The Village
The village of Newton is approximately 7 miles south of Cambridge and sits in an intersection of roads that link Harston, Hauxton, Whittesford, Thriplow and Foxton, not far from the M11. It is a small, rural village with much of the surrounding countryside farmed by the Hurrell family, who have been here since the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539. The local church of St. Margaret’s was substantially restored in 1851 and now is best seen when it’s notable carpet of aconites are in bloom in the early spring. Newton is a great place to build into a walk or cycle ride around the area, or as a stop on route to the IWM Duxford or the Thriplow Daffodil weekend.
The Pub
Very little has changed inside the pub since 1962, when the Short family took the place over. Now we daren’t change much as the interior has been listed in the National Inventory as having a historic pub interior of regional importance. We consist of a small games room with a darts board and bar billiards, a Public Bar with its original settle and a wood burner, and our cosy Saloon Bar with a large open fire. Our own harvested hops adorn the bars and a quirky collection of paintings and taxidermy line the walls. In moments quiet enough to hear the tick of the clock, please do ask us about them, as everything here has a story. We have recently added a sunny terrace at the front of the pub and a beer garden to the rear opposite the village green and playground. Interestingly, The King and Kaiser are reputed to have stopped here for a pint in the early 1900s, and more recently the Shah of Persia, who can be seen playing darts with Harry & Ruth Short in a photograph hung above the games room window.
The Family
The Shorts arrived in 1962 and rescued the Queen’s Head from its planned demolition after it had lain empty for a number of years. At this time there was no bathroom and local villagers used to let the family use theirs! Harry & Ruth began the adventure instead of retiring, but were soon joined by their son David, who preferred the hustle and bustle of the place to studying accountancy in the City. David’s reign of the pub spanned over 50 years and his love of conversation and fascination in people never diminished in all this time. It is thanks to David that we feel we can boast some of the most interesting and diverse customers ever seen in a village pub. In 1973 Robert was born at home, at the same time as a beer delivery, so literally has the life of the pub in his veins. Robert now runs and lives in the pub with his wife Caroline and three children and is inordinately fond of a good pint!
Our Partners
Adnams Southwold • Barker Bros Butchers •
Brewboard Brewery • Buntingford Brewery • Cambridge Juice Co. • Carron Lodge Ltd. • Church End Brewery • Emmett's Smokehouse • Fentimans • Fitzbillies Bakery, Cambridge • Milton Brewery • Noel Young Wines •
Pipers Crisps • Port of Lancaster Smokehouse •
Tring Brewery • XT Brewing •