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11. Queens Head - Duke Street (Brakspears) 
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"We have visited The Boat House (previously Queen's Head/Idle Hour) and enjoyed a quick lunch for two adults and a child.
The interior is clean and spacious, with modern, yet somewhat sterile design. I hope the place will age and mature, gaining a bit of soul in the process. The staff was pleasant, but not hurried, the place was almost empty and that could explain it.
The food we ordered took a bit of time to arrive, which I'd like to attribute to the fact that everything seemed to be cooked to order - nice change from the way most places operate these days. Again a second visit would be more telling.
We ordered regular portions: Ceaser Salad, Green salad with avocado and burger to share for the adults and chicken goujons and chips from the kids menu.
The avocado salad was a delight, crisp and sizable portion with half an avocado - ripe and just right. Anyone who is a fan of salads and order them regularly would appreciate both quality and quantity on offer. The price - an outstanding £3.95 (the place offers double/main potion for £7.80, but trust me the normal starter size is plenty).
I wish I could be as complimentary when it came to the Ceaser salad. The herb marinated chicken breast was more suited to an Indian inspired meal than the classic Ceaser. There were no anchovy in the sauce, nor bacon lardoons and as a result the tatse suffered, there was also a distinct lack of parmesan cheese shavings. I'd liked the nod to healthy eating with the yogurt-based dressing. Certainly not traditional, but if we would all stick to the traditional nothing new would ever be invented...
The burger was quite nice with lovely grilled bacon and fresh tasty bun. It was shared with and enjoyed by all.
The condiments arrived upon request (ketchup and mayo)- all in generous size dishes not the usual bottles, etc.
The chicken goujons were lovely and prepared well, from real breast meat (not pre-packed, from reconstitution meat). My daughter loved the goujons and chips and ate the full portion. She is the typical picky eater that more tastes than eats - so seeing her leave only a few chips behind and being very considerate how many goujons to share with us speaks for itself.
I have overheard the neighboring table comment on the tasty food and competitive price.
Overall, it seemed that the team behind the Boat House is making a real effort to serve freshly prepared food with focus on the simple, fresh ingredients as well as trying to be a bit inventive. Having said that, there should be due consideration given if the team were to depart from the core of classic recipes such as Ceaser salad.
Overall, we felt that there was enough good stuff going on to make it worth a while supporting it and going back again." - Iana, January 2011"Walked past the Queens Head at the weekend and it was closed. Apparently there were complaints about the noise." - Nick, September 2010
"Popped in to the Queen?s Head for a beer, and left straight away as there was no beer on (no hand-pumped bitter - there was a hand-pumped stout on). So we left." - Nick, March 2009
"I was out for a few beers in Henley on Saturday night when I noticed that the Idle Hour had changed names back to the Queen?s Head - so I had to pop in for a beer. Layout of the pub hasn?t changed, and it looks like they have removed all of the clocks that were cluttering the walls. The place was very quiet, not a lot going on. Had a rather ropey pint of Brakspear?s, which the landlord said might be off as it was near the bottom of the barrel, and when I complained it was he promptly changed it, no questions asked. Ended up drinking two pints of Hobgoblin, which were in excellent order" - Nick, October 2008
"I am the new landlord of the Queens Head, if you fancy popping down to have a beer or three, you will see that the attitude?s have changed and the beer and the people are fantastic, you will also find a warm welcome and great conversation if you have a look at www.abeerintheevening.com you will find that all the comments that are there have been placed by friends and customers since we have taken over." - Landlord, October 2008
"The Idle Hour - very quiet, hardly anyone in the pub. Had a pint of Brakspears, which was in reasonable condition. Most odd how quiet the pub was for a Saturday night." - Nick, March 2008
"The manager of the Idle Hour has emailed me and asked that I update the photos on the page, and was kind enough to send some pictures... Ed, June 2007" - Editor, June 2007
"Came across these guys at the food festival last month. Must admit I've eaten in there a few times and really enjoyed the organic theme to the menu. Since the festival it seems they have given a massive push with the food they're offering. Went in a few nights ago and had an organic sirloin steak. Probably one of the best i've had in a bar/restaurant in this country. Bloody thing took up most of the plate!!!
The staff who were on duty that night were excellent and looked after us like we were the only people in the place(even though there were several other tables eating). The live jazz was an unexpected bonus that evening as well.
Well done to everyone there for a fantastic evening. I must admit its great to be able to go somewhere with good, honest food in really comfortable, smoke free surroundings and with the added bonus of no kids screeching and running around everywhere." - Nee, June 2007
"Popped in for a beer late on a Friday night (around 11 pm) and was surprised how quiet the place was and the fact I was charged around £2.50 for a glass of nuts!" - Nick, June 2007
"Forget what people who are stuck in the past are saying, the Idle Hour is probably the best place to go in Henley if you dont want to be surrounded by teenage kids who are loud and create an unpleasant atmosphere. If you are one of the more discerning bar goers then this place is ideal for you. Clean, bright decor and staff that are by far the friendliest in the town. A lot of people need to get over themselves and thank god that we now have a late night bar that allows us to feel relaxed and comfortable from the moment we step through the door!!" - Nee, January 2007
"Oh how I mourn the demise of the Queen's! The latest incarnation of the pub to a wine bar/bistro called, ridiculously, the Idle Hour, has taken Henley's last decent place to go on a night out and made it utterly intolerable. Decor that looks like a municipal toilet or dentist's waiting room, overpriced and incredibly undrinkable wine, horribly smoky atmosphere and general feeling of being in the lobby of a hotel mean I can no longer go out in my home town.
