The Queens Head, Maldon

A pleasant and traditional looking pub in a prime spot with views of the estuary, it makes the most of the outlook with both a patio area alongside the water’s edge with plenty of large umbrellas, electric heaters and even an outside food order point as well as large windows all along the back of the pub. Internally, the main bar area is a U-shape wrapped around the curved and wood panelled bar counter , and as mentioned, the windows overlooking the estuary give it a light and airy feel. The flooring is some sort of wooden laminate, whilst the walls have been painted in a pale shade of salmon with some pale grey wood panelling on the lower part of the walls. A couple of pictures of the estuary were on the walls and there was a disused brick fireplace at one end with a specials board for the food hung above it. A small snug was at the front of the pub, and whilst we did not investigate this, from a quick glance it looked to be quite cosy with a mixture of wood panelling and exposed brickwork. Beers were well represented with Dark Star Hophead, Doom Bar, Abbot Ale, the local Puck’s Folly, Adnams Southwold and Adnams Ghost Ship. Ciders appeared from a glance at the taps on the bar to be Strongbow and Aspall’s Suffolk, although a board also listed Stowford Press, Magners Dark Fruit and Strongbow Dark Fruit.

This is a small Grays pub that I'm fairly certain I had been to before, probably in the days when Grays thought it was a good idea to just sell GK real ales. It was in the 1974 GBG and has been listed in many since but not the 2015 one. It is set right on the Blackwater Estuary so may be an interesting place to visit on a really stormy day. Inside there is a bar area to the right which is where I parked myself. This room was fairly traditional with benches fixed to the wall, movable benches, wooden tables and low stools. The bar had a blue lino flooring with matching blue leather on the furnishings. Going through from the pub entrance there is another bar overlooking the Estuary but this seemed more geared up for food. The Island bar serves both areas. I noticed eight beers on, Maldon Brewing Co Hydrogen & Puck's Folly, Adnam's Ghost Ship, London Pride, Dark Star Hophead, Woodforde's Wherry, Doom Bore and Abbot. I went for the local Puck's Folly (£3.30) which was in excellent condition but I had to ask to be topped up. I had no problems with the bar staff at all apart from that. I thought this was a good little pub and would happily return.

This pub has a good selection of real ales and a very pleasant outside drinking area overlooking the river Blackwater which is very nice in the summer. Unfortunately that's where the good bit ends as the staff are about the most unfriendly I have ever come across in the hundreds of pubs I have visited and they will not be getting my custom again. Shame as it is a very nice pub.