Chequers Inn, Swanleyback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Early in December, I was one of a party of 6 who partook of their Christmas menu - we booked in advance the previous month and it was my first visit to The Chequers although it is just 15 minutes by train and a further 15 on foot from mine. Like Arnie and general MacArthur, I will be making a return visit.
There was a decent choice of three real ales, I happily settled on the Ringwood and the whole place was pleasant, clean and well decorated.
Words can hardly describe, however, just how marvellous the food was. The parsnip soup was a pleasant hors d'oeuvre, but what was to follow surpassed all expectations. As some of my company tucked into their venison, I enjoyed the nicest traditional Christmas dinner - turkey and all the trimmings- that I have ever tasted away from home (my sister is a great cook and I will be at hers again on 25th Dec). To round things off, my Christmas pudding was moist and really tasty and all six of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Lovely pub, top grub, pleasant clientele and friendly, prompt and professional service made it a truly enjoyable experience.
|
I have to say what a lovely pub, clean and homely and excellent food beautifully presented. Some family members and I went to the Tapas night which was amazing and even the youngsters in the group thoroughly enjoyed it.
From what I gather it is a young couple running the pub and I must say are doing a grand job. Many thanks for an enjoyable evening.
|
Well said Biker Steve.
|
Is that all you have to say?
|
Dear StoutChappie
My name is Steve. I am more commonly known in the pub as "Biker Steve", "Steve the Bike", "Motorbike Steve" or simply "Steve".
Phone the pub and ask for me. I'll be in there at about 6pm tomorrow and ask for any of the above - albeit there are about 4 regulars called Steve so mentioning anything to do with motorbikes will easily narrow it down to me.
Alternatively, make the effort to actually go to the pub yourself and post a recent, first-hand opinion - rather than casting flippant assertions about the authenticity of those who are posting honest and constructive comments on the very subject this site is intended for.
I note that you had nothing to say about the rude and insulting personal attack made by Mr Anonymous? I can only assume, therefore, you find his comments about the Landlady acceptable? Whilst I know both the Landlord and Landlady, I find everything about Mr Anonymous� post acceptable aside from the personal attack he made against the Landlady. He is entitled to his own opinion, as am I and as are you. Senseless and cowardly bullies are the only people that decide to make things unnecessarily personal!
Looking at the history of your previous posts � you appear to have put some time and effort into the posts that you are making � and you are a �regular� on this site. It�s a shame you didn�t take as much time and effort to establish the facts for yourself before posting here, in relatively consequence free Cyberspace!
I concede that I may be biased as a long-time local. However, I am a local to the pub and the social arena therein, and am not arbitrarily loyal to the people who run it! I maintain that I would go elsewhere if I did not get the service I believe I should get.
I decided to post my opinion on the basis of Mr Anonymous' harsh post - and the little dig that your alter ego or cyber-social colleague made about the spelling.
I am a customer of The Chequers � and am happy to declare my identity. I am giving my informed opinion, albeit perhaps slightly biased, based on facts and personal experience.
(Also - now that my identity is public, if that sour faced goat wishes to stick a few in the pump for me, that would be greatly appreciated:-) )
|
Bit harsh, Mr Anonymous.
I don't see anything wrong with expressing an opinion on here about a boozer. That's what this site is for. You, however, have stepped beyond that with your insulting comments directed personally at the Landlady.
In the words of another Mr Anonymous, "Never say something in Cyberspace you are not prepared to say face to face".
The new couple running The Chequers are a young couple learning a new trade and are bound to make mistakes. Likewise, I am sure they are aware that they will never please everyone all of the time.
Personally, I have been visiting this pub, as well as a lot of other pubs in the area, for a lot longer than 4 years. The Chequers, like the Fruiterers Arms, is an Enterprise Inn which unfortunately as, I understand it. means that the people running the pub are contractually bound to source their beers from Enterprise, who are the ones who charge extortionate prices.
Quality, however, is in the hands of the tenants and I have found the quality of both the Ales and the Lagers in the Chequers to have improved exponentially in the past few months.
I have also had the pleasure in sampling the new menu. I can't say I remember the prices of the old menu items, but I know the new menu is divided into two categories - light snacks and full meals. The �6.95 1/2lb Aberdeen Angus burger with cheese, chips and salad is absolutely delicious. I also think that particular menu item is reasonably priced for what you get, especially given that I struggled to finish the one I had.
As a local I have, on occasion, had to wait a few minutes for a pint - and I have, on occasion, had my place in the queue changed! I have, however, on those occasions politely asked to be served next as 'it's my turn'.
Yes - it's my belief that as a local you should be entitled to a good service, and regular bad service would drive me to go elsewhere. I have not had regular bad service at the Chequers - quite the opposite in fact. I also believe that, as a local, when those rare occasions where we don't get the service we believe we should get, we might be a little bit more laid back and understanding about it!
Suffice it to say that as a whole I believe the Chequers Pub to be a better pub by far than it was a few months ago. The beer is excellent quality, as is the food. I have noticed a deserved increase in new trade and I personally wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone.
Oh - also - forgot to mention the spelling. The sour faced goat of a landlady appears to have totted up the same number of 'spelling' mistakes, with "dont" and "alot", as Mr Anonymous has with "suprised" and "extorsion".
|
thank you for that just testing you are all awake. lol
|
The real test is whether the sour faced goat can learn to spell.
|
hi mr anonymous, sour faced goat here thank you for your kind words and sorry you feel that way but as you said we have just taken over and as with anything new you make mistakes the real test is weather you learn from them it would have been nice if you could have come and said something to my face , some people dont like change and feel as they come in each lunch drink adnams and play darts they should get served before anyone else already waiting, in the words of bernard bailey 'when they discover the centre of the universe,alot of people will be disappointed to discover they are not it'. on a brighter note we have alot of plans for the pub over the next 18 month and hope you all enjoy what we are doing . coming soon all freshly cooked food by our new chef paul.
|
j
|
I have been visiting this pub in my lunch hour for the last 4 years. Over that time the price of ale has gone through the roof here to the point that we can no longer afford to eat as well as drink in the pub (�7 for food eg burger & chips, �3.50 per pint).
Service was very good until recently when the pub was taken over by new management. Thankfully the existing bar staff were kept. When the sour faced goat of a landlady is behind the bar dont be suprised if you wait half an hour or more to be served (when the pub is empty and you are a regular).
We will not be going back to this extorsion merchants any longer
anonymous - 16 Feb 2011 14:16 |
I live in the village and this pub has got better over the years. I think the staff are friendly and always helpful, it's good that they get involved and want to chat to you unlike some pubs where they serve you and then just walk off. Music is good. Could do with a bigger play area for kids and the chairs could do with being dusted as when I have been in there the chairs are a bit dusty and can see they have not been done...
|
Local to me but would rather drive to another village then drink here all the time.
Went in here for a drink at the weekend as we wanted a pint without having to drive. Staff unfriendly and waited ages for a drink. Toilets dirty.
Shame as its in the heart of the village so it would be nice to walk to a local village pub and have a nice meal and a few drinks and be able to walk home. Surrounding villages manage it.
|
Situated in Crockenhill.
Decent pint of Broadside, but the service was poor from a barman who did not want to be there.....after one pint neither did we.
|
|
