Good first impressions

This one's been taken on by the people who've recently redone the Old Queens Head on Essex Road, and on first impressions it seems to be running along the same lines.

We're rather taken with the refurb: a ship's figurehead of the warrior Queen looms over the entrance and the exterior tilework, previously painted over, looks all the better for the refit.

Like its sister pub, this one's slightly lacking choice behind the bar: Guinness, Kronenbourg and John Smith's are hardly a cause for excitement these days, especially at close to £3 a pint.

The atmosphere though, helps to make up for things, with this one already pulling a mixed crowd of local workers, local, er, locals and students from City University across the road. We'll keep an eye on this one, especially if they follow the lead of the OQH and serve up a similar range of pies. For the moment though, this one nudges a 3 pint rating.

CLIENTELE: locals, students, designer types
NEAREST STATION: Angel station
PHONE NUMBER: 020 7354 9993
FEATURES: DJ, outdoor seating

Queen Boadicea
292-294 St. John Street, EC1V 4PA