Queens Head

Ancient pub with cheery involved licensees, interesting beers and first-rate heartily flavoured food including game

Once again, readers are delighted with all aspects of this lovely 600-year-old stone cottage row. Whilst its unaltered appearance and character remain those of a delightfully traditional village local (bellringers pop in after their Wednesday practice, and the darts and dominoes teams are very active), there's something extra here too, and it's very much down to the inspired landlord. Thoughtfully sourced beers - well kept and served from a stone bar counter - include Shepherd Neame Spitfire, and three interesting guests from brewers such as Leeds, RCH and very local Rockingham. The good wine list includes interesting bin-ends (nine by the glass), and they've over 25 malt whiskies. The timeless beamed bar has stone floors and a fire in a stone hearth at one end; darts, shove-ha'penny, dominoes and piped music. We're delighted to hear that several readers have spotted red kites soaring above the pub, but even if you're not so lucky there can be few more pleasant experiences than a summer evening on the garden terrace (with its own well) listening to swallows and martins, sheep in the adjacent field and bells ringing in the nearby church of this attractive bypassed village.

The licensee is passionate about field sports and this is reflected in the menu. He shoots and butchers much of the game served and catches and cures some of the fish. Mainly using traditional recipes and robustly flavoured ingredients, the changing menu might include lunchtime sandwiches, toasted marinated goats cheese bruschetta, duck and chicken liver terrine with piccalilli, seared calves liver with cassoulet of puy lentils and smoked pancetta, leek, courgette and spinach risotto, wood pigeon wrapped in prosciutto, roast saddle of lamb with lamb sweetbreads and caramelised onion and thyme sauce, and puddings such as warm lemon and almond polenta cake with lemon and vanilla syrup and dark chocolate terrine with caramel sauce.