Q is for the Queen's Head

The Queen's Head was always high on the list of choices for pub Q, and we were only more keen to visit after our Sussex-based friend suggested it was his favourite newly-visited pub of 2012. We were meeting a friend for drinks before her departure to Australia for an undetermined length of time, and various guests meant there were several beers sampled.

The Pub

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The pub itself is not huge, but well laid out so there's a reasonable amount of space. The decor is very much shabby chic, and is not overdone. Towards the back there is a fireplace that looks old at first, but it clearly gas. Partly due to said fireplace, on the cold evening of our visit it was fairly warm, without being roasting hot. The staff were good at knowing about the drinks on offer, and some more experienced staff members were evidently teaching some newer ones while they worked. The beer was generally served well, and prices, barring one notable exception, were reasonable. We had a couple of platters of food which were tasty and not badly priced. Particularly good piccalilli, and also pork pie (looked as though it could've come from Sainsbury's deli) and various meats. The toilets were awkwardly positioned at the back, and were much colder than the rest of the pub. The hot tap in the gents appeared to be just for show and the tiles were a bit seventies. All of this made them reminiscent of an old primary school toilet block.

The Beer, etc.

• Camden Pale Ale - Tastes like an IPA. Happy that it's local. Could be served a little cooler, seemed a little lacking in freshness.
• Darkstar Hophead - Light, delicious, although maybe a little bit on the 'thin' side.
• Kernel IPA - This was the expensive one, seemingly a lot more so than any of the others, even though it was only about 1% stronger than these others.
• House Red Wine - Passable, but fairly generic, as expected from a house wine. Certainly drinkable, but served a bit cold.
• Windsor and Eton Conqueror - Treacly, but somehow also a bit watery. A first black IPA, and not disappointing, but lacking a bit of body.
• Wildcard Jack of Clubs - Dark, but not over the top. Easy drinking, but nothing really special.
• Harviestoun Schiehallion - A crisp and refreshing lager, served in a chalice. Similar to euro-lagers, and enjoyed by Lager Boy.
• Licher Weizen - Like a Hoegaarden, but better, although the large head did seem to attract a lot of fluff.
• Mikkeller Something (no idea exactly what it was!) - Dark and peaty, definitely not enjoyed by Lager Boy. I can't say I was much of a fan either if I'm honest, a bit too much like drinking a puddle.
• Kernel Export India Porter - Almost like drinking a cup of coffee, very drinkable, but wouldn't want more than one, as it's very dense and rich.
• Lilley's Bee Sting Pear Cider - Not too sweet, easy to drink. Very good.

The Verdict

The Queen's Head is definitely a good pub, and I wouldn't hesitate to visit again. Although it seems a little bit off the beaten track, it's only a short walk from King's Cross tube. Generally a relaxed place to be, and a wide range of well-served beverages to choose from.