Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 9 and Version 8 of Queen's Head, BR6 7US

Version 9 Version 8
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category='Beer Garden,Darts,Good Beer Guide,Good Beer Guide 2013,Good Beer Guide 2014,Good Beer Guide 2015,Good Beer Guide 2016,Good Beer Guide 2018,Good Beer Guide 2019,Good Beer Guide 2020,Pub Food,Pubs,Real Ale,Smoking Area'
category='Beer Garden,Darts,Good Beer Guide,Good Beer Guide 2013,Good Beer Guide 2014,Good Beer Guide 2015,Good Beer Guide 2016,Good Beer Guide 2018,Good Beer Guide 2019,Pub Food,Pubs,Real Ale,Smoking Area'

Pub in Downe.

Entry is into a fairly narrow bar area, with the bar itself to the right, and a door to one side leading to the "Suhaili bar", now used as a restaurant. Opening out to the left is a seating area with a hardwood floor, velour wallpaper, sofas and tall-backed armchairs, a dartboard, a flatscreen (switched off on our September 2012 visit), and some nice stained glass photo. There's a patio garden with picnic benches out the back.

Kake visited on a Tuesday early evening in September 2012. There were four real ales on: Westerham Summer Perle (£3.30/pint), Adnams Ghost Ship (£3.30/pint), Timothy Taylor Landlord, and Harvey's Sussex Best.

There were no other customers in when I arrived a little before 5pm, in contrast to the George and Dragon around the corner, though one did arrive before I left an hour later. Music was playing, mostly from the '90s, not too loud.

According to their website as of September 2012, food is served noon-9pm Mon-Sat and noon-6pm Sun. As well as the regular menu photo, they have a number of specials (which are written up on a board in the restaurant side, but the staff will read them out to you if you want to order from the pub side).

A starter described very succinctly on the menu as "pate" (£4.45) photo turned out to come with a generous quantity of toast, a small saucer of chutney, and a varied salad of tomato, red onion, cucumber, leaves, and multicoloured peppers. The pate itself was also a generous portion, and nicely textured, though a little bland in flavour.

Roast pork belly with mash, broccoli, and peas (£11) photo, from the specials menu, wasn't bad overall. The mash was fine, buttery and smooth yet with a bit of texture too. The broccoli was quite soft but I like it that way. Unfortunately the pork itself was a little tough, and the skin hadn't been scored enough for the fat to escape and crisp up the crackling properly, so the fat layer was a little overwhelming and the crackling was chewy.

Accessibility: A small step and then a larger one to get in.

Kake's verdict: It's a nice little pub, and I'd be willing to give them another chance with the food.

See also:

Last visited by Kake, September 2012. Opening hours taken from the 2013 Good Beer Guide.

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