Star rating: **** Having recently returned from a fantastic trip to Florida and suffering somewhat from the home-from-holiday blues, my boyfriend Rhys and I decided to pop out for a late lunch to cheer ourselves up.

After swapping the sunshine of faraway shores for the rain and gloomy skies of home, we were looking for something which would bring us out of our misery.

The Queens Head pub definitely did the trick.

The pub is situated in a beautiful, peaceful setting on the outskirts of Oswestry. Its homely, friendly atmosphere would make it the perfect venue for a cosy dinner, a family lunch, an informal nibble or a swift sociable drink.

Having spent a good while umming and aahing over the extensive menu about what to have to start, I opted for the wild mushroom, white wine and garlic risotto, which arrived piping hot and looking almost too perfect to eat.

The size of it was big enough to have filled me up as a main course and although every mouthful was bursting with flavour, I had to force myself to stop short for fear I would not be able to manage my main course.

Rhys sensibly went for the soup, a delicious combination of brie, potato and broccoli served with a duo of rustic breads.

My main course – a three cheese, potato and onion pie – was the perfect comfort food for a dark and damp day. It warmed me up but was not stodgy in the least so did not fill me up – which I was glad about because it meant I could manage a pudding.

My guilt at choosing such a naughty main course was reduced slightly by its accompaniment by a healthy rocket and vine ripened tomato salad.

As I ploughed my way through the huge, delicious portion I couldn’t help noting how perfect the tomatoes seemed to be. Sweet and firm and covered in just the right amount of oil and sea salt, they really were perfect.

Rhys, who is usually a little more adventurous when it comes to food, settled for the fish and chips. But this was not just any meal of fish and chips – it was a Theakston-battered whale sized portion of fish, served with a mountain of chunky chips and mushy peas.

The panicky look on Rhys’s face as he momentarily ceased tucking into the fish told me he had found a bone. But it was just a temporary glitch and he carried on enjoying his traditional take on a family favourite.

When pudding time came, Rhys pretended he was full. It’s a regular trick he has been trying since starting a health kick before we went away but one he cannot see through due to a lack of willpower when it comes to sweet things.

He went for the chocolate fudge cake option. As his favourite, it’s a choice he very rarely strays away from when we are out if he can help it, but this time he proclaimed it one of the best ever.

I went for the banoffee pie special. A delicate pastry case filled with lovely sticky toffee and topped with just-ripe bananas and cream arrived to my delight and after a brief hesitation so I could look at it adoringly, I polished off every crumb.

The staff were attentive and friendly and the restaurant was clean, tidy and welcoming.

The dining room had a homely, comfortable feel and the light from the adjoining conservatory spilled through to brighten the whole place.

The bar and restaurant staff seemed to work well together and the result was impressive.

Our time spent at the Queens Head ran like a well-oiled machine. We weren’t left waiting for long at any point and even managed to squeeze in some time wrapped up warm sitting outside on the attractive patio at the end of our visit, watching the world go by.

Once we got home and sat on the sofa rubbing our full bellies, we reflected on our first visit to the Queens Head.

At just a few miles away from home and providing excellent value for money, we decided it is a haunt we will definitely revisit – if I get my way, sometime in the very near future.

ADDRESS
The Queens Head, Queens Head, near Oswestry
Telephone: 01691 610255

MENU SAMPLE
Starters
Home-made pate, served with home-made tomato chutney and baguette (£4.95); home-made soup of the day (£3.75)

Main courses
Free range sausages, mashed potatoes and onion gravy (£8.95); 28-day matured steaks served with hand-cut chips, cherry tomatoes on the vine, sauteed mushrooms and onion rings (from £9.95).
Desserts
Lemon delight (£3.95 or £5.95 to share); strawberries and cream pizza (£3.95)

ATMOSPHERE
Relaxed and cosy.

SERVICE
Friendly and attentive.

DISABLED FACILITIES
Toilets for the disabled.

By Deborah Collins