Queens Head & Artichoke

On an unlovely stretch of road just east of Regent’s Park sits this popular gastropub, which cannily offers two parallel menus to meet the different demands of drinkers & diners. Tapas make reasonably priced bar snacks throughout the day, while a fully fledged carte is available upstairs, where the vibe is quieter & the decor shabby chic. On a warm summer’s day, a meal might kick off with gazpacho & tempura-battered courgette flowers, & the Euro-Asian mix continues throughout the seasons with the likes of five-spice pork & ham hock persillade. Cooking is competent, but desserts often disappoint with confused & over-ambitious flavour combinations.