The Queen Adelaide — Restaurant in London

I've been going to Queen Adelaide for over a decade, and as the last remaining gay bar in East London, it holds a special place for many of us in the community. The interior still screams of charm and history, and it should be a safe, welcoming space.

That’s why it saddens me to say this is the second time I’ve felt compelled to raise a concern.

The first was a while back regarding the door security, who were oddly discriminatory—preventing gay men from entering a gay bar. It felt deeply ironic and disappointing.

Today, unfortunately, I had another disheartening experience. The same Black bartender who I’ve seen working there for years was again incredibly rude—not just to me, but to others as well. I’ve let it slide in the past, but this time it was hard to ignore.

I watched him blatantly dismiss and speak harshly to a woman who was just asking for water. She had been waiting at the bar for over 10 minutes. His behavior was unnecessarily aggressive and demeaning, and no one deserves that kind of treatment, especially in a queer space that’s meant to feel safe and inclusive.

What struck me most was the contrast. Another newer staff member was kind, helpful, and respectful—a reminder that good service and respect are still possible.

I also want to mention something practical: not accepting cash can be problematic. I live nearby and didn’t have my phone or card with me, and was turned away despite having money in hand. Not everyone uses digital payment methods exclusively—especially in our community, where access and choice matter.

As someone who owns several restaurants and bars, I understand how important staff behavior is to a venue’s success and longevity. If the management doesn’t take these concerns seriously, I fear that even a place as beloved as Queen Adelaide could lose the very community it claims to serve.

Please take the time to check in with your staff, and ensure the values of respect, inclusion, and kindness remain at the heart of what you do.

— A long-time...

🚇Cambridge Heath 🍺 £6.80 Pravha

The Queen Adelaide is located in the heart of Cambridge Heath, in London’s East End. The nearest train station is Cambridge Heath.

This pub has a rich history dating back to at least 1834. Over the years, it has undergone several name changes, including The Hop Picker by 1983, and later Tantrums, Images, and Keelys, before reverting to its original name, The Queen Adelaide in 2015.

@thequeenadelaide is a LGBTQ+ community pub with a club in the basement.

This is a one-room pub with a rustic and eclectic feel. The servery is located at the back left, featuring a golden Corinthian-capitalled column that divides the counter. Around the edges of the bar, you’ll find a variety of pews with small tables and stools in front, along with a couple of etched glass partitions. The walls are festooned with an array of trinkets, artworks, and a collection of mirrors.

The beer lineup is entirely keg, offering a selection of familiar favourites along with a couple of craft options. I opted for a pint of Pravha, which was decent, though the price was on the expensive side. This is a wet-led pub that doesn’t serve food.

I arrived around 5:30 p.m. on a pleasant afternoon in June. The pub was fairly quiet, with four patrons inside and a couple seated outside having a catch-up. The atmosphere was chilled and relaxed, with an 80s soundtrack playing in the background.

The pub hosts regular club nights in the basement and has a late licence.

Overall, I enjoyed my visit. It was great to see this historic pub still trading and having found its place in the world. I loved the original green tiles on the exterior, which add to its character. The eclectic interior was an eye opener and something different. While the beer was on the pricey side, it didn’t take away from the overall experience.

📅 22nd June 2025

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Astonishing horrendous experience last night in this venue with a manager / staff who has some serious anger management problems. We walked into the bar at about 9pm with a friend as a first stop for a Night out. I hadn’t been for years but my friend goes all the time so she suggested we check out the dowmstaits. It was open we went and walked downstairs and it was empty. We walked around a bit and there’s was one member of staff sitting there screaming at us like a lunatic; WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERR? GET OUT. YOU DONT BELONG HERE. We were taken a back by the agreesssive approach and walked out not really thinking anything of it.

We sit down with my friend at a table to have drinks - casually chatting with bar staff when the same member of staff lunges at with two glasses of water comes screwing at us yelling: DRINK THIS. She relays this: DRINK THIS OR GET OUT. She then preceded to have a shouting match with me apparently I had violated some sacred unknown code of conduct in the bar by going downstairs even though the area wasn’t sectioned off so anyone can walk it and we immediately left when instructed to do this..

I have never been so astonishingly verbally abused on a night out EVER. I would expect this kind of behaviour if we as an example were loud, roudy, trashed the bar, didn’t pay our tab etc. But the way we’re were shouted as paying patrons in a bar was juts utterly dispocabl and abusive….

We are not children that need to be told where to go, to drink water etc If you have some kind of area you don’t want your patrons to go then cordon it off - easy! We have no interested in walking into an empty bar etc

The code of conduct of this staff is indefensible. She deserves a sack and I will never visit this venue again - and I don’t think anyone else should rally if they want to pay for the privilege of...