The Queens Arms, Victoria London UK

I used to drink in this pub when I worked in Victoria, London years ago, and I had fond memories of it so when back in the UK I met some friends here for a few beers over lunch.

It hasn't changed over the years in appearance but the beer list has widened and there is a lot more crafty beers available. It is a pub that most people eat at opposed to just coming for drinks and has a nice, friendly relaxed atmosphere to it. It also had a lot of groups so it seems to cater well for them, which is a surprise as it is quite a small place but they seem to manage the space well.

One thing I would also say is the bar staff were really good, just friendly and efficient. Men being men, order drinks at the bar then nip off to the 'loo' (great British word that!), the bar staff just dropped the drinks of at our table and made a few recommendations on beers to try etc - like I said, just really efficient and helpful and that's what you want... 

A bright and airy pub

Big bar area, but as you can see, it isn't very big which helps the atmosphere of the place

So... I found a new brewery (for me) that I had to give a massive shout out to - Meantime Brewery. I know it's not that new, but I haven't lived in the UK for years... I tried a few bottles of Meantime Red Ale ( it is one of the coolest bottles I have seen in a long time!) at a friends house and in the Queens Arms I tried my first pint of Meantime Pale Ale. Man it's a good beer.

Great colour for a pale ale, in a cool glass

The head stays with the beer.

It has that lovely golden, nearly rusty, look to it. It has a nice medium body that keeps the flavour locked in and on the nose it has citrus flavours to it. I wouldn't say that the beer has massive citrus flavours through it, it is more of  subtle flavour throughout the body. I thought the beer had a bit of malt in it as there is a bitterness to the beer but from a bit of googling it seems that it is just some of the hops they use that gives it the gentle bitter taste. I really enjoyed this beer.   

After a few Meantimes, I thought I should try something else and went for the Camden lager. It is a really light lager when comparing with the Estralla Dam that my friend was drinking. The head was really small but as you can see, it stays with the beer - I hate it when the head disappears. I reckon the light body and gentle flavours would work on a hot day or at summer BBQ as it isn't in your face with high alcohol or big malty flavours etc. 

Overall, if you are in Victoria, or change at Victoria station, pop out of the tube and head here and if you can find a Meantime Pale Ale (in any bar), go for it - it's awesome! Right, my friend has just called "next bar" - I think today is becoming a bit of a Victoria Pub Crawl! The joys of coming back to the UK and catching up with friends!