The Queens Head, Soho, W1

Went to most of the Good Beer Guide pubs in soho and this was the best beer. Very good pint of London Pride. Nice boozer. Photos at my blog - http://bit.ly/2dAN8k3

Official site of The Queens Head - www.queensheadpiccadilly.com

Official site of The Queens Head - www.queensheadpiccadilly.com

Small narrow boozer with side bar (nice old wooden bar back here), head further to the rear for nice wood-inlay mirrors, large chandelier and mounted clock. Wallpapered throughout. A Soho pub, so inevitably gets rammed most of the day, especially after work. Apparently there is a second room upstairs but in the melee I didn’t spot it. Five pumps, four on; Dark Star Hophead (very good nick), Robinsons Trooper, Sambrooks Wandle and Pride (same as the selection from the previous reviewers visit). 2 quid a half for Hophead, about standard for the area. Also a collection of craft-style bottles. There’s a blackboard with a beer list, prices and tasting notes which is something I heartily approve of. Wi-Fi. Was a Nicholsons and lately a freehouse - has been in the Good Beer Guide the last couple of years. I liked it here and would make a point of dropping in again next time I’m off to Mildreds.

There was a decent ale selection on in here - London Pride, Doom Bar, Darkstar Hophead, Sambrook Wandle, Robinson's Trooper, and Magic Rock Ringmaster (£2.15 a half). I didn't see any menus on Monday lunchtime, but if they don't do food it would be a bit surprising in this area. This is a very small pub. There are just two round copper-topped tables by the window, with a settle and three or four chairs; otherwise furnishings are a couple of tall tables/tall stools at the back, and a few tall stools at ledges around the sides. I guess that this leaves plenty of space for vertical drinking. A previous reviewer mentions an upstairs room, but I didn't see it. The bar back looks an ancient piece, and at the back are a trio of mirrors framed by wooden pedestals, and surmounted by an ornate shelf. There is little in the way of decor, but I couldn't miss the gilt framed mirror on the wall above the stairs leading down to the toilets, and on one of the other walls there's a print of an 1855 painting of a dog show at the Queens Head Tavern, then in the Haymarket. This was another pub that was quiet (less than 10 punters in) on Friday afternoon. It was also quiet in that there was no music, or TV on, to disturb those that were engaged in conversation. This one's quite good for the area, which is obviously busy with tourists at this time of the year. It's probably much busier in the evenings, but I found it a welcome refuge from the hordes (can I say that, or am I dehumanising them?) of tourists. The ale selection's pretty good as well.

Small, tidy pub, wallpapered walls. Not much room for seating, but its a fine drinking den. Near theatres and Shaftesbury Avenue. 6 real ales

Situated just off the northern end of Piccadilly Circus, the Queens Head dates from 1738 and until the Piccadilly Theatre next door was built in 1928, also occupied much of the site of its new neighbour. The current building is fairly reflective of a typical West End pub, smallish, a little cramped and with a fairly traditional feel to it. At the front is a small snug section with tiled floor and a few battered leather seats and round metal top tables. The bar runs along the right hand side and opposite is a ledge with high chairs. It opens up a little at the rear where a lowish chandelier may give concern to visiting basketball players and a series of mirrors make the place seem a bit more spacious than it actually is. A few pictures of Queen’s heads are on disply to reflect the pub’s nameand an elegant Barclay Perkins Stout mirror will please breweriana enthusiasts. There is a TV well postioned over the entrance porch and piped Dire Starits music playing on my visit which may or may not please some people. Upstairs is a lounge that is available for hire and also hosts regular comedy evenings. The beer range wasn’t particularly extensive or interesting with 2 ales available (Pride and Doom Bar) and a third unused pump. At £3.30 for the Doom Bar, prices can be considered pretty reasonable for the area although the quality of the pint wasn’t the best I’ve had albeit drinkable. The pub was quite empty for my early evening visit but was starting to fill with theatre goers as I left and I suspect that this is its prominent trade. It is a decent enough place with a bit of character for a quick pint but it doesn’t really have enough to make it stand out from a dozen or so pubs within 100 yards.