5/10
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Certainly a cracking place.
Don't, however, belieive the opening times in the 2013 Good Beer Guide which are rather different from those on the pub's own web site! Turned up at 1430 yesterday to find it closed until 1600!
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In-house brewery installed, and first batch available sometime soon.
Won CAMRA London Cider Pub of the Year, 2013.
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One of the best pubs in England not just London as it claims outside. Seriously excellent selection of ale, cider, and spirits. A proper boozer, with Mrs. King's Melton Mowbray Pork Pies! The best! I consider this in my top 5 pubs in this country, drinkers heaven.
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Excellent. Chatty and knowledgable gaffer, good ales, both real and craft keg and lots of great bottles. Just leave enough time to get to st pancras platform for your train.
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Good selection of Ales traditional and modern. Excellent service and good food. With a bit of investment in the building this could be a really excellent pub. At the moment? - Very Good.
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Despite ending up sitting at a table right at the back of the pub by the blokes' toilets, can't say I noticed any dubious smells.
Echo previous comments about this place being pleasingly good. Three ales on tap - a dark IPA from the Windsor & Eton brewery, Hophead and a third which I forget.
Plenty of bottles too as well as cider if that's your fancy.
Friendly girl behind the bar was happy to offer tasters.
Camra discount available, so made a pint £3.10 which is perfectly acceptable these days. And the booze (well, the second round of two, anyway) came in handled glasses.
Food on offer, if you fancy eating, and the other nice touch was the jugs of iced and lemoned/limed water on the end of the bar from which you could help yourself.
Considering the Charles II can be a bit hit and miss, this place could be a much more reliable destination if I'm in the King's Cross area again.
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Excellent real ales and the barman let us try a couple of samples but there was an awful smell throughout the pub.
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A new find for me, and a good one at that. Echo all the comments here: interesting beers on tap and in the fridge, good surroundings, full of trendies and guardianistas. Herbs hanging from the ceiling, and scrabble on the tables. Not busy when we visited on the Tuesday evening after work, but limited seating - still worth a perch for a quick few. Probably my new KX meeting venue - lucky gits.
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This really deserves the term “hidden gem” — a real discovery! Lovely interior, relaxed atmosphere and exceptionally friendly service (even on a pre-Christmas Saturday afternoon, with a large party going on). There’s an excellent selection of both “real” and craft beers and ciders. Food is, very wisely, kept basic but very high quality, with an emphasis on generous portions for sharing.
The only slight downside is that the loos, while clean and well maintained, could do with a bit of refurbishment (like a cistern in the ladies’ that doesn’t take ages to refill between flushes — not great when there’s only room for one loo for all the females in the pub).
However, that will on no way deter us from making this a regular venue. It’s already claimed a place in our top 5 for the year.
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Excellent local, I was in here one night when one wag announced the arrival of Mr Sex. All the Guardian lovelies looked around to be confronted by the great man.
Sausage from the Borough.
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For a quick few beers in the vacinty of St Pancras this is a must (alongside the Euston Tap and The King charles). Service excellent, beer excellent (windsor and eton black ipa 5%). Beer in a proper glass with a handle ( like the southampton arms), nice relaxed atmosphere.
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A good find only a few minutes' walk from King's Cross and the train home. Quite quiet when I called on Saturday evening, but a good atmosphere and a fine pint of Hophead for �3. Two other ales on handpump as well as a proper cider, and 3 more ciders on gravity behind the bar. Friendly and knowledgeable bar staff. The first time I have been served a pint in a "handle" for many years. Only downside was the very smelly gents - surely this could be fixed to match the rest of the place.
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Can only echo the latest reviews, it's not the sort of pub you'll expect to find near a major rail station. This has got a proper local feel, with welcoming and friendly staff, low noise level (but that doesn't mean it's dull). Beer in good shape when I visited, and the pub boasts an impressive bottled beer menu as well.
Much better than most of the pubs around King's Cross.
