The Chequers, Milton Keynes

On the main road leading up to the football stadium, a 15 minute walk away, is The Chequers, a small compact pub in the middle of a row of terraced buildings. It’s an L shaped bar in a pub that features black beams and low ceilings, but with a rather unattractively modernised and otherwise characterless interior. It certainly doesn’t feel like a pub that apparently dates back to 1662. On my recent post match visit, a large dominant screen was showing the final skirmishes of the Liverpool v West Ham game. Although it’s not branded externally, the pub is owned by Vale Brewery of Brill in Buckinghamshire. Inside the pub, a leaflet tells us that Vale own 4 pubs in total and gives us tasting notes of the brewery’s 9 regular beers and 5 seasonals. However, only 1 real ale – Wychert Ale – was on. The other handpump was unbadged and, from observing the other customers in the pub, I didn’t detect much real ale trade or interest at all. The pub is however listed in the 2011 CAMRA Good Beer Guide. I didn’t find this pub particularly welcoming or friendly and the overall experience wasn’t great. You might find the nearby Red Lion ( which I have just reviewed ) a much better all round bet.

Friendly Pub, Great prices, incredibly nice staff, B&B, Five room available two en-suites in good condition with televisions in each. Dart board and big projector screen, biggest one in Fenny Stratford for all those games you would want to watch in HD. Parking around back and a back yard with smoking area. Regular activities and cosy sofa area where you can relax after a hard day or work or just out for a drink. Lovely, kind owner and all together a great atmosphere and pub to be in. Highly recommended for anyone!