The Queen's was the last bastion for those of us over 25 who wanted a fun night out within walking distance of home. What was a good pub and live music venue is now a dreadful, soul-less place with nothing to recommend it whatsoever, especially not the expensive and yet tasteless wines on offer. I've given it three chances, but I won't be going there again. I suggest you don't bother either." - Emma, November 2006
"Popped in again, and the pub had NO BEER! (OK, it had lager, but no bitter.) How can a pub have no beer? What is this world coming to? This is the second time this has happened in as many months!!!" - Nick, September 2006
"Popped in again, and the pub had NO BEER! (OK, it had lager, but no bitter.) How can a pub have no beer? What is this world coming to?" - Nick, August 2006
"Popped in for a beer and the pub has had yet another refit! The pub also has a new name. Can't recall what it is... Beer was OK" - Nick, July 2006
"Back in for another beer. Seems quite popular. Beer was OK." - Nick, January 2004
"Popped in for another wee drink in August. The place was busy and a live band was playing. Beer was OK (it is difficult to tell if the Brakspears is OK or not these days as it is now brewed 30 miles from Henley and the beer has 'varied' in quality. I noted that the pub is now open until 1 am on Friday and Saturday nights" - Nick, August 2003
"Popped in for a quick beer as part of a crawl of pubs in Henley. Very, very quiet (it was early evening). The bar is now an over 21s bar with smart dress. It was like drinking inside a chess-board, very odd decor. As we left a bouncer had been added to the front door!" - Nick, November 2002
"Obviously recently refurbished pub which no doubt is full of youngsters at weekends. The new decor is slightly strange and gets a bit wearing on the eyes, everywhere appears to be black and white in a chessboard pattern.
The only cask beer on sale was Brakspears Bitter which appeared a little fizzy at first although it tasted OK (blanket pressure ?) at £2.20 a pint. We sat outside in the "beer garden" which is really a concrete patio area, but very pleasant all the same. Has a patio heater for those soft type who think 75 degrees is chilly.
Not our favourite pub of the evening, but it makes a change for a trendy type bar to have a reasonable pint on offer." - Ian and Kevin, July 2001
"This must be the biggest transformation of a pub I have seen - ever. A dingy dive has become a West End type bar, bright and trendy. Not now a traditional pub, but very cosmopolitan weekday lunchtimes (no idea about evenings/weekends). Excellent Ciabatta toasted rolls and beer OK." - Barty, November 2000
"This has to be the worst pub in Henley. I popped in for a quick pint the other evening and was shocked by the place. The pub seems to have had a recent refit both inside and out. It has to be one of the most smoky pubs I have ever been in to. And don't be fooled by the beer. There maybe pump handles on the bar but judging by the way they are used the beer is ether delivered by top-pressure or electric pump. The bar is still in the centre of the pub. There are three TV's (all showing football when I went in), a pool table, three fruit machines and a juke box." - Nick, January 1999
"I like this place a lot and am going to miss it. Excellent jukebox, great layout, friendly staff, decent clientele (although I can't believe that 'no students' sign was genuine!) all combine to make this the nearest 'decent pub' to our house in Damer Gardens (the Wheatsheaf and the Three Horseshoes although technically nearer come nowhere near fulfilling my 'decent pub' criteria)." - Graham, November 1997
"I quite like this pub... not much of friendly pub at first impressions but I have had many good chats with complete strangers in there.... Usually very busy but can usually find a seat. Circular bar could get confusing after 3 pints. Lots of games (machines, quiz machines, pool etc.). Also lots of girls in revealing crop-tops and ankle chains!" - Luci, August 1996
"I actually don't mind this pub. It doesn't look very nice from the outside, but don't let this put you off. Not somewhere you'd spend a whole evening. I think it has pool tables." - Mary, July 1995
"Not a pub I have been to that often so I don't have much to add!" - Nick, July 1995
Anchor -- Angel - On the bridge -- Angel - Over the bridge -- Argyle -- Old Bell Inn -- Bird in the Hand -- Bull -- Imperial Hotel -- Horse & Groom -- Kings Arms -- Queens Head -- Rose & Crown -- Row Barge -- Saracens Head -- Three Tuns -- Two Brewers -- Victoria -- Wheatsheaf -- White Hart -- Little White Hart -- Wetherspoons
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Disclaimer: We, the reviewers, have expressed our own personal opinions in the above. We have no connection with Brakspears, the restaurants, clubs, bars or any of the pubs of Henley. All of the above may not necessarily be correct but as far as I can tell it is fairly close!!!
