It’s a well-known fact that Putney is hardly deprived of good local pubs. So seeing as The Queen Adelaide is back open after a well-needed makeover, I was more than up for checking if its new facelift made it a contender for the top spot.
The Venue
As soon as I walked in to The Queen Adelaide, I knew I was in for a treat. With a welcoming atmosphere, comfy seating, burning fireplace, and a very well stocked bar, I was instantly impressed.
What used to be a pretty dingy back room has been transformed into a light and gorgeous conservatory/dining room. Filled with plants, snug antique chairs and wicker lanterns, it has a unique look while still having the kind of feel that’s great for families, groups and couples alike.
Even the beer garden was inviting despite the cold. There’s a new covered wooden seating area complete with fairy lights and outdoor heating. What really struck me was the added touch of leaving out blankets for visitors to huddle under – an example of why The Queen Adelaide is a pub that you’d come back to again and again.
With comfy seating throughout the venue, The Queen Adelaide is instantly welcoming.
The Atmosphere and Clientele
When we arrived at 7pm on a Tuesday night it was pretty quiet – but that’s no real surprise. However by the time we left the entire pub was full to the brim with young professionals, couples and families. You get the feeling that whoever you come with, you’ll be catered for. The staff were very welcoming and helpful but not too invasive – our waiter was particularly great at guiding us to the real gems on the drinks menu, a nice touch.
With a clean, stylish and heated garden area, you can enjoy an alfresco drink all year round.
The Food and Drink
The menu contains classic pub food but with sophisticated restaurant flair, so I was eager to see if it lived up to it’s promise. The Potted Ox Cheek with miniature Yorkshire puddings immediately grabbed my attention as a starter –what’s not to like there? We also had a smaller plate of the Steamed Mussels with coconut, lemongrass & chilli broth; a welcome change from your traditional white wine and garlic sauce.
The mains ranged from the more standard Battered Cod & Chips and Posh Chicken Kiev with Truffle Mash to dishes like Haunch of Venison and Dressed Brixham Crab. We chose the chef’s recommendation of the Cod and the Chicken Kiev; it was nice, but a bit more work on the flavours and textures would have made all the difference, but it was still nice. However, the suggested bottle of Lagrange Le Haut Pinot Noir more than made up for it. As it is a Young’s pub there’s a pretty impressive selection of local and further afield ales to choose from. Plus, now that we’re all feeling festive, there’s mulled wine and Aspall’s cider to get excited about too.
Once you're stuffed, kick back in a lounge chair and relax the day away.
Summary
Good food, great drinks and a fantastic venue - The Queen Adelaide is by all definition your perfect local pub. It might seem a little out of the way for some, but it’s well worth the journey.