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What a great back street pub, only 5 mins from Kings Cross (just off the Gray's Inn Rd). It is an evening in October... It is cold and wet outside but lovely and warm inside, most tables busy... few sitting at the bar... so busy... But what do you notice... no one is having to shout to be heard�so a pub where you can actually chat and talk and relax. The beers are excellent... real good selection and all the ones tried were superb (and very impressive to see Buxton Brewery available by the bottle too)... And if not sure what to try... trying a sample is totally befitting from the friendly staff. Simple, but hearty food too.
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Fantastic pub.
I went the month the new owners opened and it was very quiet. I hoped their efforts wouldn't go unrecognised and on subsequent visits it has just got busier and busier. During this time the choice of beer has got better and turnover has improved.
So now, there is a great choice of beer, exceptionally well kept (the Black IPA was superb). Friendly, attentive staff who are well trained to help you choose between the numerous bottles and pumps on offer. Was in last night and there is a mini IPA festival on. I tried a 7.2% killer that was amazing; unfortunately I don't have the constitution to drink too much of it. Wonderful tiling, live music and great pork pies add to the whole experience.
I believe they also own Simon the Tanner down in Borough and now the Wenlock Arms. I can't think of better people to run the Wenlock.
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Gutted really and my quest to find a good local is ongoing. Nice place this, but the cider. to my taste, was horrible. They had a still cider on tap which I wouldn't like, and the fizzy one I took was almost flat. They were really helpful in suggesting another for my second pint but that was flat too. They also had no fizzy bottles so it's really not the pub for me. If you're not into fizzy cider then it'll be great for you, it's just not my thing. My quest for a local continues.
Ann49 - 17 Aug 2012 17:39 |
Subtly improved since my last visit about 5 years ago, the pub now seems more spacious (it used to have a pool table) and the ales are exemplary - particularly a superb pint of Dark Star. Cheese and charcuterie boards also constituted fine accompaniments and it is the only pub to challenge the King Charles in this betwixt and between neighbourhood. The only issue are the - ahem - facilities - regrettably pongtastic and Mums up and down the land would bemoan their lack of cleanliness.
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Now this could be on my list of favourite pubs in london. 3 changing ales, 3 or 4 ciders. Friendly service , good layout, nice vibe. So much better than the poor excuses of pubs within a half mile radius....apart from the king charles.
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Good pub with good beer, like the decor plain and wooden.
Will get back for the music on Sunday afternoons
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Great little pub. Staff are really friendly, beer was on top form when we were in (including hophead). We popped in on a Sunday afternoon, and there was live music - an amazing pianist and singer, with a female singer joining in on some songs. Barman (manager?) told me they've only just started opening on sunday afternoons but that they'll have music every week. Great atmosphere and I'll definitely be back.
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Impressed by the old fashioned decor, comfy leather sofas, range and quality of beer. Bit surprised that it wasn't mobbed - does nobody else go out boozing on a Tuesday night?
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Marked it up a notch as they did have a nice pint of Whitstable IPA on this evening. It's good more because there are few decent drinkin gholes in the area rather than it being an exceptional alehouse though.
anonymous - 17 Aug 2011 20:39 |
Good pub, old fashioned and narrow. Bar snacks expensive, but good, not the least sign of celeriac or wasabi peas. Noting some of the previous comments, I am pleased to report that they had the rather nifty Redemption Fellowship Porter on pump. They also had a cider and my memory has failed to record what was on the third pump. Friendly staff. No one else except a single 'well-established' gent sitting quietly in a corner, not too sure why as it was 1800 on a Saturday. Well worth a visit.
