Elegant dining room with a set dinner table, lit candles, and a cozy fireplace.

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Meet the Team

Discover the talented team behind the continued success of The Queen’s Arms in Corton Denham.

Chef focused on preparing food in a professional kitchen

Rich Townsend

Rich is our head chef and has been with us almost since we opened, putting the pub firmly on the map for its food offering. Rich brings a wealth of experience having worked in some of the best restaurants in Somerset. Rich has grown and perfcted his dishes during his time with us, deservedly winning Two AA Rosettes in 2025 for his outstanding food. His passion for modern British cuisine, making everything in-house, and seasonal produce speaks for itself. Every dish is beautifully put together with real thought behind the flavour pairings.

Meet our Chef

Two men in aprons standing outside a stone building, one holding vegetables and the other holding a potted herb.

JP

JP, our sous-chef, was brought in by Rich to be his right hand man. Theirs is a partnership that goes back many years, when JP was Rich’s head chef and mentored him on his culinary journey. They perfectly compliment one another with their style of food. JP’s passion is for outdoor cooking so our BBQ’s and Fish over Fire nights are very much his domain.

Man in a black apron holding a pint of dark beer standing by a doorway.

Harry

Harry is our rising star and a key player in the team. He has grown in confidence and capability and is creating some wonderful dishes. Harry loves chili peppers so if you see something spicy on the menu the likelihood is that Harry has had a hand in it!

Man sitting by a fireplace drinking coffee and reading a newspaper.

Dylan Van Blerk

Dylan is the general manager of The Queen’s Arms, overseeing the business end of the Inn and making sure all is running smoothly. Hailing from South Africa, where he worked at a number of boutique hotels in the winelands, his hospitality is warm and welcoming. Dylan brings his relaxed, sunny vibes here to Somerset.

Woman pouring red wine into a glass at a bar

Jess Harries

Jess is our office manager and is key to ensuring your room bookings and group parties all run smoothly. She also oversees the housekeeping team. With a long running background in hospitality she knows what is needed to ensure you have a great experience.

20-11-22Queens Arms Food & Drink 16-min - Copy

Scott Monanghan

Scott, from Scotland, is our bar manager. Always there with his charm and ready wit, Scott is a welcoming face on your arrival. He loves to source interesting wines and local ales and is happiest catching up with villagers and guests, finding out their news whilst creating seasonal cocktails using local produce.