User name:

Password:

Login


Sign in with Facebook


Not already a member?
Join our community and - Rate & review pubs - Upload pictures - Add events JOIN for free NOW


Chat about:
New pub visits 2024 with Brainypool on the Pub Forum

The Virgin Queen, E2

94 Goldsmiths Row
E2
E2 8QY
Phone: 02077390185

Return to pub summary

Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


custodian 42 left this review about The Virgin Queen

One room with bar to the right rear. Also enclosed patio for diners. Just two weak real ales on offer - the rest keg.

On 19th September 2018 - rating: 5
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Virgin Queen

Originally the Duke of Sussex, this pub was built in mock Tudorbethan style for West’s in the 1920s, a stone’s throw from their Three Crowns Brewery, long demolished and now the site of Hackney City Farm. There was once a West’s sign to the corner splay, but whether it’s still there, covered up, or gone for good, I don’t know.
As this is no longer a sports bar, we felt it safe to enter after so many passes over the years, on the pilgrimage to the Mecca of all things hipster: Broadway Market. The first thing which sets the alarm bells ringing are the Tudor rose etchings to some of the front window panes – surely this isn’t a Sam Smith’s pub? Rest assured, no. This is part of the consistently good Remarkable Pubs chain and whether you like it or not, the interior is remarkable and certainly original.
On entering, look up to the low, fibrous plasterwork moulded ceiling painted Royal blue, embellished with gold stars – it would look more at home in Hampton Court Palace or something designed in the 19th century by A. W. N. Pugin for St. Pancras Chambers. The walls are clad in dark field panelled wood with sconce lights. The floor is dark, modern and substantially covered in a sumptuous rug. Furniture is suitably Tudorbethan, with mock period embroidered upholstery; settles display Tudor rose motifs to their wings. However, it’s the bar front, back and real working grand fireplace that surprise. They look like they may have come from an old church or period rectory, with faces of people like saints at prayer. What’s not so remarkable is that they were specially commissioned for the pub – at huge expense – but what is remarkable is that they are fashioned from genuine reclaimed Elizabethan wood! Where once this pub had a garden, there’s a swanky glass conservatory. The main bar’s not that large, but there’s a sizeable dining room to the rear. Down some steps and there’s a subterranean function room, again with Tudorbethan fireplace – perhaps this is where unruly customers are shown the rack. Muted music comes courtesy not from a minstrel playing a lute, but is delivered by jukebox; there are no TVs.
A very friendly barmaid was serving up Fuller’s London Pride and Southern Star as well as Darkstar’s Hophead at a fairly pricey £2.30 a half, though on good form.
Plus points for the Darkstar, but The Virgin Queen needs a more adventurous ale choice than the Fuller’s offerings, though at least there was no Doom Bar. This is a must-visit if in Hackney and I’ll certainly return, not least because I have no wish to be executed on the grounds of recusancy.

On 3rd May 2018 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Moby Duck left this review about The Virgin Queen

An interesting pub, any football connections are now no longer evident, the interior walls are all covered in ornate wooden carvings as is the bar. The pub has gone down the gastro route but is still comfortable for drinkers as well. Three ales on, Pride, Gypsy Hill Anorak and Howling Hops Pale which was excellent. Quite a charming little pub complete with real fire,it is just the glass conservatory stuck on the side of the building was at odds with the rest of the pub and not particularly alluring, nice place all the same.

On 17th December 2017 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1868 recommendations about 1841 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


hondo . left this review about The Albion in Goldsmith's Row

Taken over by Remarkable Pubs who say "it will become The Virgin Queen, a collaboration with The Fish House serving posh fish and chips, brilliant beer and great wine that’ll knock your socks off”

On 14th June 2017 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Ian Mapp left this review about The Albion in Goldsmith's Row

Sort out, as I am a massive WBA Fan. Just had to come for a look.

As you'd expect, a great pub for the football - including one TV facing out into the street so that the smokers don't miss a thing as they sit under the awning.

Fullers beer noticed - I went for a London Pride and a first ever Olivers Island. Both in great condition.

