The Queens Head, Winchmore Hill, N21

Facebook page of The Queens Head - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Queens Head - www.facebook.com

Visited 23/06/25 Three hand pumps but none dispensing. One had a turned round clip for TT LL and the other two were unclipped. Keg range pretty moribund, Guinness, original and dark fruits SB, Heineken, San Miguel, Madri, Carlsberg, Moretti, Pravha, Aspall and Neck Oil (also not available on my visit). Another L shaped venue with the bar counter following the inside shape with tall stool seating around the bar counter. The venue is bare boarded and there were quite a few TV's showing the cricket and motorsport. To the left of the entrance were a bunch of regular tables and chairs in the front windows plus some wingback armchairs serving a v small table to the left-hand end of the bar counter. To the right of the entrance there were some leather chairs and sofas by the fire-grate on the right-hand wall. Music playing was a mix of 60-80's tracks on a low volume. Along the right-hand side of the bar counter was a seating area with a fabric banquette along the right-hand wall, this area had some well-worn white ceramic floor tiles, with then a tall table with some stools around it at the rear before the exit to the paved beer garden. The beer garden had some dining huts, picnic style benches and an external TV switched off on my visit.

Visited the queens head Winchmore hill on Saturday 15th June 19. Have been using the queens head for over 30 years. Met up with old friends for drinks. Very noisy pub on this occasion, full of kids but acknowledged that there had been a fete at the local school earlier that day. Not too impressed that children were still permitted on the premises at 9.45 PM and were shifting furniture around and playing ball in the bar area. The main complaint I have is around 10pm when boxing appeared on the television and the volume was at full tilt to compete with the music and raised voices of the patrons attempting to be heard above the din. At my request a member of the bar staff sensibly reduced the volume of the television sound system of which the speakers were direct above our table and not anywhere near the television itself. Within 2 mins "the Manager" Steven Lambert rrepresenting the Bermondsey Pub Co decided that the volume for the boxing be reinstated. When I politely requested either we have the music or television volume but not both he point blank refused. Suggesting my group of six move to the other side of the pub. I confronted mr lambet on his way through the pub to his office to tell him I would be making an unfavourable review in light of his attitude and appalling Customer relations. I could not hear Mr Lambert above the din and he had to resort to scrawling his details on a scruffy scrap of paper which he handed to me and refused to discuss the issue further. He was determined to have his way regarding the noise and was indignant at being asked to do something different. We had no choice but to leave and will not be returning to queens head whilst under his management. I would suggest the brewery invest in some customer facing/relationship management training at the earliest

Three handpumps were clipped - Doom Bar; something called Horizon - both coming soon or something similar, leaving London Pride as the only ale actually on. It was decidedly average, at £2.45 for a half, and I was decidedly unimpressed. There were two menus on the tables on Sunday afternoon - one had all manner of odd things on it, predominantly something to "feast upon" (their words not mine) called sourdough flatbreads - some sort of pizza substitute perhaps? Anyway, they cost £7 for a margherita and £9.50 for a bresaola(?). The other menu made a bit more sense, featuring Pieminister pies - £7 for pies and £7.50 for pie meals. Not sure what you get for the extra 50p; gravy and/or mash perhaps? The place has been totally modernised, and although the bar counter looks old it has been re-sited. It's bare-boarded, has its fair share of tall tables with tall stools and benches, but some normal tables and chairs, one of which I bagged of course. As is the case with this type of modernised pub, there's reclaimed wood around the place, as well as that modern design staple the exposed brickwork. I did quite like the brick built fireplace on the right though. It was doing a reasonable trade on Sunday afternoon so it looks to be a going concern, and that's a good thing. But it's not somewhere that I'll be rushing back to.