THERE is nothing more inviting than a warm, cosy pub on an autumnal evening, and while we might still officially be in the summer months, when I visited The Chequers, in Eversley Cross, there was a distinct chill in the air.
The village pub has recently undergone a £100,000 refurbishment by owners Peach Pubs, helping to attract visitors from further afield keen to sample the food from a menu packed with seasonal produce.
Read more: Village pub near Hook given £100,000 revamp
New general manager Laura Watts welcomed us when we arrived, and noted the sudden shift from customers enjoying a cold drink outside in the newly expanded seating area during the warmer weather, to the happy buzz now inside the pub.
The outside of The Chequers looks impressive, with a new canopy providing shelter to those wishing to enjoy the end of the summer sun and pretty lights twinkling in the fading light.
Inside, some of the traditional features of the historic country pub, such as the low wooden beams, have been maintained, while new colours and décor have been used to brighten up the bar and restaurant, providing a more modern feel.
The refurbishment was carefully carried out to reuse and repurpose wherever possible, to avoid waste and prevent items going to landfill.
The existing furniture was reupholstered with new fabrics using British-made velvets and woollen fabrics for a traditional feel.
New artwork has also been installed, chosen around the theme of the pub’s name The Chequers.
As we made ourselves comfortable at a table for two, my husband and I were shown the specials board, which our friendly and knowledgeable waitress talked through the impressive range of options.
The pub prides itself on sourcing top-quality ingredients and includes a map on the back of the menu showing where everything comes from, such as Devon crab, Isle of Wight tomatoes, and buffalo mozzarella from the nearby Laverstoke.
It was a tough choice, but I eventually settled on garlic and paprika king prawns with roast tomatoes on toasted sourdough for a starter while my husband selected Merrifield duck scumpet with hoi sin, cucumber and spring onion salad.
Both were delicious. The juicy king prawns accompanied by the sweet tomatoes burst with flavour.
For my main I decided to try one of the specials, choosing fresh dressed crab with skinny fries and rocket. My husband went for Immy Butler’s pork belly with champ mash, crackling, peas, courgettes and beans.
Our waitress was clearly knowledgeable about wine pairings and was keen to offer her expert advice on which would go with the crab – I was impressed!
The soft crab tasted incredible and combined with crunchy fries and the bitterness of the rocket, I wanted to savour every delightful mouthful.
My husband equally enjoyed his main course and was raving about the gravy.
Feeling full after two courses, I knew there would be no space for the banoffee cheesecake I had my eye on from the outset.
Instead, I chose a pavlova with English raspberries and passion fruit curd.
My husband decided to try a cheese board, selecting three different varieties of cheeses from the options.
When my dessert arrived, it looked like a work of art on the plate. It was simply beautiful to look at and tasted even better.
The crunchy pavlova combined with the tangy passion fruit and sweet raspberries ticked every box when it comes to the perfect dessert and was a satisfying end to a delicious meal.
There was a happy buzz of chatter as the restaurant filled with couples, families and groups of friends getting together on a Thursday evening.
While times may have been tough for the pub industry in recent years, The Chequers is thriving, and deservedly so.
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