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Thought I was a little harsh last time so gave it another go as I was in the vicinity. It still proclaims itself as 'best pub in London', it still seems populated by (mainly male) thirtysomethings and it still has a limited draught choice. Today's offering on handpump were a Spring ale, a Summer ale and a cider. Still no discernable classic English bitters on offer. Although I have to concede that the pint of Twickenham Spring Ale was excellent. It is one of the few places around the King X / St.Pancras area worth bothering with.
anonymous - 28 Jun 2011 22:38 |
Self proclaimed "best pub in London" popular with thirty somethings. Refurbed in a reasonable pub style with lots of weird and winderful bottled beers and lagers. However, the three handpulls consisted of a cider, a wheat beer and Adnams Mild - so no bitter. Tried a pint of the Adnam's Sarsaprilla and although it was only �3 still felt short changed. Could be so much better if they had some draught bitters on.
anonymous - 14 Jun 2011 20:39 |
Thank you to the Landlord, who after I had posted my previous comment, sent me a message and full apology, they had staffing issues, but thanks to his customer service I am going to make a special journey next time I'm in London
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Phoned up last week to enquire about opening weekend opening times, was told 12.00, got there at 12.45, CLOSED, and no sign of any activity,
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Friday evening was our first visit to this King's Cross establishment, and I left fairly impressed. A sign outside promotes the place as the best pub in London. I'm not quite sure about that claim. But it ranked fairly highly for me. The interior is fairly large with plenty of large tables and sofa typed seating suitable for groups. A lack of bar stools and smaller tables may make it unsuitable for individuals. The walls are tiled, giving it a more traditional look. A piano opposite the bar is obviously used, judging by previous reviews. Twickenham Four Seasons and Sambrooks Celebration were the 2 real ales. 5 real ciders or perries were on - Millwhites Hedge Layer, Rioja Cask and Organic Single Orchard, Bee Sting Still Perry and Orchard Pig Medium. I'm not sure if this range was the leftovers from a recent festival or whether they continually run with 5/6 ciders. But I was fairly happy. The pork pies served with picallili were also enjoyable, if not a little pricey at �6+ each. I will pay another visit at some time in the future to see if they can maintain standards.
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Friendly staff, a good selection of beers and ciders at decent prices, and even though it�s not the biggest pub in the world, I always seem to get a table. Much less intense/busy than most pubs in the area, and a top spot for a midweek drink. Cracking Pork pies too.
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delightful find, away from the crowds at kings cross, the description must be out of date - no TV (hurrah) or any evidence of karaoke nights, just a night quiet friendly boozer, i'll be back
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This place has changed hands since the 2009 reviews on here. I was introduced to it by a friend who works locally and have visited again since. Genuinely friendly, efficient service and three good beers/ales as well as the usual lagers. The Adnams Winter Spiced beer was excellent and even better at only �2.50 a pint. They also had mulled wine and mulled cider available. My only minor quibble was that the piano player was a bit on the loud side, but it was enjoyable really and at least they didn't have some dreadful CD playing too loudly. Not a TV in sight, either, which is perfect. Lovely roaring fireplace, warm welcome. They clearly care about this place and its customers and deserve lots of support. This pub is a pleasure to be in, and - not being a tacky chain place or a self-consciously "hip" bar - that is a real rarity for this area.
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A good looking pub in a crap part of town. I had Meantime pale ale which was fine but it was mostly lager on tap (I saw some foreign beer in the fridge). The young gents who are running the place seem to have high hopes of music, comedy etc. I wonder how many first time(?) landlords have tried and failed to make their perfect local...
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A tastefully decorated side street pub with a good atmosphere. Lots of games on the tables for people to use . We drank Adnams Broadside all evening and it was in very fine condition . We also had a decent Pork Pie. Worth the short walk from Kings X
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An unexpected find on a Kings Cross back street, the Queen's Head is a small, surprisingly bright pub set in a row of houses. The barman was a nice bloke and seemed to very much enjoy interviewing the attractive young lady who came in looking for a job.
Meantime London Stout on tap was a very pleasant experience and I ended up staying in here for a couple more than planned. Given the variable nature of pubs in this part of town, this is a nice haven of calm away from the bustle of the station. Recommended.
