The Chequers, Bath

While the internal layout described by Blackthorn, below, is still correct, it has sadly lost any pub feeling; the closest the menu now gets to pub grub is triple-cooked chips (why didn’t they cook them properly first time?) and over-priced burgers. It is now an over-pretentious gastro, trying to be a restaurant, with no real ale, just banks of uninspiring megakeg (no drafts in this Chequers). Even a Sunday roast comes in at over £30 a head if you want a starter and pud. The wine list is average in quality but outrageous in value (or lack of it). The young barmaid was rude at best – taking ages actually to acknowledge our presence while she flirted with a couple of poseurs, and curt and unwelcoming when, after nearly ten minutes ignoring us, she decided to serve drinks. Given that the opening hours are limited, it’s overpriced and it’s unwelcoming, it’s not worth the bother.

Official site of The Chequers - chequersbath.net

Official site of The Chequers - chequersbath.net

A pleasant looking stone built pub in a largely residential street just a short stroll from the Royal Crescent, it dates from the 18th Century according to a sign outside, but internally has clearly had something of a renovation and is somewhat more contemporary than might perhaps be expected. Food seems to be the major focus here, and most, if not all, tables were reserved for diners on our recent Saturday evening visit. Internally, it’s a “U” shape bar with the single downstairs room wrapped around it. There’s an attractive parquet wood floor and the walls are finished in a delicate shade of pastel blue with ornate white architrave in amongst the sash windows on two sides. Seating is a mixture of padded benches around the edge and regular wooden chairs along with some chunky wood tables. Other than that, there was really little of any note and the atmosphere, although quite elegant, also somehow seemed a little sterile, not helped perhaps by the harsh acoustics and a bunch of braying hooray henry’s on one of the other tables. Staff seemed friendly and helpful though. As mentioned, food is very much the focus here and although there was a selection of “pub grub” style dishes such as a burger or fish & chips, these were still ambitiously priced at around £14 with the more adventurous dishes being another tenner or so more expensive. My monkfish with parsnip, bok choi, ginger and a chicken & vanilla jus was actually really tasty and a very accomplished piece of cooking, but a remarkably small portion, especially considering the price. A starter of duck terrine with five spice, apricot, almond and melba toast and a desert of carrot cake with orange frosting and cardamom ice cream were both also very good but contributed another £17.50 to the bill. Beers on tap were Bath Ales Gem and Bristol Beer Factory Dorado Drop. The solitary cider meanwhile was a slightly disappointing Symonds Founders Reserve. Overall, I would say that this is really a restaurant, not a pub, and as such is unlikely to appeal to readers on this website.