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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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The Queens Arms, Basingstoke
Basingstoke
RG21 7JE
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about The Queens Arms
This is a smart two bar pub with a fairly traditional interior, helpfully located next to the station. You enter into a carpeted main bar area with a small laminate floored splash panel around the servery, which is directly opposite the entrance. The bar has a simple counter and mirrored bar back - nothing particularly imaginative, but functional and in keeping with the pub's overall look. The room has lots of authentic looking dark wooden beams and posts, which makes the place feel much older than others I visited around town, but I have to concede that they are probably just for show. Tables and chairs fill much of this initial space and this carries on into the right-hand room, which has bare brick walls and seating arranged in a more formal layout that's suggestive of a dining room, although there was no obvious food offering available. The final seating area is tucked away behind the left side of the bar in a very brightly lit space with yet more tables and chairs under dark wooden beam crossed walls. Much of the pub has been decorated with pump clip displays, small black and white photos and various blackboards listing beer and wine options.
Talking of which, the handpulls were dispensing arguably the best ale range in town, with options on this visit comprising Cross Bay EPA, Geogre's Olde Leigh Oyster and Cockle Stout, Purity Ubu and Sharps Doom Bar. A friendly guvnor poured me a good pint of the EPA, which was a suitably well-kept beer to round out my crawl of Basingstoke, and I enjoyed sipping it whilst waiting for my train and enjoying the low him of Saturday night conversation from a mostly older clientele.
I wasn't really expecting all that much from a stationside pub at the end of a long day of pubbing, but I thought this was a pretty good boozer and quite comfortably my favourite of this I visited in and around the town centre. The solid ale range, good beer quality, friendly welcome and traditional feel of the interior combined well to make this a winning visit, and with its proximity to the station, I'm sure this won't be the last time I pass the time waiting for a train home in here.
Date of visit - 17th February 2024
On 9th July 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Queens Arms
After a period in the doldrums it has returned to being a rather good and cosy locals pub. Several half-timbered-effect areas range round the central bar and it is generally warm and friendly. The display of pump clips hints at the variety of changing ales - on this visit featuring Adnams Bitter, Exeter Grubber, Brains SA and Doom Bar, with Animal XT Rhino due on next. Very handy for the station and worth calling in.
On 15th February 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Queens Arms
Seems to be on the up again, with a couple of interesting guests in good nick the other week and the customer base seems to have returned more towards the friendly locals rather than the Mockney cockpots that seemed to have gained traction a while back.
April 2014
It all seems to be sliding downhill here from the heights of a few years ago. Just three ales on and the Yorks Porter was the only one of interest (Doom Bar and Courage Best were the other two). It was pretty flat and I struggled to finish it. Two EDL full-kit heroes propping up the bar which makes me question the house rules (or lack of). Living off past glories and I’d think twice before automatically swerving here to neck a half between trains now. A real shame. Rated 6
May 2012
UPDATE: There seems to have been a change in management here but the ethos and quality remain the same. Batemans Dark Mild, Orkney Northern Light, Ilkley Mary Hoppins, Courage Best and Doom Bar on. The guests were £3.50pp. Rated 8.
August 2011
The best pub in Basingstoke and handily close to the station too. A good variety of ale (usually four) in good shape is its main selling point – I’ve never had a pint less than good in here. The U-shaped interior is basically what would have been two rooms now knocked into one, the right hand side retaining a comfier lounge bar element, with the left being a more public bar feel. Both areas have a 70’s mock Tudor interior vibe. Nice clientèle mix – beardies, office workers, builders, rail staff etc it making for a comfortable and lively atmosphere most evenings. Food is available. TV’s on the wall with larger profile sporting events shown though switched off otherwise. Recommended, not just for a ‘quick one before the train' but for a proper session. Rated 8.
