The Queens Arms, Walthamstow, E17

Official site of The Queens Arms - www.queensarms-e17.co.uk

Official site of The Queens Arms - www.queensarms-e17.co.uk

The Queens Arms is a corner pub that is situated in the posh part of Walthamstow. Once inside there is a single U shaped room with the bar facing,the floor is bare boarded as you might expect in a gastro type pub,the seating is a mix of bench type and normal tables and chairs. There were three real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Trumans Swift which went down well,the other beers were Summerskills Westward Ho and Redemption Hotspur. Fairly loud background music was playing on our Saturday dinner visit. I was happy enough having a drink in this pub. Oub visited 21/3/2015

Another gastro makeover in Walthamstow Village,the vast plate glass windows make you feel very much on display if seated by the bar,but that's the modern vogue.There is a significant dining area as you go back through the building and it was certainly busy at Saturday lunchtime .Wooden floors complete the modern vibe.Three real ales were on during our brief visit,Sumerskills Westward Ho! (fine),Redemption Hotspur and Truman Swift served by default in dimple mugs,it might have been better if the option of a straight was made before pouring.I noticed a lot of craft keg taps ,so drinking in the front part of the pub is probably the norm. Call in if crawling the area,not enough pub atmosphere for me to consider a longer session.

This pub has undergone a refurbishment since the last reviewer's visit. It's no longer the sports bar that it apparently was – it’s now been thoroughly “modernised”, and looks for all the world like a gastropub, but I didn’t see any meus when I was in there at Wednesday lunchtime. The exterior is now painted a pastel shade, although it may be an undercoat as some more work is definitely needed on the signage, which is conspicuous by its absence. The ale situation has looked up considerably though. They had on Woodforde Wherry; GKIPA; Old Hooky; and Otter Ale (£1.80 a half and served in a dimpled jug). Old Rosie cider was on pump as well. The interior still smells of paint, but obviously that will pass, and didn’t bother me. The floor’s bare-boarded of course, with battleship grey predominating the colour scheme and the decor’s typically minimalist. The main bar area at the front is furnished with normal tables and chairs, but an area to the back and right of the bar counter has some sofas, and exposed brick walls. Many (but not all) of the tables were laid for diners, which is the only indication that I got that food was available. Why have tables laid with cutlery etc if you don’t do food? It all looked very gastro. The pub is bare and minimalist, but obviously intended to look chic. A lot of people seem to like these sorts of places, and good luck to them, but it’s not much like a traditional pub now.

One of three pubs around Walthamstow Village and for the casual visitor the black exterior and dark glass probably makes it the least welcoming. But it’s decent enough once inside with the main bar area being a bit spartan but clean, light and airy. In the main it appears to be a sports pub with a big pull down screen and advertisements for regular screened football. And there was also indication of regular entertainment from live bands and the dreaded Karaoke nights. And from what I could see, it also did not seem to do food, which makes it a bit unique in this increasingly gentrified area. There were three hand pumps on the bar but only one operational when I visited which dispensed a very average pint of Doombar. So for the Real Ale drinker this one can probably be passed over in favour of the nearby Village and Nags Head. But for the locals it looks a decent enough venue for watching the footie.