Chelsea Pub history index
The address was formerly given as 104 Keppel Street before 1915, and as 10 Keppel Street before 1869. The pub was built in 1840. ** Closed 6th September 2016. *** Lots of later history at the end of the page. *
Historical London public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels.
Residents at this address.
Queens Head, 27 Tryon Street, SW3 - in January 2009
Kindly provided by Stephen Harris
Residents at this address.
1841/John King/Victualler/31/../Census
1841/John King/../12/../Census
1841/George King/../2/Middlesex/Census
1841/Mary King/../35/../Census
1841/Emma Mallering//25/../Census
1851/John King/../../../Kelly’s Directory **
1851/John King/Licensed Victualler/41/Suffolk/Census
1851/Mary King/Wife/40/Chatham, Kent/Census
1851/George King/Son/12/Chelsea, Middlesex/Census
1851/Edward King/Son/9/Chelsea, Middlesex/Census
10 Keppel terrace
1861/John King/Licensed Victualler, Widow/50/Brantham, Suffolk/Census
1861/George King/Son, Assistant/22/Chelsea, Middlesex/Census
1861/Edward King/Son, AssistantSon, Assistant/19/Chelsea, Middlesex/Census
1861/Hannah Mallison/Housekeeper/23/Sandhurst, Kent/Census
1866/J King/../../../P.O. Directory **
May 1862/John King/LV Association, Governor/../../Era
1869/John King/../../../P.O. Directory **
1871/John King/Licensed Victualler, Widow/61/Suffolk/Census
1871/Edward King/Son/29/Chelsea, Middlesex/Census
1871/Alfred Cribb/Assistant/19/Surrey/Census
1871/Mary Ross/Domestic Servant/21/Chelsea, Middlesex/Census
John King : Effects under £800. 29 August 1872. Administration (with the
Will) of the effects of John King late of the "Queens Head" 10 Keppel
Terrace Kings Road in the parish of St Luke Chelsea in the County of
Middlesex Licensed Victualler who died 22 June 1872 at the "Queens Head" was
granted at the Principal Registry to Edward King of the "Queens Head" Barman
the son one of the Residuary Legatees substituted.
1881/John H Humphreys/Head/35//Census
1881/Francis G Humphreys/Wife/30/Detroit, United States/Census
1881/Henry Humphreys/Son/4/London, Middlesex/Census
1881/John H Humphreys/Head, Licensed Victualer/42/Birmingham, Warwick/Census
1881/Kate Beall/Barmaid/26/Epsom, Surrey/Census
1881/Amelia Lawrence/Barmaid/21/Staplehurst, Kent/Census
1881/Phillip Lamb/Potman/20/London, Middlesex/Census
1881/Mary Ann Tame/General Servant/34//Census
1881/Mary Studley/Nurse/26/London, Middlesex/Census
1882/John H Humphries/../../../Post Office Directory
1898/Alfred Saml. Block/../../../P.O. Directory **
1899/James William Dunn/../../../P.O. Directory **
1901/Edward Thorn/Licensed Victualler/39/Hampshire/Census
1901/Amy Thorn/Wife/37/Marylebone, London/Census
1901/John Lewin/Barman/18/Yarmouth/Census
1906/Owen Ward/../../../Morris’ Business Directory of London **
1910/Owen Ward Ltd/../../../Post Office Directory
1915/Herbert Lyons Clanchy/../../../Post Office Directory
1921/Ernest Block/../../../Post Office Directory
1934/Mrs Septima S Phillips/../../../Kellys Directory
1938/Mrs Septima S Phillips/../../../Post Office Directory
1944/David Mole, Queens Head, 27 Tryon Street SW3/../../Post Office Directory
My parents Len & Joan Love, had the pub for 20 plus years, between 1952 and
1975. They had The Boileau
in Barnes prior to this. *
They took the Queens Head over in 1952, it was a bit run down, and for some
reason a few gays used to come in. They were never any trouble, so
encouraged them. By late 1950’s it had become gay. Just the two bars, saloon
and the music bar, hence the pianist, Paul. Dad then had the two bars
joined.
The Queens then became reasonably well known. I can remember some film stars
in for lunch or just a pint or two, Alec Guinness, Trevor Howard were
filming in Chelsea, Elaine Stritch was living in Anderson street, and we all
became very friendly. Jack the Hat (Kray fame) would on occasion come in,
used to sit on stool by bar against wall, Dad said he was always polite and
would buy him a drink! We had Rudolf Nureyev come in, but only passing
through.
Apart from being a gay pub our biggest attraction was our pianist Paul. What
a great character he was. Always in kilt sporran and carrying a Shepard
crook striding along, wonderful, flowing grey beard and long hair. Russ
Conway was another customer.
As an outsider if you came into the pub, it would be full of very smart
dressed men and a few younger ones!!
We used to get the local DCI and a constable come in once a year, stand in
the back of the saloon, say hello Len, all OK? then go!!
Joan started cooking for lunch time customers, steak pie pasties, boiled
pots etc, nothing too fussy but a good trade.
Across the road was Tony’s, Lord Vivian’s restaurant, we would keep his wine
for him as he didn’t have a licence. Nice man. *
The public bar was always straight, Tony Armstrong Jones came in a few times
prior to meeting HRH, he lived in Pimlico, Rita Tushingham would come in,
Diana Dors, she lived in Nell Gwyn buildings, Sloane avenue, we saw her a
few times. Quite a few others, I can’t remember them all now.
Courage wanted Len & Joan out so they (brewery) could put in a
manager. In 1974 they gave notice and moved to Majorca in about 1975. *
* Provided By Barry Love
** Provided By Stephen Harris
*** Provided By Tris
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