On 10th April 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Queens Arms
A half decent pub,handy for the train station,you should find two or three interesting beers on normally and as such its worth a pint if you have a long wait for a train connection, as I did last Sunday evening on my way back from Pompey. I had a good pint of Frog Island TOC Porter.In terms of Basingstoke pubs, it really is about the best you will find here.
On 2nd March 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Queens Arms
I'm sure I visited this pub way back in Winter 1973 after going for an interview with the Civil Service Commission which resulted in my first "proper" job.
I'm certain this was a Courage pub then and it still serves the boring brew from Bedford so that seals it for me.
It's to the left as you leave the main South entrance to Basingstoke Station just by where a tunnel goes under the lines on the road heading North.
Inside it's a fairly small single room which wraps around the central bar with food areas on the right and further back. It was mostly full of older folk on my Friday lunchtime visit.
The bar has a pair of hand pumps which are wasted with Courage Best and Doom Bore while the other bank of four had one unused. The three beers available were Village Old Raby, Rudgate Vanilla Mild and B&T Albion Ale. I went for the Old Raby (£3.75) which was in good nick.
I thought this was a pleasant enough place but nothing particularly special. In the context of being a pub in a dump like Basingstoke it's rather good.
On 18th January 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Queens Arms
Popped in to check out what was the best pub in Basingstoke as it didn't make the GBG2015, luckily it's still good and could still be the best pub in Basingrad but I'm not going round them all to make sure - unless I become a masochist.
On 22nd September 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
dave stray left this review about The Queens Arms
This is a friendly locals pub, they seem more than happy to welcome most people here. The pub itself is small and divided into different sections. The little areas round the back seem more orientated for people who are eating here. Just because the pub is small does not mean it feels cramped - plenty of games and packs of cards available as well. Appears to hold quiz nights every now and then. On the beer drinking side there was 5 real ales on - 3 of them must be guest ales as they seem to keep changing all at around 4% ABV. The other beers were Doom Bar and Courage Best along with your usual selection of lagers. Probably the best pub in Basingstoke.
On 23rd February 2013
- rating: 9
[User has posted 265 recommendations about 183 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about The Queens Arms
While you might expect the pub nearest to the station to be low-quality (a daunting prospect indeed in this town), it turns out that the Queens Arms is one of the best. Go in, and the bar's right there: Fosters seems to be drink of choice for most of the crowd, but there are 3 handpumps offering guests from far & wide; at the right-hand end of the bar are couple more pumps clipped for Courage Best & Doom Bar, although these seem to be considered 'out of sight and out of mind' - it took me a while to spot them.
The beer's good and the crowd friendly. There seems little need to explore further.
On 1st July 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 554 recommendations about 516 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
dave stray left this review about The Queens Arms
Pub closely situated near to Basingstoke train station. This does seem to be a CAMRA haunt, it may seem an unusual pub at first but this does feel like a real locals with men sitting at the bar chatting away. It is not somewhere to come out of the way for, but is a decent pub.
On 15th August 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 265 recommendations about 183 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Queens Arms
The Queen's Arms is a slightly run-down looking pub which seems a bit out of place in the modern town centre, but stepping inside is like entering a different world. The reception was a bit odd, and the staff a bit reserved. The clientele was mixed, ranging from a suited idiot who couldn't work out how to pay to a CAMRA cliche, quietly yet harmlessly knitting his own yoghurt in the corner. This is clearly a CAMRA haunt, as evinced by the various awards around the walls and the CAMRA newsletters from various parts of the country (though, curiously, none from Hampshire).
The beer was fantastic, and despite appearances, the landlord abviously cares a great deal about it. There were 4 ales on when I visited; I tried both the Springhead Ginger Pig and the Ascot Ales Alley Cat - both were outstanding, pefectly kept and served at the right temperature.
This is a great beer pub and surely a must for any town crawl. It's also very close to the station, so worth breaking a journey for and ideal if waiting for a train.
On 19th July 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3516 recommendations about 3480 pubs]