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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Graham Coombs
Submitted on Saturday, 12th February 2022
With picture contributions to 5503 other pubs
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Detail Pages
The Queens Arms, Basingstoke
Basingstoke
RG21 7JE
Served areas
Reviews of The Queens Arms (Average Rating: 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]
View more reviews of The Queens Arms (11)
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- Official site of The Queens Arms - www.thequeensarmspub.co.uk
- Queens Arms Facebook page - www.facebook.com
- Twitter - The Queens Arms
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Queens Arms - whatpub.com
Bramley (Hants), 5.28 miles, 1 hr 41 min walk (show)
Hook, 6.08 miles, 1 hr 57 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 27 September 2019 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 27 September 2019 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 27 September 2019 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes - Rear Patio - last updated 27 September 2019 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 27 September 2019 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 27 September 2019 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : No last updated 27 September 2019 by Quinno _
- Darts : No last updated 15 January 2016 by Aqualung .
- Dog Friendly : No last updated 15 January 2016 by Aqualung .
- Function Room : No last updated 15 January 2016 by Aqualung .
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 27 September 2019 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : Yes last updated 15 January 2016 by Aqualung .
- Karaoke : No last updated 10 April 2017 by Quinno _
- Live Music : Yes - Occasional - last updated 27 September 2019 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 27 September 2019 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 27 September 2019 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 27 September 2019 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 27 September 2019 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 27 September 2019 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 27 September 2019 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 15 January 2016 by Aqualung .
- WiFi : Yes last updated 27 September 2019 by Quinno _
