The story
The Queens Arms in Corton Denham sits quietly off the A303, operating as a Modern British destination rather than a simple motorway stop. Doune Mackenzie-Francis and her family purchased the former Victorian ciderhouse in 2020 and reopened it after a full refurbishment the following summer. Their dedication to elevating the pub’s standards earned recognition in the 2026 Good Food Guide, which notes how the space balances contemporary country elegance with genuine village hospitality. Visitors now find a working Pub Hub that sources local provisions alongside the main dining room.
Head Chef Rich Townsend arrived in 2022 to lead the kitchen, bringing a background from the Newt near Bruton. He prepares every element from scratch, including house-milled milk burger buns, beef dripping mayonnaise and rosemary crackers. His seasonal menus feature citrus-cured monkfish paired with ruby grapefruit and pickled ginger, alongside dry aged beef rump tartare finished with smoked rapeseed mayonnaise. This attention to detail defines the British kitchen at The Queens Arms.
The dining room retains its original flagstone flooring and hosts open fires during cooler months. Large windows frame the rolling Somerset landscape, while a rose-fringed terrace extends the seating area outward. Guests frequently return for the crisp pink fir potatoes tossed in Willy’s cider vinegar, or the chilled beetroot, apple and celery soup served with seeded rolls. The cellar continues a tradition dating back to 1851, stocking regional ciders from Lawrence’s and Showerings alongside a curated wine list.
Recognition
Details
History
2 Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence
For those in the know, the Queen’s Arms and its green and pleasant surrounds are more than just a handy pit stop near the A303 – they are a destination in their own right. In 2020, local resident and Ballymaloe alumnus Doune Mackenzie-Francis took on the pub with her family, transforming it into a model of contemporary country elegance. Along with charmingly renovated bedrooms and a cottage to rent, there’s a ‘pub hub’ offering coffee and provisions in lieu of a village shop. A rose-fringed garden and pleasant terrace allow visitors to drink in glorious views while inside, flagstone floors, open fires and the day’s papers on the bar make for an inviting space to lounge or dine after walking the Corton Denham Ridge. In the kitchen, head chef Rich Townsend (who hails from the Newt, near Bruton) strikes an artful balance between pub classics and proper cooking. Refreshing tomato terrine with Westcombe ricotta and earthy lovage pesto wouldn’t feel out of place in a fancier establishment, but avoids being prissy. Chicken and mushroom pie comes stuffed with full-flavoured ceps, while the aged beef burger patty is paired with thick-cut smoked bacon from down the road and a potato bun made in-house. Pub classics are moored around the £20 mark and don’t require sides but it would be a shame to miss the crispy smashed pink fir potatoes adroitly seasoned with salt and vinegar. Cocktails take up more real estate on the drinks menu than beers but a very good £10 ‘marg of the month’ – ours with a dash of spicy jalapeño syrup – is justification of sorts. Wines are a rung above the average pub line-up, with bottles starting at just under £30.
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