The Top Floor Flat

One of the things that I regretted about my time in the UK prior to going back to California for Christmas, and something I have happily changed since my return, was how little I knew about my immediate neighbourhood.  I live in a very residential area of London but like the rest of the city, numerous surprises can be hidden just a few houses away.  I took advantage of some recent nice weather to explore the surrounding area.  Hopefully I’ll be able to post about a number of my favourite nearby finds but I’d like to dedicate this post to a local pub with all the charm one might expect of a British pub and all the negative reviews of a New York bar.  I can’t for the life of me figure out why it’s been so thoroughly bashed in nearly all of the reviews but in my opinion, The Queens Head on Brook Green is a top notch London establishment.

I first visited the Queen’s Head with Ann not too long after moving into the Top Floor Flat – it’s a few blocks away and a nice walk when it’s a warm evening.  The most striking thing about the pub is its ginormous garden in the back which could easily fit our flat three times.  This might not sound like a huge selling point but with space at a premium in London, a garden of this size is certainly cause for celebration, especially in the summer when outdoor pubs space is always overcrowded.

I’ve also been consistently impressed with the friendly staff and had no arguments with the food (although perhaps I’m less picky than most as that seemed to be the main gripe amongst those who complained about the place).  The indoor atmosphere is as cozy as the outdoor one is festive and summery.  A number of separate rooms all offer plenty of seating by the best spots by far are the cushy chairs and couches by the front windows.

So the Queen’s Head may not have the cheapest of all chips or the most central of all locales but as far as pubs go, it’s certainly one of my favourite in London.