Queen Charlotte

A quick visit to the newly-reopened Queen Charlotte in Addington Street on Saturday (it only opened, after a short break between managers, on Friday). Now run by Sam Braganza and family, it's definitely a local pub run by local people - friendly and lively atmosphere guaranteed in this small, authentic local hostelry.

Sam says she's got great plans for Quiz nights, curry nights, Karaoke nights, just as a starter, so hopefully this pub should quickly get back to where it should be, at the heart of a local community. Addington Street has lost too many pubs, with the Falstaff seemingly gone for good quite recently, and the Duke of York some time ago, so I'd reccommend a visit.

And if you like the history and architecture of Addington Street, Images of England describes the pub as part of the redevelopment of the street in 1801 by James Townley. The "small painted overmantel of Napoleonic war period" is worth a look as well, a lovely and well-preserved bit of history in its own right. The interior is just classic small pub, an open fire, slightly random collection of tables and chairs, and above all a cheerful normalness you just can't get in the larger places.