The Queens Head, Winchelsea

Facebook page of The Queens Head - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Queens Head - www.facebook.com

What a fantastic rambling country pub this is. The split level multi roomed beamed interior with its various distinct areas is well described by Steve below and the views from the garden across the Brede levels all the way to Rye Harbour on a fine day are superb. It is well renowned for its pub food and nearly everyone else here was eating, both inside and outside, but then we did visit on a Sunday lunchtime. However, we were only here for a beer and it that respect it did not disappoint. If you enter from the front, you first come to the top section of the bar with its four handpumps, but others lurk on the lower bar section. Fortunately, there is a chalk board in this upper section that details what is on. For our visit five ales were available across the pumps and alongside the obligatory Harveys Sussex Best were Green King Abbot, Tonbridge IPA, Lakedown Sussex Pale and Cellarhead Session Pale Ale. We tried the Lakedown and Cellarhead brews between us and they were both very good. If you are travelling the South Coast in the Hastings, Rye area then this one is highly recommended taking a detour for.

Unusually situated off a back lane behind some other houses, this fine old pub has a splendid view towards Winchelsea and the Brede Levels from the front beer garden. Looking back the other way, the white lettering on the roof tiles (although now somewhat faded) must be visible for miles. It also has an unusual tiled pub sign, although this only dates from 1995. Anyway, it has a rather rambling, slightly split-level, multi-room, L-shaped interior; all very traditional. In accordance with the local byelaws, Harvey's was available from one of the many handpumps, along with Abbot, Nelson Sirius Session Pale (£4.50) and the more local Three Acre Session IPA.

The Queen's Head was my last pub before paying a return visit to the Waterworks at Rye. The Queen's Head itself is also certainly worthy of a visit. It is tucked away from the main road and has some marvellous views of the surrounding countryside. Outdoor drinking is currently in a garden, which contains a couple of marquees where diners are seated. Some of the pub's furniture can also be found at the front of the pub for further drinking space. During my mid-afternoon visit, there were still plenty of people eating lunch. Greene King Abbot & Long Man Long Blonde are the regular ales. A guest beer was Adnams Ghost Ship. I was drawn to the Biddenden's Dry. It seems to be harder and harder to find real cider right now. So, I couldn't turn the opportunity down. I did briefly glance inside the pub, which looked like a fairly traditional and cosy village local. There was also a smattering of local drinkers, in addition to the diners, which is always a good sign.

Accessed via a small lane off the A259 the Queens Head Inn is a cosy and rustic Sussex country pub dating from 1831. There is parking at the front of the pub and down the left-hand side to the rear. Down the right hand-side is a grass covered area with picnic tables that have views across Brede Valley to Camber and its large windfarm. There is also a children’s climbing frame and a covered smoking shelter that is hidden behind some fern bushes. Through the front entrance is some seating that leads to a small bar that supports a standard keg range and four hand pumps. During my recent Saturday afternoon these were drawing Exmoor Ales’ Exmoor Gold, Adnams Broadside, Greene King IPA and Gun Brewery’s Extra Pale. Down the right side of the pub are sunken seating areas and a second bar is in the right rear corner. This bar supports another six hand pumps with the addition of Harvey’s Sussex Best and Greene King Abbot Ale to the previously mentioned cask ales. Also available on keg was Belhaven’s Twisted Grapefruit. Food is available, it was very busy with dining families. The traditional pub mains start at around £11 and the homemade bacon cheeseburger and chips costs £12. I didn’t eat, but the food looked very good. The kitchen is open daily from midday until 21:00 and as this is a family friendly pub there is a children’s menu. Being a Sussex country pub there are all manner of knick-knacks including an old bicycle that hangs above the top bar and hops that run along the wooden beams. There is no television, but there was some background music playing. Live jazz is advertised for Sunday afternoons from 14:00 until 16:00 and there is a weekly quiz from 20:30 on Wednesdays. This pub is well worth a visit.

An excellent country pub dating from 1632 and with loads of character. Beams with white walls and exposed brickwork, two warm fireplaces, beer bottles and books around the walls, hanging curios, hops, hats and, for presumably for some comedic reason even a couple of hanging teddy bears. It’s a good size, the front door leading to a main bar area at the left of the pub, with another area to the right and there is a slightly sunken area in between. A corridor to the rear leads to another room which would be easy to miss. There is also a large garden. I counted seven ale pumps, fully populated with beers mainly from local breweries. Alas I had to miss the Dark Star Revelation as I was driving and 5.7% wouldn’t have been a sensible way to start, but I had an excellent pint of Hopdaemon Incubus at the bar instead. The food is meant to be very good here, though we weren’t eating on our visit. Overall, the pub felt very comfortable, with helpful and welcoming staff and a good mix of customers. I would certainly come here again, and would try very hard to get someone else to drive so I could enjoy it more.

Good selection of well kept ales and excellent, sensibly priced food. Wonderful views across to the sea from the garden. The interior is attractively 'olde-worlde' and often busy, so booking advised if you plan to eat!