FOOD + DRINK
THE BRITISH QUEEN
LOCKSBOTTOM
BEHIND THE BAR WITH JEN BLOW
Ask any of the guests at The British Queen about Jen and the first thing they will say is : “ She loves dogs !”. And it ’ s true . “ The dogs are sometimes the best part of my job ,” says Jen . “ I ’ ve worked in hospitality for over 20 years , both here and back home in Scotland and as much as I ’ ve loved all my regular guests , the four-pawed ones have a special place in my heart . So much so that I was thrilled to be asked to help our marketing team create our brand-new dog menu as well as providing a place for a photoshoot with some of my favourite locals .”
Having been at The British Queen for nearly five years , Jen has watched babies grow into toddlers , toddlers into children and of course , puppies into dogs .
“ One of the best parts of running a pub is becoming part of people ’ s lives ; they come to us to celebrate , entertain or sometimes , just because it ’ s Wednesday . We host the world ’ s most select book club ( two members ), we ’ ve held a boutique wedding for two of our special guests ( having had their first date here , it seemed the right thing to do !) and got to know babies from bump to birth . So maybe it ’ s about the people , as much as the dogs . Being part of a local community sometimes also means remembering those who are no longer with us , who were such well known and loved faces .
“ Coming to work at The British Queen can sometimes feel like meeting an old friend - catching up with everyone ’ s news , from family announcements to hedgehogs seen in the garden ( we even have an occasional visitor to our terrace , so are also hog-friendly !).
“ Just like the garden , we keep our menus seasonal and our monthly lunch menu is great for regular visitors - there is always something new to try . We always have a focus on one ingredient that we try to make the most of when it ’ s at its very best . I will always have a soft spot for anything with rhubarb in it so the early spring menus are always a joy .
“ Whether you pop by on your lunch break for a little time to yourself , or gather a group of friends to catch up over delicious freshly prepared dishes alongside a glass of something rather lovely , our new lunch offering , The Lunch Club , is sure to be a hit with you and your guests .
“ Did you know that we were recently awarded the Best Managed Pub Group at The Publican Awards , as well as being awarded a three-star rating from The Sustainable Restaurant Association ? We couldn ’ t be prouder of our achievement so we plan to change the dishes on The Lunch Club menu on a monthly basis to celebrate delicious seasonal ingredients – sourcing sustainably and with the seasons is something we live by .”
To celebrate the monthly changing Lunch Club menu , The British Queen are hosting a monthly Woof Wednesday event , during which they are rolling out the red carpet for their four-legged customers , offering them a paws-itively delicious meal on the house on the first Wednesday of every month alongside their fixed-price lunch menu , served Monday to Friday from 12 - 5pm serving two courses for £ 18.50 or three courses for £ 23.50 .
“ As part of this , your pooches can now enjoy a range of flavourful and nutritious dishes made with high-quality ingredients from our partners Sir Woofchester as we release our first ever dog menu .
“ At Heartwood Inns , we are passionate about our local community – not to mention their dogs ! So what better way to show our love and appreciation for both than to offer free meals to your four-legged friends so you can enjoy our deliciously seasonal Lunch Club offering , and so can your dog !”
Prepare for a tail-wagging good time , as it seems as though The British Queen , ably lead by Jen and her team are pulling out all the stops to ensure every pup leaves with a full belly and a wagging tail .
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