At first glance, everything about the Queen’s Head just screams ‘chain pub’.
From the tidy, homogenised décor to the mass produced menu of pub grub crowd-pleasers and the string of middle-of-the-road pop playing on the stereo, there is almost nothing individual.
Yet, a few smart little touches and personalities do give this Ember Inns pub some character and it is exactly the mid-range, conveniently-located spot that most of us would happily visit for a night out or a filling meal.
On an unusually sunny evening on our visit, the Queen’s Head was packed out with a friendly family crowd, a number of them making early use of the outside seating which faces the High Street and is flanked by the pretty pond.
Clearly it has its own band of regulars too, which is a sure indicator it is doing something right.
On one of the pillars at the bar, the words ‘Ken and Colin’s spot’ have actually been painted on, presumably a mark of their dedication to this drinking hole.
I believe I even caught a glimpse of the famous Ken, rooting around his pocket for the correct change while engaging in a bit of back-and-forth ‘bants’ with the very laid back bloke behind the bar.
Such is the twisting lay out of the Queen’s Head, choosing a good seat is easy – they’re all good.
And there is the perfect spot for those who feel the cold, sandwiched between the radiator and an open fire with a brass surround.
Six ales on tap, including regulars Harveys and Ember’s own pale ale, represents a good selection at prices that won’t break the bank.
The food is reasonable too – you can pick up two courses for £8.99 in the evening – and it may have looked like it had been through some trauma before reaching my table but it tasted just fine.
The Queen’s Head, High Street, Chislehurst
How it rated:
Décor *** Very chain-pub with a couple of flourishes
Atmosphere **** Family friendly, happy
Staff *** Casual
Food *** Tasted better than it looked
Drink **** Decent selection
Price*** Pretty reasonable
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