The Chequers, Milton Keynes

Proper old pub with a partly opened-out layout of the alehouse-style bar at the front and a bit more seating beyond the partition. With three of the four handpumps in use, I found Roman Way's Lux American IPA (£4.20), ABC Old Toby and the regular Old Hooky available, along with a couple of local Grid craft beers on the keg taps.

Small, single room pub that was my favourite on a short trip around Bedfordshire & Buckinghamshire. The pub was busy on our Saturday afternoon visit with all tables taken and quite a few congregated around the bar. There were also at least 4 dogs. All were quite well behaved, as seemingly were the customers. The room is sub-divided with exposed brickwork on the right-hand wall. Various board games could be found on a dresser to the rear left, next to an exit which led to a small outdoor patio and a tight car park accessed from a side road. A TV on the rear wall was playing music. On the bar, there are 4 cask ales. For our visit, these were Hook Norton Old Hooky, Bass, Allsopp's Pale Ale & Froth Blowers Old Pals Ale. Grid Beer Project Parabolic Spiral was on KeyKeg and Beavertown Neck Oil was also available. On leaving, I also noticed a couple of traditional ciders - Saxby's Original & SeaCider White Peach. My Old Pals Ale was a very enjoyable drop. This was my favourite beer of the day in my favourite pub.