We visit the friendly neighbourhood Bristol pub with comedy nights and food that’s worth travelling for

Nobody could accuse The Queens Head of not trying everything it can to do get customers through the door during a tough time for local pubs.

As he pours my pint, landlord Allen Williams tells me that he and his staff have had to come up with new ideas to get the local community into the pub.

“It is hard going but as a team we have had to improvise,” says Allen - known to his regulars as ‘Wil’.

“We have karaoke on Fridays, a quiz every other Sunday, live music from local bands most weekends and the comedy nights are really successful. They are for 70 people only and they usually sell out within three days of advertising them.

“Other community events we have coming up include a disco with Santa and fundraising for a local dog charity.”

On the day I visit this large Hanham pub - which is owned by Wiltshire brewery Wadworth - there is the weekly ‘Forever Young’ lunch club for senior citizens to meet up and make new friends.

And then there’s the food, which in itself is gaining something of a reputation in Hanham and further afield. The landlord has brought in chef friend Trev, who has worked in some top restaurants over the past 30 years and his food has been a big hit with the locals.

Next to the bar, I spot a blackboard listing a few specials from the previous evening and they include oven roasted Cajun seasoned lamb rump, garlic and rosemary roasted new potatoes, Mediterranean vegetables and red wine jus; pan-fried Gressingham duck breast, sweet potato fondant, pak choi and real ale chutney, and a hearty beef stew with warm crusty roll and butter.

There’s also an ‘Ultimate’ mixed grill (£29.50) comprising 4oz rump steak, 5oz gammon, half chicken breast, two sausages, fried eggs, chips, onion rings, salad and peppercorn sauce.

Allen says he has also changed things for the Sunday lunches and ditched the carvery-style service.

“I’m a Scouser and a socialist so I didn’t like to see the waste left over after the carvery so I’ve brought back proper roasts.”

These are proving so popular that pre-booking is advisable and prices are certainly a lot cheaper than many pubs on a Sunday.

The pork loin with crackling is £13.95, topside beef £15.95 and chicken £13.95 - and for those customers who want a smaller portion, the price is just £7.95. But for those with larger appetites, there’s always the trio of meat for £18.95.

Being a Wadworth pub, the Devizes brewery’s ales dominate the pumps, including Horizon and the rugby World Cup beer Dirty Rucker.

I stuck with the classic Wadworth 6X, which is currently marking its 100th anniversary since the first pint was brewed.

It seemed fitting to commemorate this iconic West Country beer in a pub that itself has stood the test of time and done everything it can to remain such an integral part of the community it serves.

The Queens Head, 29 Lower Hanham Road, Hanham, BS15 8QP.