The Queen's Head, Limehouse, E14

Tris C left this review about The Queen's Head

Overlooking lovely York Square, a Georgian area of the East End that has been massively gentrified, the street lined with large German cars – some electric – typically painted black or graphite. Dating from 1822, this pub has recently been remodelled and it would seem that CAMRA’s * interior rating has been stripped as a result.
This pub used to have a picture of the Queen Mother as its sign, because as mentioned, this is where she used to moonlight, spotted pulling pints on 16th July 1987 as indicated by a brass plaque; the paparazzo’s photo has been doing the rounds in Young’s pubs ever since.
The pub’s name in etched glass to the door’s windows is a nice retention, thereafter the floor is bare boarded, with traditional furniture pushed to the periphery leaving a fair bit of floor space for a small pub. There doesn’t seem to be much heritage apart from some mirrors, white ornate egg and dart cornice beneath a burgundy Anaglypta ceiling, with either white walls or floral wallpaper above smoky blue wainscoting. There’s an attractive pot shelf with leaded stained glass, illumination coming from Tiffany sconce lights. There were two TVs showing the boxing in silence, then a fairly loud ‘80s’ soundtrack on the jukebox, The Cure, Gary Newman and Tears for Fears during my stay; the unusual secondary window glazing presumably exists to limit the escape of said noise. There’s little décor apart from some pictures of old queens and not the type to be found at the Old Ship opposite, then tiresome United Nations sports’ bunting. Customers were mixed, though unlikely to be immediate residents as some were a bit rough; a hipsters’ pub this isn’t.
Alas no cask here, with two unused porcelain pump handles then Neck Oil at a stiff £3.50 a half, served by a friendly barmaid.
This place isn’t too bad and the atmosphere here’s better than at the Old Ship, but the unwatched TV sport and lack of a decent cask choice dents the appeal; with a similar lack of cask, I actually preferred the Prince Regent just to the east.

On 4^th February 2024 - rating: 4
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