The Queens Head Riverside Inn, close to the River Nene at Nassington, is recognised as one of the best small hotels in the area. Its British cuisine, well laced with overlap from others, gains wide appreciation for its diversity and quality, and the hand of history is never far away, no wonder that the AA has caught up with The Queens Head and awarded them one Rosette for their food.

Not long after leaving Fotheringhay Castle, forever associated with Mary, Queen of Scots, who must surely have passed this way on the final few miles to the scene of her trial and execution, the valley tightens a shade as it prepares for the final descent to Peterborough and the Fens, so that the village of Nassington is very much a river village. The Queens Head Riverside Inn, built from the local mellow limestone, looks out serenely over the peaceful countryside and it is hard to imagine a more restful location for a weekend away from it all, a family occasion, or just an impulse dinner for two.

For all of these, and more, The Queens Head Inn, with its Visit Britain 4 star rating is superbly equipped. Nine ground floor, spacious chalet style bedrooms offer a range of facilities that would be the envy of some London hotels, but at a price that goes nowhere near their rates. King size doubles, en suite shower room or bathroom, complimentary toiletries, comfortable duvets and bedding set the scene. Modern expectations are well met with LCD televisions, free wireless internet access, direct dial telephone and clock radio, complimentary tea and coffee hospitality tray and mineral water. Naturally all rooms are non smoking and you can park the car with direct access to the bedrooms.

In the light and attractive dining room a realistic approach is taken to matters of refreshment, and in the winter months expect to find homely hotpots, stews and wonderful politically incorrect steamed suet puddings. Northamptonshire enjoys its sporting shooting and the great Estates yield fine game of impeccable background.

The Queens Head is gaining a wonderful reputation for steak cooked over coal in a Josper oven at temperatures up to 500 degrees. The menu features 28 day aged steaks from Owne Taylor of Derbyshire alongside Wagyu and USDA grain fed Black Angus at reasonable prices.

A summer menu could offer poached pear with Colston Bassett Stilton mousse and onion marmalade, garnished with crispy bits, or sea bass fillets with new potatoes and samphire.

Sticky toffee pudding, that Cartmel favourite, now has so many variations it can almost lose the way, but this is the real thing, and the lemon tart served with fresh raspberries reaches out to the spirit of summer. It used to be possible to say that certain parts of our sceptred isle were notable for their cheese but now thanks to enterprise and wider appreciation there are less and less places without their own cheeses. In any case nobody would deny Lincolnshire Poacher, Red Leicester and Fowlers Derby sage an audience, so expect to find them at The Queens Head.

The vineyards of the world have been plundered to make up a wine list which is a sheer delight. Each wine has been delightfully and accurately written up with a brief introduction and availability by the glass for some makes for interesting and responsible pleasure.

It would be possible to go on about The Queens Head Riverside Inn, but we hope what has been said will make the point that here is somewhere which delivers what it says it will, consistently and with charm, as you can find out from their Website.