Queens Head Inn, Harlow

Official site of Queens Head Inn - thequeensheadpub.co.uk

Official site of Queens Head Inn - thequeensheadpub.co.uk

nb. closes 15:00-18:00 even on Saturday. 20 April 2008 Jump on the number 7 bus from Harlow Town and 14mins later you arrive outside this lovely old pub set in a picturesque village street with a variety of aged and weatherboarded buildings. The bar has low, original heavy beams and timbered ceiling & walls, comfortable fabric settles below the windows and darkwood tables & chairs. A handful of locals were already chatting on the barstools when we arrived at 12:05, the service was friendly and the beers good. Brewers Gold (£2.90), Websters Wonderful Wallop (aka Nethergate IPA) £2.50, also Adnams Bitter & Broadside. Smaller room to left of entrance is similarly timbered, with a large working brick fireplace, 3 tables with seating for 12-15, french window to rear carpark, decorative old brass cash register, a serving hatch from the bar, and a dartboard (although tables would need moving to use), also a local version of the Paul Whitehouse character Rowley Birkin qc, babbling on incoherently, I suspect he was already ver ver drunk.

An old building in one of the hamlets that was subsumed into Harlow as the new town expanded,but surrounded by a church ,a butcher and a village shop giving the whole street scene a rustic charm.Through the low front door there are two options;left into a small public bar with a modern stone effect floor,a few tables and chairs , a very traditional open fireplace with logs burning and a small bar counter .The gents is off this room.To the right is the lounge ,with a small bricked up fireplace,traditional furniture and a large banquette at the end of the room serving three further tables.Ladies loo in this room.The bar extends along half of one wall in the lounge,and throughout there are interesting historical photos of the pub and surrounding area. Four handpumps were serving Crouch Vale Brewers Gold,as consistent as ever,Adnams Broadside and Southwold Bitter and a pump offering Websters Wonderful Wallop which the barman told me was rebadged Nethergate Bitter.Judging by the collection of pump clips,there is often a Nethergate guest ale served here. The food is standard pub grub,but slighty pricey and not wholly justifying the premium.The commercial radio station playing through the PA wasn't noisy but not really required in a small pub well frequented by locals.Decent stop for a beer or two,but not an outstanding 2011 GBG listing.

One of the oldest pubs in the area, serves good quality Real Ale which is always well kept. Three staple brews are 'Websters Wonderful Wallop' (Nethergate best), Crouch Vale Brewers Gold and Adnams Best + other brews. Food is reasonably good with (in my opinion) exceptional soups. Decor is a old fashioned and a bit scruffy, but is made up for by the quality of the beer! (it is sufficiently well away from Harlow Town to discourage unpleasant clientelle)

One of the oldest pubs in the area, serves good quality Real Ale which is always well kept. Three staple brews are 'Websters Wonderful Wallop' (Nethergate best), Crouch Vale Brewers Gold and Adnams Best + other brews. Food is reasonably good with (in my opinion) exceptional soups. Decor is a old fashioned and a bit scruffy, but is made up for by the quality of the beer! (it is sufficiently well away from Harlow Town to discourage unpleasant clientelle)