Name: The Queens

Where: Warwick-on-Eden, Carlisle

Tel: 01228 562283

Opening hours: Open from 11am for morning coffee in the garden room. Food is served from noon all day, seven days a week.

Manager/head chef: Joanne Fenn/Richard Fenn

History: Co-owned by North Country Inns and Thwaites, The Queens is run by Richard and Joanne Fenn.
It reopened its doors after a major refurbishment in 2013 and now employs more than 25 members of staff. With the recent garden room extension, new terrace and another revamp of the bar area, The Queens has been transformed from a simple country pub to one of Carlisle’s favourite food and drink destinations. It is a beautiful venue with the warmth of a traditional country inn.

Style of food: Modern British pub classics with an emphasis on local produce and ingredients.
From the hand-drawn map in the bar, customers can see that The Queens promotes local suppliers and businesses from fishmongers in Penrith to butchers and cheese producers, as well as locally-produced gins. The restaurant also often has foodie events such as a Good Friday fish night, as well as informal dining with live music.
The tea time menu is very popular and is served Monday-Saturday, 4pm to 6pm with two courses for £12 or three for £15.
During lunch The Queens serves a selection of open sandwiches, salads and daytime menu staples, such as The Queens club sandwich with Mr Vikki’s nigella mayo, Cumberland macaroni cheese, and croque madame, as well as pub classics such as fish and chips, Steve Wilson’s steak pie (the only dish bought in) and homemade Cumbrian beef burger (rated one of the best burgers in the area).
For over a year now The Queens has offered gluten-free and vegan menus, which have both been extremely well supported, with some customers travelling just for this service. Traditional Sunday lunch is available as a gluten-free option complete with Yorkshire puddings and a syrup sponge pudding. The vegan menu includes starters, main courses and desserts.

Menu sample: Starters include duo of smoked fish with homemade smoked mackerel, lemon and parsley paté with smoked salmon served with crostini, horseradish cream and a gooseberry compote (£6.45); Cows & Co baked brie, roasted with garlic and rosemary, served with toasted foccacia and strawberry and black pepper jam (£6.96 for one, £13.95 to share); Westmorland ramekin of button mushrooms and locally-sourced pancetta cooked with garlic, brandy and cream, topped with smoked Cumbrian cheese (£6.45); Cumbrian black pudding fritters with poached pear, crisp leaves and balsamic vinegar (£5.95).
Mains include a trio of Goosnargh duck with pan roasted breast, confit leg and a shredded duck potato cake, served with chargrilled carrot, carrot puree, sweet braised red cabbage and a shiraz and redcurrant reduction (£16.95); char-grilled chicken, parsnip and Cumbrian pancetta risotto with roasted cherry tomatoes, rocket and parmesan shavings (£12.95); Cumberland macaroni cheese, with locally-made Cumberland sausage with leeks, bacon and Cumberland farmhouse cheddar baked in a creamy béchamel and topped with a parmesan and pancetta crumb (£11.95); Cumbrian tasting of pork with honey glazed pork belly, slowly braised pig cheek and black pudding bon bons, served with Dauphinoise potatoes, homemade apple sauce and a cider reduction (£15.95).
Homemade desserts range from sticky toffee pudding with The Queens’ own homemade sticky toffee ice cream and butterscotch sauce; white chocolate and blueberry cheesecake with apricot and vanilla compote and a raspberry, lemon and almond posset with a homemade pistachio biscotti (£5.95); or melting chocolate fondant, homemade hot chocolate pudding with a melting chocolate centre, served with caramel ice-cream and a salted caramel sauce (£7.95).
Also on offer are one, three or five choice cheese boards – this month the featured dairies are Cows & Co from Dumfries, Doddington Dairy based in Northumberland and Colston Bassett Stilton.

In their own words: “We are both very proud of how The Queens has developed over the past four years.
“We have a wonderful team here both in the kitchen and on front of house they are all a credit to us and the business so a huge thank you to everyone!
“The strong link to local suppliers is very important to us – we are very lucky to have such a wonderful supplier in Pioneer which trumpets local producers making it very accessible for a small business like ourselves to offer locally roasted coffee beans, Kin Toffee Vodka and meat from local farms.
“We make as much on site as we possibly can, from our bread and desserts to burgers and coffee treats, all dishes are made fresh to order.
“We try our best to offer fantastic quality, exceptional value and great service all in a beautiful setting.”