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Events at the Queen

Read about the June 2009 Brandeston Weekend

The Queen’s Head is now on Twitter.

Feast on a Tenner is Back in the New Year - 22 February: Two courses with a glass of house wine at £10 per person - the menu will appear here soon.

14 March - Mothering Sunday: Sunday Lunch with mum.

Full details of all these events in the New Year can be found here.

The Queen’s Head St Elizabeth Hospice Appeal: Read about how you can help the St Elizabeth Hospice every time you ask for tap water with your meal.

First Family Friday: The first Friday of the month is our family day. Bring mum and dad along and eat from our Prince and Princess menu. All main course dishes on this menu are £5 and are freshly prepared with children in mind. Book early and remember: it’s the first Friday of every month so grab mum and dad and get down to The Queen. (See photos from the Pizza Evening here.)

Fish and Chips: Phone in your order, come down, have a drink and take them home. Enjoy!

Past Events at The Queen: Have a look at what’s been happening at the Queen including the village Fete.

Coach Parties are Welcome by Prior Arrangement: Right: Mr Betts’s Routemaster London bus when he visited the Queen recently.

Queen’s Head Chutneys

We’re very proud of our range of Randall’s Country Chutneys which are available from the bar or outlets in Suffolk. So far, we are in Grange Farm Shop in Hasketon, Emmerdale farm shop in  Darsham and Revetts of Wickam Market and we’re looking to expand to be in more outlets soon. We also make large tubs for outside caterers or other pubs and hotels.

Our range includes plum, apple, aubergine and pepper, piccalilli, tomato, shallot, beetroot and spiced pear.

In November of 2008 this lovely timid and skinny, grey and white cat wandered into the pub. We made the number one mistake of feeding her and the rest is history. Not the most energetic cat, she stays in and around the pub but is never more than two minutes away from a cushion, chair or bed to sleep on.

She has been known to make an appearance downstairs and make herself known to customers. She will move in between customers as they share a drink and chat or just lay in front of the fireplace.

We don’t know too much about her, just that she seems very happy.

That’s our Dora, not so much an Explorer.

As we head into the spring of 2010 we look forward to some well deserved sunshine. The snow was lovely, but its now time for sunshine!! With this in mind we are developing the caravan site at the back of the pub. The provision of electric and a shower is very much needed. As the nation is going crazy for staycation, it seems only right that we catch some of that trade. We all live in a truly beautiful village and always welcome people in. After all, that’s what makes us such a lovely village. It’s our hospitality and warm welcome.

Not much has changed in the last year really, oh yeah; we were awarded a rosette from the AA. It is a real honour as far as we are concerned. These things aren’t handed out lightly. With 1800 establishments in the UK receiving one, that means we are one of 61 in Suffolk. Dan is in the kitchen and developing the menus and directing the team. Our young apprentice Adam is taking to the job well and enjoying the long hours and hard work. Maria still continues to travel all the way from Lowestoft each day. We can’t be that bad to work for can we. Jodie and Jane toil away to ensure beer is well kept and food served to waiting customers.

Our chutney sales have grown since their release last year. We have had a couple of tasting days in Southwold and surrounding areas. The aim this year is to be placed in more shops. People are coming on board now ready for the summer stock.

Our hope is that we will be able to offer our services as outside caterers to people who require food at the village hall, small house parties, canapé parties or sit down dinner parties. We are open to offers. We will be doing a couple of cookery demonstrations at the hall as well at some stage. This will give us a chance to show people how we do a couple of those dishes first hand. If there is anything you would like us to do then just contact us.

Remember, it is our village pub. Some villages would love to still have their pub. Times are hard everywhere, not least in the pub trade and I would encourage people to visit us or work with us whenever they can. Our menu is well balanced and well priced dishes are always available.

The summer will see the BBQ getting dusted off on a Friday night, Saturday lunch or whenever we feel there is a chance that people may need a banger or two.

The pub is the home once again of the village fete and our beer festival but more on this and our plans for the Sunday of the Brandeston Weekend later.

Hospice Water Pot: We raised £460 in a year for the hospice by asking for a donation. We are very proud of all of our customers for digging deep in difficult times. We also managed to raise £180 on the chari-oke night. Flesh and poor singing a plenty. It was no X factor but it was a laugh. Even if you can’t sing who cares. Ask those who were there to hear what happened

The water bowl will continue again this year and we hope to do as well again for our chosen charity of St Elizabeth hospice.

Quack quack!! Sorry guys I have not kept you up to date with the ducks have I? Well we all know they came back to the pub on the day of the fete in 2009. It was so good of Sally and Simon to bring them back from Derby. (Don’t know if it was them, but I need someone to blame, sorry Sally).

The ducks flew back into the village on the Friday and were pictured at the front of the village hall. The winner of the correct square was Mr and Mrs Legg. Their prize was that we cooked dinner for them. A five course dinner of our choice was carefully thought out and served. Mr and Mrs Legg thoroughly enjoyed the evening and were happy that they had purchased some Brandeston land for £1.

The money raised amounted to £140. This money has been spent wisely on tables for the church and village hall. The tables have come in handy already and will get an airing in the summer at the fete.

So, whether it’s a social drink with friends, a birthday party or works gathering -  maybe a cosy dinner for two - the Queen’s Head can look after you.

Remember, we cater for children, have superb gardens to relax in and also provide space for camping and caravans.

In a book published in 1966 called “Signposts to Adnams”, the author talks of the Queen’s Head:  “A special feature is the camping site at the rear of the premises; here is a sun trap - a small secluded field protected by moderately sized trees. This site is five to six degrees warmer than adjacent open country. It would be difficult to find in all England a pleasanter spot inland for an away-from-it-all camping holiday.”

How very true this is.

Remember to make a note to visit the Queen sometime soon. We look forward to welcoming you.

Photos: Mark and Donna; MP&D                  

Alan Randall has been at The Queen since October 2006. In his time here, he has aged considerably, putting up with the locals and poor weather. But, as an optimist, Alan believes that things can only get better. Alan is accompanied out front by a dedicated team of young local casuals ready and willing to serve.