The Queen’s Head in Broad Chalke is set to reopen this spring under the tutelage of a new team on a mission to breathe fresh life into the traditional country boozer
While many village pubs are struggling to stay afloat due to rising overheads, staffing shortages and declining trade, the Chickpea Group is bucking the trend. Siblings Ethan and Jordan Davids, alongside friend Tommy Tullis, (pictured above) have just added a sixth venue to their portfolio of country pubs and pizza shops dotted across Wiltshire. The Queen’s Head in the picturesque village of Broad Chalke joins The Bell & Crown in Zeals, The Grosvenor Arms in Hindon, The Pembroke Arms in Wilton, The Dog & Gun in Netheravon and Nole pizza shop in Salisbury as the group’s latest venture.
Originally built in the 19th century, the bar and restaurant will be the first to be refurbished and followed by the pub’s four bedrooms. There are also plans afoot to develop an additional five bedrooms above the pub later this year.
As with Chickpea’s other venues, pared-back hospitality and hearty, seasonal food and drink will be the star attraction. Expect to find a mix of pub classics like Asphill Farm beef and stout pie with mash, mushy peas and gravy alongside small plates such as wood-fired chalk stream trout rillettes and sweetbread skewers. There’ll also be à la carte options such as Cornish ray wing with monk’s beard, and Herdwick lamb shoulder with borlotti beans and salsa verde. Wiltshire wine specialists Gardner & Beedle will be curating the drops and there’ll be plenty of locally made beer and ale on tap too.
The Queen’s Head is due to reopen this spring with rooms available from £95 per night B&B, based on two people sharing.
