This is the Islington pub you bring people to when you want to show off your neighbourhood. The Sunday roast draws crowds from across London — crispy roasties, proper Yorkshire puddings, generous meat portions — and the live music nights give it a buzz that most gastropubs can't match. Come hungry, come early on Sundays, and check the chalkboard for who's playing.
Islington locals' go-to for a proper Sunday roast and live music nights that give this Essex Road pub its beating heart.
Arrive before 1pm on Sundays if you want a table for the roast — it fills up fast and they don't always take reservations.
Islington's Sunday roast champion with a live music habit
The Old Queen's Head is one of those Islington pubs that locals quietly love and visitors stumble upon and immediately wish they'd found sooner. The Sunday roast here is the real deal — properly crispy roasties, generous portions of meat, and a Yorkshire pudding that actually holds up. Multiple reviewers specifically mention making the trip out of central London just for the roast, and they're not wrong to do so. It's the kind of plate that reminds you why this dish is a British institution.
Beyond the food, this is a proper neighbourhood pub with character. There's live music on the chalkboard — check it as you walk in — and the atmosphere is warm and unpretentious. It gets busy on Sundays (obviously), so arrive early if you want a table for the roast. The drinks selection is solid, the staff are friendly, and it has that lived-in feel that makes you want to stay for "just one more."
If you're in Islington and want a pub that does both food and atmosphere right, this is your spot. Skip it on a big match day if you're after a quiet one — it gets loud and packed. But for a Sunday roast with friends or a weeknight pint with some live music, you'll struggle to do better on Essex Road.