Queens Head, 27 Tryon street, Chelsea SW3

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

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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  • And Last updated on/ Thursday, 25-Jan-2024 09:35:57 GMT