Old Queens Head, Essex Road

As a twenty year old I practically lived in this pub, I drank there, worked there, even slept there, so I'm not likely to say anything bad about it am I? (writes Tony Madden) Well it's changed a great deal since then and it's now a well established bar, always busy and always great fun. The owner, Mark, is an out and out Gooner, so if he's about, football chat is guaranteed. But there is a lot more to this pub than just football. The feel is very much 'Angel Islington' which, considering how close it is to The Angel is not surprising. On a summers evening you can't miss 'The Queens' as you drive or walk up Essex Road- it's the pub with the dozens of people enjoying an outside drink on the wide pavement right outside it's doors. It's situated on the junction of Packington Street and Essex Road and is said to be on the site of the oldest pub in Islington, once visited by Elizabeth I. Liz II could do a lot worse than pop in here, she¹d be sure of a good old Islington welcome and probably one of the best pints of Guinness in Islington.