On 19th February 2016 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1329 recommendations about 1315 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Rex Rattus left this review about The Albion in Goldsmith's Row

I had heard about this shrine to West Bromwich Albion Football Club, but only managed to pay my first visit last week. The place is jam-packed with footbal memorabilia, including pennant from major clubs - I didn't spot the CPFC flag, but it must have been there somewhere. The wall at the back is covered with WBA memorabilia, including a photo of someone called "Jeff Astle". And in case you haven't yet got the message, a visit to the toilets takes you to the "Baggies", boys and girls.

The pub itself is rather nice, although quite small. There's a lot of banquette seating, with metal framed tables and small round stools. All the tables have little messages painted on them, such as: darts on Mondays, quiz on Thursdays, cheese toasties available, etc, etc. The dartboard was in use, as was the ouside seating on the warm and sunny day when I visited. They have Cask Marque accreditation, and had four ales on - Gornal Brewery Thomas Guest Cobbler (£2 a half), Black country Ales Pig on the Wall (a mild), plus Deuchars IPA and Timothy Taylor Landlord. I didn't see any sign of food on Wednesday afternoon, but they must do it as I saw toasties advertised on one of the tables.

This is an unusual sort of pub to say the least, but it's a decent enough little place as long as as you don't support Aston Villa or Birmingham City and aren't fussed about the over-the top football stuff. It's worth a visit if you're in the area. Two ales from non-mainstream breweries is OK, and although Greene King signage remains on the outide, luckily there was no sign of any of their ales inside.

On 19th March 2014 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Aqualung . left this review about The Albion

Back in the days of the Big Six breweries the Bass Charrington Duke of Sussex was one of the best pubs amidst the plethora of appalling dross in the E2 postal district. At some point over 30 years ago it became a Shepherd Neame House. It is now a genuine free house that is becoming a GBG regular. It was renamed to the Albion or more correctly the Albion In Goldsmith's Row in 1998. It's only a small wooden floored single bar as well described below. Although it claims to be a Sports Bar it doesn't have the boorish atmosphere that most of these type of pubs usually have. It was busy on my Saturday evening visit and although there was sport showing on a screen it didn't dominate the proceedings.
There are four handpumps on the bar with two regular "safe" options Deuchar's IPA and Taylor's Landlord. On the other two pumps there was Hardknott Lux Borealis which I would assume is a rare beer for London and something called Hank which I can't pin down at all as it was rather too busy to make enquiries.
My only gripe was the price of £3.90 for a "cooking" strength beer, as after all this is a back street pub in Hackney. Apart from the high price, I thought this was a cosy little pub with friendly staff.

On 17th November 2013 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Albion

Perhaps the name should have been enough of a clue, but I was very surprised upon entering to find myself in a West Bromwich Albion pub, here in the East End of London. The pub is made up of a single rectangular room with dark beams and some comfortable banquettes under the windows. The servery is on the left hand side of the room, allowing just enough room for a dartboard and a couple of slot machines between it and the door. A TV was on in one corner showing something unmemorable and music was playing over the sound system, but not so loud as to impede conversation. For all of that, the most noticeable thing about the pub is the vast collection of football memorabilia which takes up just about all of the wall space. Footballs and trophies are lined up on top of the servery and there are numerous scarves and shirts throughout. There is also a remarkable collection of pennants covering teams from home and abroad and it’s quite a challenge to spot your own team’s colours amongst all the others (I failed). A corridor to the rear leads to the toilets and it is here that the West Brom theme starts to take over, with signed items, life size player images and toilet doors labeled Baggie Boys and Baggie Babes.
Four ales were being dispensed on my visit – Taylor Landlord, Adnams Ghost Ship, Wytchwood Hobgoblin and Deuchars IPA. My Ghost Ship was a bit of a disappointment – not the first time I’ve had a troublesome pint of this brew. The staff seemed friendly and there was a good Saturday evening crowd in, creating that nice buzz you get in a proper ‘locals’ pub.
I liked the feel of this place and enjoyed viewing the landlord’s memorabilia. The pub has a nice community feel to it and is well worth a look if you find yourself in the area. I wonder if many Baggies fans ever make it out here.

On 23rd October 2012 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]