CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE

GREATER LONDON (NORTH) - London N8, Crouch End, Queen's Hotel

National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors Part One

26 Broadway Parade, Tottenham Lane, London, N8 9DE

Tel: 020 8340 2031

Public Transport: Railway Station: Hornsey / Crouch Hill

Listed Status: Grade II*

View this pub on a local map

An opulent hotel-cum-pub built in 1899-1902 at the height of the great pub boom and still a fine place to eat and drink. It’s a companion piece to the magnificent Salisbury in Green Lanes, N4. Both were built by developer, John Cathles Hill who is said to have acted as his own architect. The layout is very similar to the Salisbury with a large servery in the centre surrounded by a series of rooms and compartments. There is a screen across the bar at the front. There is another screen just inside the entrance on the Elder Avenue side. On the right-hand side comes a saloon with a couple of alcoves and a spectacular decorated plaster ceiling and half-height panelling. The ceilings and deep friezes throughout the pub are immensely intricate in their decoration. There are lots of other features to admire, notably the beautiful Art Nouveau-style glass with roses and other flowers.

The bar counter is original and so is the circular entrance arrangement on the corner with a mosaic floor bearing the monogram of Mr Hill and Q for Queen’s. Unfortunately the fitting in the centre of the servery has, for some reason, been replaced with modern work. The pub also suffers from an overpowering gantry atop the counter. A refurbishment in 2001-2 was a sensitive piece of work apart from the cutting of an opening in the screen. You may care to drop in at the nearby 1930s ‘brewers’ Tudor’ Railway, 23 Crouch End Hill. It’s been much altered but has a truly magnificent inglenook fireplace.”