The Queen, Doncaster

An atmospheric alehouse with an excellent and changing range of beers - a superb North Ridings Treacle Toffee Stout enjoyed on this visit - with a keg wall as well as the set of handpumps. It has somewhat eclectic decor, ranging from conventional to bizarre, but does feel like somewhere you would go to enjoy yourself. Good for a visit, but not sure if I could settle in for the evening.

The Queen has the feel of a live music pub with dim lighting and a corrugated iron wooden topped serving counter across the rear that faces a row of high tables across the centre. Iron tables and chairs are found along the front and up the left wall and there’s a raised seating area to the right labelled ‘the snug’. Next to the counter on the left rear wall is a television, that was off, and underneath is a shelf with years of GBG books, I’m assuming this place is included. Background music was being supplied via an old style jukebox that has been digitised. Standard and premium keg were available and the back bar is lined with eight fonts for the craft lager selection. Four of the five hand pumps were in use drawing Redwillow Breakfast Stout, Abbeydale’s Pilgrim, Black Lodge Brewery’s Anytime Cowboy and Durham Brewery’s Hedleyhope. The service was polite, but I struggled to get comfortable.

An odd cross between a Mexican bar and grungy beer house. Orange and black interior decor, with some industrial stylings. Five cask on; my first choice didn't drop (the great Untappd showed me plenty of crystal clear cask pictures), the replacement of Abbeydale Heathen was a bit flabby (NBSS 2.5). I also had to pay the difference between the two which, whilst explained when I took the first one back, felt a bit off. Though the barmaid clearly had no clue on the product she was selling and I suppose was employing the Nuremburg Defence. Just me and a ‘weekend dad’ with his son in attendance. Easily the weakest of the town centre’s GBG pubs, once was enough.

The Queen is situated just across from the marketplace and has a slightly grungy feel to it, aided by lots of skull pictures, as mentioned in the previous review. I don't think I've ever seen a phallic-shaped skull before, but did notice one here whilst washing my hands in the gents! What was noticeable here was the lack of customers. I arrived to find just the one guy at the bar chatting to the barmaid. When I eventually departed, it left the pub empty. Indeed, the barmaid was bemoaning the impact of Wetherspoon's on the town's pub and beer scene. Whilst I didn't visit the Red Lion ('spoon's) on this visit to Doncaster, it probably contained most of the customers who would frequent other town hostelries. The ale range was decent - Shiny 4 Wood, Rainbow Pride & Wrench, Imperial Remote Chiller & RedWillow Ekuanot. My request for a half of the Wrench (stout) provided me with a much lighter half than anticipated. The barmaid had in fact poured me the Ekuanot, but changed it without any trouble. The Wrench either hadn't been pulled through properly or was well past its best, but was still drinkable. Whilst standing at the bar, I did also notice that the pub stocks a range of real ciders and craft beers too. Ciders were Weston's Old Rosie & Lilley's Mango Cider, Elderflower Cider, Cherries & Berries, Tropical Cider & Bee Sting Perry. Craft beers were Siren Suspended in New Zealand, Polly's Rosebud IPA, Liquid Light Star Roving Export Stout, The Kernel Taiheke, Shiny Claps Over Snares, Yonder Watermelon Gose, Tiny Rebel Clwb Tropica & London Beer Lab Mosaic Ekuanot. Other than the skulls, the interior is quite dark and is fairly spacious with plenty of room for live music events, when hopefully the pub is much busier. It's certainly an amenable drinking environment, that I'd imagine would be much better when busy.

Based on a street corner,the traditional exterior gives way to a large square room with interesting artwork,skull designs some done by the talented barmaid.It's a music themed interior with a very fine juke box,from which random selections play continuously if no choices are made.Volume wasn't outrageous.There is a gothic feel,wooden floor,red velour bench seating around the periphery and traditional tables with stools and chairs.A few flatscreens were dotted about but not switched on.There are a few alcove areas if you want to tuck yourself away. The ale line up on my trip was Five Points Best (soon ran out),Shiny Afterglow (NBSS 3.5),Black Iris Endless Summer,Rudgate Oliver Twist and First Chop Pod.A decent selection,if lacking in style variety but the GBG 2021 entry is justified. There are also 6 craft keg selections from which I chose a BrewYork Dream Child,a 14% rocky roads ice cream pastry stout ,which delivered on all those flavours for a big session finish.The eclectic can and bottle beer list is worth squinting at for more interest. I enjoyed my visit,the bar staff were chatty and friendly and if you enjoy beers in all their different guises I would say this is a must visit in Donny along with the Draughtsmans Alehouse.Given it's location near Silver Street ,circuit drinkers and their antics maybe on show here on Friday and Saturday nights.