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An attractive Victorian style exterior - with a noteworthy Charringtons postage stamp pub sign - leads into a single bar pub that has been knocked about quite a bit, but still retains something of its former gin palace days, with some impreesive mirrors down one wall and some tiling.
The pub is situated in a residential side street, just off the busy Grays Inn Road. It's a long, narrowish pub with a dartboard and several TV's.
Unfortunately, apart from a couple of typically chirpy ( before Portsmouth scored ) exiled Scousers watching the Portsmouth v Liverpool game on the TV, the pub was empty when I called in on Saturday lunchtime. Despite ( or perhaps because of ?) this, a rather disinterested looking woman eyed me with a certain degree of suspicion before serving me with a decent pint of Adnams ( in a proper branded tall Adnams glass ) from the only handpump on the bar top.
The Queens Head has a slightly neglected air to it and I found it uninspiring. I can't see myself calling in again
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The pub retains the Victorian frontage and 'postage stamp' sign, and, as has been previously noted, there are some impressive ornate mirrors and tiling inside. These remnants suggest that this pub was probably once an impressive Victorian public house.
On my visit yesterday, I asked for a pint of Adnam's but one sip told me that if I drank it I'd be laid up for the rest of the week. The barmaid agreed that it was off and came out with some crap about how there was 'no demand for it' and how it was hard to keep and went off after a couple of days! Well, maybe if you tried looking after it, love, there might be a demand for it. She didn't turn the clip around or change the barrel, which makes me wonder if some other poor chap is now chucking his guts up this morning.
My friend and I had some Thai food here, which was good and cheap.
However, this is not a pub I'll be hurrying to again.
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Best boozer in the world......honest.
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The pub is quite small and narrow but the ornate mirrors that cover almost the entire wall on one side make it appear bigger. There�s a pool table, a roulette gaming machine and a couple of plasmas that were showing Sky Sports. Adnams was the only hand pump I saw but it was not on so I went for a Guinness which was OK. I think they had a menu but it�s not the sort of place where I would trust the food. The toilets were pretty poor which is always an indication of the overall running of the pub in my opinion.
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From the outside, the Queens Head looks like the classic Victorian shop front style pub with its recess doorways. I particularly like the Victorian postage stamp pub sign and the etched windows, even if they are modern recreations. Much of the interior has been knocked through to create one larger room with a small recess at the rear where the dart board is situated. Fortunately, some of the fine old tiling remains, especially on the floor although much of the wall tiles are now obscured the high backed padded pew seating. There are several ornate mirrors and a few remnants of its original interior but not really enough for traditionalists like me to get too exited about. Unfortunately, the first thing you notice in the QH is not the d�cor or the surroundings but the pool table � prominently placed at the front of the pub. I can�t help thinking it would be far better positioned to the rear under the skylight. The general d�cor is slightly cheapened by promotional posters and cardboard cut out Guiness glasses although I am pleased to say that since my previous visit, they have for the most part been taken down the posters from the lovely mirrors that align the walls. One of the ceiling fans is snapped off and on the 2 occasions I have been here in recent months, the only Ale (Adnams � 2 other hand pumps appear to be redundant) has been unavailable. It is simple things like this that generally let the pub down. There are 2 TVs and a big screen, a Quiz Machine, cash machine and jukebox and for the night owls, they don�t shut until stupid o�clock during the week and even more stupid o�clock at weekends, even though it is in a residential street. The locals and staff are friendly enough and there is nothing in particular wrong to not recommend a visit but it strikes me as a pub that doesn�t really make the most of its attributes and could be a lot better without using up too much effort.
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Nice little pub with really friendly bar staff and a good atmosphere. Has been revamped recently with some decent furniture. Good to go watch the footy or just an evening pint of ale. Irish coffee was good too!
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good Adnams Bitter, reasonable prices, Sky sports, big screen, pool table. Will return.
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This is a great little pub, recently it has gained new owners and management.
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