The Queensbury is the latest incarnation of a pub previously known under several different guises. Pleasant decor, a cosy environment and good food make sure it remains a safe retreat in burgeoning Willesden Green.

The Venue
Located just across the road from the tube station is The Queensbury, complete with a clearly visible, large heated patio. A feature in itself, this outdoor space is modernly furnished with contemporary wooden benches and tables, softened by twinkling fairylights.

Come the autumn, punters move inside to make the most of the cosy pub area, resplendent with a working fireplace and Chesterfield couches. The highlight, however, is yet to come: step in further and you will find yourself in the stylishly designed dining room. The Fornasetti print covering the back wall is a real talking point, and heavy red curtains cover tall windows. There is also a collection of different mirrors covering one wall and a black spaghetti curtain shading the intimate niche decorated with wallpaper. It looks too good to be just another pub.

The Atmosphere
The demographic of Willesden Green has been shifting for a while and it reflects on the clientele here. There’s a real mix of Antipodeans in their twenties-to-thirties, local workers who earn decent wages, and fortysomething locals from the residential Victorian houses nearby. While the younger generation make up the regulars during the summer, the older punters are a fixture during the other seasons, especially at the dining tables. It’s nice that the pub itself is so representative of the area.

The Food
The food is a real strongpoint of The Queensbury, due to a daily changing seasonal menu paying as much attention as possible to the organic, free-range and sustainable ethos. Do not expect to find the same dish twice since the chef designs the menu on the basis of what the fresh produce market can provide; in general you will get modern British dishes with some continental fusion options.

For starters (£4-£6) you could find herring roes with watercress and capers, pancetta with broad beans, black pudding and quails eggs or smoked mackerel and beetroot; a small surprise in itself since the beetroot is yellow rather than purple and seasoned with vinegar. Within the mains, the coq au vin with mash, pancetta, mushrooms and onions is recommended. Clearly well cooked, the meat melts away from the bone and the wine flavour is strong and rich, well complemented by creamy mashed potatoes. Other options you could run into are braised oxtail; morels; spinach and stilton risotto; baked trout; roast organic salmon; and a small selection of burgers (£6.50-£8) served with good looking hand-cut chips. For vegetarians, there isn't much more on offer than the bean burger - too soft but nicely spicy. The sides (£3.50) are rich in quality vegetables like purple sprouting broccoli and Jerusalem artichokes, whilst desserts (£5.50) are prettily presented and rich, such as the lavish panna cotta.

The Drink
A dozen cocktails (£7) are the exciting inclusion to the drink menu: ideal for this type of venue, there is a well balanced mix of the classics and new concoctions like Chilli Mint Tequila or their own Absolute Queensbury.

For more casual drinking there are plenty of beers. On draught (£3.20-£4) you can pick from Kirin Ichiban, Erdinger, Leffe and Red Stripe. Alternatively, within the bottles (£3-£3.10) it’s your choice between Budvar, Corona, Tiger, Peroni, Cobra and the honey flavoured Waggle Dance. To accompany your food, instead, the wine list is 26 bottles long with prices ranging between £12-£31 (a good number of small and large glasses are also available at £3-£4 and £4-£5.50). The choice is made slightly difficult since no other information is given but the year, the country and the alcohol percentage. However, the selection is certainly decent with many classic bottles from the new and old world - an exception being made for the interesting Fontanario de Pegoes Pamela D’Or ailing from Portugal.

The Last Word
The Queensbury asserts itself as a good gastropub sure to make the locals happy. A decent addition to Willesden Green.

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