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Detail Pages
The Queens, Crouch End, N8
N8
N8 9DE
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Queens Hotel
This is an absolute showcase of a Victorian "gin palace". Now operated by the very small Food & Fuel chain, it was built (and allegedly also designed) by the developer John Cathles Hill in the golden age of Victorian pub building in the 1890s, along with the similar and equally spectacular Salisbury. It's Grade II* listed, and on CAMRA's National Inventory of pubs with unspoilt interiors. In here we have the trademark original dark wood panelling; Lincrusta style ceilings; etched/cut glass; leaded light glazing in he windows, and the now rarely seen ironwork signage above the entrances. Most of the original partitioning survives, creating several separate drinking areas. However, the large room at the back (or side - depends which way you're facing!) had all the tables laid for formal dining, with an open to view kitchen to one side.
You don't normally find formal dining areas and pub grub in the same pub, but here they have somewhat surprisingly come together. The single-sheet daily menu on all the tables featured pub grub staples such as chicken/mushroom pie & mash (£11.50), pan-fried Cumberland sausages & mash, onion gravy (£11.00). I suppose it's necessary to specify that the sausages are pan-fried in case someone ever discovers another way to fry sausages. They also advertise a £5 lunch (12 - 3 Mon - Fri), the best of the three options being the "sausage and wholegrain mustard sandwich, hand cut chips". A fiver isn't bad by London standards, so I'll forgive them the excessive adjectivisation. The ales weren't bad either - ELB Foundation Bitter, Redemption Trinity, and London Fields Hackney Hopster, with a clip reversed on a fourth pump.
This is a must visit pub solely for its place as a classic London Heritage pub, but some decent ales is also a big plus.
On 11th January 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2629 recommendations about 2544 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Queens Hotel
The Queens Hotel is the work of the architect John Cathles Hill who was prolific in the developmenmt of the area in the 19th Century. He also built the similar Salisbury in nearby Green Lanes and between them, they represent fine examples of late Victorian pub building. That they have survived virtually intact is in itself not much short of a miracle and both are featured on the CAMRA Inventory of Historic Interiors.
The Queens Hotel first opened in 1902 and it is rumoured that Laurel & Hardy were among the previous esteemed guests. Apart from a few minor alterations, everything is pretty much as it was when the doors first opened. The pub stands on a lrge corner plot and has an impressive façade with marble coverings and some classic ironwork. The interior has a large central island bar around which radiate a few screens that divide the drinking area into 3 sections. One side of the pub is the quite grand dining room. Points to note are the magnificent doorways, the mosaic flooring, the elaborate plasterwork in the ceilings and the attractive floral glazing.
There were 4 ales available, 2 from Adnams, Gunhill and Broadside, Bombardier and Purity Mad Goose. There was also a range of top end lagers and continental beers as well as the usual suspects. At £3, the Gunhill was very reasonably priced for such opulent surroundings. They are Cask Marque accredited and I certainly had no complaints about the quality. The menu was at the restaurant end of the market with a daily changing menu but reasonably priced for what it seemed to be (I didn’t eat here).
The pub has a bit of a reputation for attracting a few undesirables and for disinterested staff but I had no such issues on my early Friday evening visit and even the local hounds were very welcoming.
It is certainly a pub worth visiting for those interested in pub architecture and would certainly be on my short list for a return visit if I find myself in the vicinity.
On 13th April 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Queens Hotel
Like many pubs with ‘hotel' tagged on the end of them this place is far too big for my liking, making it lack any sort of atmosphere. I thought that the staff were like robots showing no emotion and I had to wait longer than should have been required.
Wells Eagle and Bombardier were available alongside Doom Bar which was a good pint.
The pub consists of a huge island bar in the middle with three portioned drinking areas and a large restaurant with open kitchen to the side. There is also a small paved area out the handy for smoking, but I wouldn't want to sit out there all night.
It's a grand building, but unfortunately not the greatest pub so I won't be returning.
On 30th June 2009
- rating: 4
[User has posted 6826 recommendations about 6787 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Queens Hotel
Large ornate pub with plenty of wood and stained glass, seperate dining area. on the CAMRA list of pubs with outstanding interiors. charles Wells beers on tap
On 17th May 2007
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]