The Chequers Inn, Wallingford

A largish brick-built Brakspear country pub in the sticks between Chalgrove and Benson with a lean towards the food side, but still retaining a functioning bar and with a nice beer garden which segues from the be-gravelled car park. The interior layout is an L-shape: you enter into a long room which serves as a dining area, with further dining hidden behind a couple walls to a high-vaulted barn of a room way out back (young staff bustled around, clearing down the now-deserted tables). The bar area is to the left as you enter up a small step. Just the two ales available on my Wednesday night visit - Brakspear Bitter and an excellent seasonal in their Hooray Henry, a light and hoppy beaut of a summer ale (Jenning's Hop Commotion was reversed). The pint was around the £4 mark as you'd expect and the bar is decked out as such and cosyish. I'd have no compunction about revisiting this place, but it might appeal more to a family meal of prospective date rather than a solo visit.

Chequers page at the Brakspear site - www.brakspear.co.uk

Chequers page at the Brakspear site - www.brakspear.co.uk