Happy 5th Birthday Old Queen’s Head!

It is an all too common affliction that north London pubs often find themselves overlooked in favour of their skinny-hipped East End counterparts. But as a northerner myself, and I don’t just mean someone in possession of an ‘N’ postcode – I mean one of those real ones from above the Watford Gap – I feel it is time to raise the flag in celebration of our great north London boozers.

A prime example, and celebrating its fifth birthday this week, is Essex Road’s The Old Queen’s Head. Proving it’s not the size that counts but rather what you do with it, this historic establishment counts Sir Walter Raleigh amongst its former punters – as well as more contemporary figures, of course.

Setting the trend for the pub/club, The Old Queen’s Head was one of the first to bring big name DJ’s to more intimate surroundings with Roots Manuva, Chemical Brothers, Erol Alkan and Simian Mobile Disco all taking to the decks in the early days.

They were the pioneers of band DJ sets from the likes of Belle & Sebastian, Snow Patrol and the Mystery Jets and also the home of the now infamous Bugged Out all-dayers.

Five years on, while we may all be a little older, wiser and harder of hearing, The Old Queen’s Head continues to deliver premier acts from the world of live music, comedy and also a host of classes and events as diverse as its record collection including life drawing, theatre, vintage clothing sales and hula hoop lessons.

Every night this week, The Old Queen’s Head is calling on its enviable little black book for a reunion of resident favourites and big names from the music world and comedy circuits to celebrate its fifth birthday. Highlights include Comedy Gold (Wednesday 16 February), bringing TV’s best comedians and fresh talent on the stand-up circuit to the masses for under a tenner, featuring Lucy Porter, Pete Firman, Dan Evans and newcomer Daniel Rigby.

Giving us a perfect excuse to start the weekend early, Oh Inverted World (Thursday 17 February) continues to showcase the best of cutting-edge unsigned bands, this week in the shape of Grouplove, Chad Valley and Big Deal.

Calling on some firm Old Queen’s Head favourites, Friday night’s celebrations will be facilitated by DJ sets from the Mystery Jets, Maccabees, Various Cruelties and some special guests entertaining until the wee hours. And it is free before 8pm.

And what better way to end the week’s overindulgence than with the infamous Sunday Social. Now in its second year, The Sunday Social features the classic combination of Bloody Marys, Sunday roasts, weekend newspapers and live sets from the best up-and-coming bands. And free entry to help ease abused pockets.

This Sunday have your hangover soothed by The Agitator, The Brute Chorus and The Border Surrender. Perhaps not so much soothed, but it’s guaranteed to be worth staying up that bit later on a school night.

Check out The Old Queen’s Head website for the full programme of birthday shenanigans. I’ll bring the cake.

The Old Queen’s Head
44 Essex Road
Islington
N1 8LN

Tel: 020 7354 9993