Wednesday Market pub The Queen’s Head is once again leading the way in a bid to entice more customers to the area.
Les and Chris Willicombe have been in charge of the popular, family-run pub for the past six and a bit years, and have in recent times helped bring some real vibrancy to Wednesday Market, so much so that during the day the area is a honeypot for hungry locals and tourists alike.
But they acknowledge that while lunchtimes and weekends see Wednesday Market throbbing with customers, early in the week there is little to entice people out of Saturday Market and into Beverley’s ‘Latin Quarter’.
To try to change this, the couple, along with daughter and new chef Claire Martin, are launching a ‘Curry and a Pint’ night on Monday evenings, from 5pm-8pm. They also plan to bring back their popular carvery and prove to customers that there is much more to Beverley than Saturday Market.
Chris told HU17.net: “We find that at the beginning of the week most places are shut up here on Wednesday Market and people are stopping down in Saturday Market.
“If we can get more customers up here maybe some of these other places will start opening again. When it comes to Monday and Tuesday we are standing on our own.
“And I think it’s sad to see Wednesday Market like that.”
Les added: “Lunchtimes are good all week but it is at night that we struggle a bit, so we are trying to regenerate custom in this part of town, and hopefully attract a few younger people in as well.”
They plan to offer three curries – one a vegetarian option – along with a pint or a soft drink. All for just £5.99.
Other ideas in the pipeline are a burger and a pint night and the introduction of ‘Sharing Platters’, which Chris sees as ideal for office workers finishing their day.
The core ethos of the Queen’s Head will, however, remain their commitment to great-quality, traditional English food.
New chef Claire has returned to the family fold after working in Lincolnshire and at the Sergeants’ Mess at the DST at Leconfield.
She remains a champion of the type of food that has made the Queen’s Head almost unique in Beverley, and which certainly has earned it its particular niche in a competitive market.
“Our ethos remains traditional, home-cooked, proper English food,” Claire said. “In a good pub and with the food all home-made, I don’t think you can beat it.
“Around Wednesday Market we have fine dining, Italian, tapas and a grill, but we offer something else that isn’t done in Beverley, at least not in the town centre.
“It is very important that pubs make their own food, because it gives customers the choice of location and food that they want.”
With Les and Chris’ other daughter Caroline also working at The Queen’s Head, few, if any, pubs in the town can boast they are such a family concern.
It’s a selling point that works well and is another reason the Queen’s Head is so popular with its regular clientelle.
Claire continued: “Me and my mum and dad get on well together and we think we are going to be a good partnership.
“It is a good, family run business. A lot of people know my mum and dad and they enjoy it in here.
“When it comes to tourists, they can see the quality of food on offer, while we are also recommended by the Tourist Information Office.
“So we must be doing something right!”