The All-New Chequers
Gastropub The Chequers at Eversley Cross in Hampshire has reopened its doors after a refurbishment that has enhanced the building’s many original features and made the most of the various different spaces inside the pub, creating a smart but comfortable interior for drinking, eating or both.
A long, tile-hung historic building ranged on several different levels, the pub is blessed with old timber beams, open fireplaces and flagstone flooring. The new look is a country feel that is at once stylish yet welcoming: quality fabrics in warm bricks, soft greens and grey checks are teamed with period pieces and elegant lighting that sets off the building’s ancient features. There are quirky touches too, with a boars head and other creatures dotted around the pub and upside down plants in the conservatory end of the eatery. Between them the spacious eatery and the cosy bar have 150 covers.
The country look continues outside with a simple whitewashed frontage and painted planters filled with fresh herbs, bold chequered pub sign and new seating on the green to the front, creating a lovely spot in the shade of the old oak tree for an al fresco bite and a pint. Externally there are 50 covers on the patio and a further 50 on the green.
“This is a fabulous old pub in a glorious village setting where we immediately felt at home,” says manager Jordan Marr. “In refurbishing the place we’ve very deliberately kept the original character whilst making the interior comfy and more welcoming, and added a new menu of honest seasonal food. We’re already well on our way to making it the smart alternative drinking hole in the area where you can also get a plate of very good food. Initial reviews have been glowing and we’ve been well received in the community too, something we’ll be building on in the coming months with a raft of community oriented food events.”
