Talli Queen, Shepherds Bush, W12

Although I have passed this pub most days for the last 20 years I didn't realise how much it has changed.Warm and welcoming on a cold rainy day.Nicely done up with an open plan kitchen to the rear.4 handpumps with 3 beers Harveys-Sussex, Itchen-Hampshire Rose and a good pint of Trumans-Swift.

Occupying a prominent street corner position on the Uxbridge Road is The Queen Adelaide, a large Grade 2 listed Victorian era pub with an impressive looking exterior featuring a mixture of tiling and brick work painted in the normal dark gastropub style. The pub’s strapline is “Pub, Dining and Terrace". Principally a gastropub, it retains a number of original features and, by gastropub standards, it’s quite a pleasant interior. It features chandeliers, an original central bar, dark green painted wood panelling and the seemingly mandatory retro wallpaper and large old style coloured lampshades suspended from the ceiling by the bar. Note also the impressive domed fireplace. Seating is the usual mix of sofas and more traditional furniture, which includes some upholstered seats with circular three legged tables along one wall. There’s the usual open kitchen and, round this side of the pub is a dedicated restaurant area with tables laid for diners. The other side of the pub also caters for drinkers and it is clear that, despite the gastropub leanings, drinkers are not discouraged. Outside at the front, is the “fabulous garden terrace” with the usual large umbrellas and heaters. The pub is part of the Realpubs Group ( recently acquired by Greene King ) and, on my visit, beers on were Nethergate’s Queen and Hoops and Caledonian Flying Scotsman. The Queen and Hoops pump clip features blue and white stripes and I concluded that this is a beer badged specifically to intend to show some affinity to the local football club, Queen Park Rangers who, during my visit were taking on Blackburn Rovers at Loftus Road, a few streets away. Clearly this affinity has its limits as, rather disappointingly, several Mike Tyson look a likes ( thick necks, black clothes, built like fridges etc ) were standing guard outside in preparation for an influx of supporters after the final whistle. The Queen and Hoops was a pleasant pint, but even allowing for the pub’s gastropub status, it seems overpriced for the area at £ 3.65p. Later on during the visit, Cottage SS Great Britain and Harveys Best came on. There’s 3 pumps in total. It’s not quite what you expect for Shepherds Bush, where rather dodgy looking fast food takeaways and Irish pubs seem to dominate and, whilst I’m not a gastropub person, given the absence of alternatives in the area, I wouldn’t be averse to a revisit when I’m next in the area.