Chef Avinash Shashidhara’s first standalone venture will turn a West London pub into a destination for Indian bar snacks, grilled plates and laid-back drinks.
West London’s pub scene is set for a fresh new addition this summer, as Talli Queen prepares to open in Shepherd’s Bush. The concept comes from Chef Avinash Shashidhara, the chef behind the FACT award-winning Pahli Hill, and marks his first restaurant venture with business partner James McLean.
Set to open in July 2026, Talli Queen will take over the former Queen Adelaide pub on Uxbridge Road. Rather than completely reinventing the site, the team is opting for a light refurbishment, preserving the character of the existing pub while introducing a concept inspired by India’s toddy shops. These traditional drinking spots are known for their lively atmosphere, sociable spirit and flavour-packed food, and that same energy is expected to shape the experience here.
Talli Queen will accommodate between 100 and 120 guests, including outdoor seating, and will combine the familiarity of a neighbourhood pub with a more distinctive food and drink offering. Bar snacks are set to play a major role, with small plates such as Chilli Beef, Mussel Skewers, Spicy Carrot Toasties, Crab Buns and Papadi Chat all on the menu. Meanwhile, the dining room will serve lunch and dinner from an open kitchen, with a stronger focus on a charcoal-fired grill and tandoor. The food will draw inspiration from Lucknowi kebabs, bringing a more regional Indian perspective to the menu.
Sundays will also get a new spin. Instead of a conventional roast, Talli Queen plans to offer an Indian Sunday lunch featuring cuts of meat cooked over the grill, including slow-cooked lamb shoulder, Indian-style porchetta and tandoori chicken.
The drinks list is being designed to match the concept’s easy-going mood. Expect a broad range of beers, including craft pours and cask ales, alongside cocktails made with Indian spirits such as gin, rum and Mahua, a spirit distilled from fermented flowers.
Chef Avinash Shashidhara said: “Talli means tipsy in Hindi and everyone calls [the pub] the Queen, so we knew we couldn’t change the name completely. We’ve picked a fun and quirky name that fits a pub serving Indian food. In terms of the economy right now, I feel people are turning to pubs to socialise. We’re going to focus on quality and seasonality, but we’re a pub so it will be less formal and less intimidating.”
Shashidhara is already well known on London’s dining circuit. He oversaw the opening of Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai in 2020 as head chef, where he built a reputation for regional Indian cooking. His papadi chat was served at the Great British Menu banquet in 2023, while Pahli Hill earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2022 and won Favourite Indian Restaurant at the FACT London Dining Awards 2025. The concept is now set to expand to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
Where: Talli Queen, 412 Uxbridge Road, Shepherd’s Bush, London, W12 0NR
When: Opening July 2026
Contact: https://thetalliqueen.co.uk