The Queens Head, Winchmore Hill, N21

Now reopened again after another refit. Not a lot different that I can see, except that the place has been given a good lick of paint and is a lot smarter than previously. The lighting has been upgraded and it now appears a lot brighter, to the extent that with the clear glass frontage you get the feeling that you are living exhibits in an aquarium. One positive note is that there are now two ale hand pumps on the bar. Unfortunately on my first visit since it reopened, there was nothing coming out of them, and then yesterday one of them was dispensing London Pride.

This was the last pub that I frequented on a crawl of Winchmore Hill and I was hoping to find a decent boozer, but I was confronted by an unremarkable pub with an identity crisis. The barman was ok, but seemed a little wet and the drinks selection of Greene King IPA, Staropramen and a limited standard lager selection was very uninspiring. There was actually more choice of different Champagnes than there was draught and if I was willing to part with £99 for a bottle of Dom Perignon I wouldn’t be drinking in here. There is a plasma screen that had muted Sky Sports News feed playing on it and some reggae music was playing in the background off some popular CD. I won’t be drinking in here again as this pub’s only plus point is a half decent beer garden out the back and there are better outside drinking areas to be found in the vicinity. (review based on a visit last Summer)