A 17th-century rural gem with a lounge/dining space, a small snug hidden behind the bar and a tap room/locals' area with a grandfather clock, beamed ceiling and welcoming log fire. The extensive garden has children's play equipment, and a permanent marquee, making the pub popular all year. The internal fittings around the bar are original, and photos of locals adorn the walls. Home-cooked English food is served all day from lunchtime into the evenings. The pub is reputedly haunted. Occasional beer festivals and live music feature. Guest ales from Lincoln Green and other breweries.
Historic Interest
The Queen's Head has an entry on Nottinghamshire County Council's Historic Environment Record (HER) No. M9990. Once known as "Joe Haywood's Place" after the publican in post from the turn of the 20th century up to the start of the Second World War. Joe Haywood served in South Africa as batman to the local squire, Sir Lancelot Rolleston of Watnall Hall. Haywood was given the tenancy of the Queen's Head as a reward for saving Sir Lancelot's life whilst campaigning during the Boer War (Ottewell 1990).
The Queen's Head has a heritage interior rated by CAMRA as being of Regional Importance.
Asset of Community Value registered 6 January 2023 (5 years) and nominated by Nottingham CAMRA.
As at November 2017, the freehold for the Queen's Head (NT245042) was held by Everards Brewery Limited (Reg. No. 319261)
[Broxtowe Borough Council, Watnall & Nuthall Ward / Broxtowe Parliamentary Constituency]
One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed status: Not listed
The pub has evolved from a small, partitioned, basic tap room on the right, now opened up to the passageway - a section of partition was removed in the early 1990s and the 1930s fireplace replaced. The servery is a mixture of old and new, the glazed area at the top definitely being the former. A short passage leads to a small snug- type room with 1930s tiled fireplace and fixed seating - the room was supposedly in use in 1906. The large lounge occupies what was once a row of back-to-back cottages.
The pub has evolved from a small partitioned basic tap room on the right, which is now opened-up to the passageway. Photos over the fireplace of this small panelled area show more of the partition with its basic wall bench seating held up to the beams by iron stays. A section of the partition was been removed in the early 1990s and the former 1930s tiled fireplace replaced. The servery appears to be a mixture of old and new - the glazed area at the top is definitely ancient. There is an unusual arrangement of a short passage to a small comfortable snug-type room with a 1930s tiled fireplace (covered over by a radiator) and fixed seating (probably of a similar date). (Pub claims this room was in use in 1906). Originally a row of back-to-back cottages, the large Lounge has an old boarded ceiling and would have been partitioned into small rooms in the past. It may have had its own small bar in a corner near the bar (or back wall)?
This Pub serves 4 changing beers and 2 regular beers.
Queens Head, Watnall
Changing beers typically include: Lincoln Green - Sherwood