Pubwatch 2012 (no.1) - Queens Head, Ockbrook

I wanted to do a pub guide last year, really - a bit of a guide to pubs I'd visited over the year, where they were, what I thought of them and the beers they served - and never really got round to it. A shame really; for one thing, I can't remember many of the pubs I visited (and I went to a few, for the pub-quizzing and such if nothing else) - sure, there's the Centurion in Bicester, but this apart I really have to have a bit of a think to remember...

So here's Resolution Number Seven (maybe - I forget exactly):

• Go to pubs. Take notes. Remember the good ones...

So, then - Jo and I drove the short distance out to Ockbrook today and went to the Queens Head - had arranged to go with my old friend Mike at some point in the New Year as part of his recuperation process (He came off his bike a little before Christmas - wasn't pretty), and it kinda turned into a Sunday lunch-date at the pub. 

Possibly for the best. Certainly more civilised that way.

It was really good to see Mike and his wife and kids; Jo'd not met any of them before so plenty of introduction and getting-to-know-you, and we spent a couple of hours over a quality Sunday lunch. A wonderful pint of the smashing Castle Rock Harvest Pale  and a cracking-big roast beef dinner (advertised as "small". Mike took a "large", which was mighty...) with about ten different veg on the plate and a fluffy Yorkshire; and all in all it was great.

In terms of being a pub guide, or whatever, it seemed like a pretty nice village pub. Lots of space given over to dining (which I don't really tend to like) but we were eating there, and the food kinda reflected the emphasis on foodservice - so can't really complain. Whether I'd have come away thinking the same if we'd not been eating, I don't know - but they had a couple of ales on (Harvest Pale and an Adnams bitter, maybe something else too?) and the pint I had was pretty good, so assuming all the beer's well-kept, maybe so. Big screen for the footy, too.

(I notice that this is one of those rarities, a blogpost of mine that's not misanthropic, shouty or in any way cynical. And rightly so - we had a lovely time, friends enjoying a good meal and good company. What's to moan about?)