The Chequers Inn, Weston Turville, Aylesbury

We arrived at this village gastropub mid-afternoon on a Sunday afternoon, as food service had stopped and they were getting read to close for the week. Luckily there were still plenty of people still finishing their food and we received a friendly welcome from the Italian landlady. Doom Bar is the real ale here, but I was pleased to see Weston's Family Reserve on a handpull, until I was told it was off. My wife switched to gin, which was fine until the price was quoted. I nearly collapsed on the floor in shock. I guess that's why it was carpeted. The interior is L-shaped, but most people were sat oustide on a patio/garden area at the front of the pub. Nice building, but too pricy for my liking. It's the sort of place that uses the drinks prices to bump up the bill, after attracting you in with reasonably priced food. As a drinker, it's all the more noticeable.

A 17th Century brick-built former coaching inn on what was once the main road but has now been bypassed, making it a quiet, rather sedate location. It is now an independent restaurant which has some pub features. There is a car park, and the garden is demarcated by the former inn and its stables which form an L-shaped courtyard. You enter into the bar area, and the bar counter is on the apex of the L. The left hand side is the main dining area, while the bar area is more of a bistro. The floors are stone, the walls are exposed stone and brick, and there are exposed timbers on display as well as an old brick fireplace, so the building has plenty of atmosphere. The owners are Italian, and the staff are very friendly. There are are various awards for their food on display, plus the wine list is reasonable. As a bistro it's fine, but as a pub it has some shortcomings – three handpumps on the bar, one dry, one dispensing Doombar which was well past its best and one with Old Rosie. There is no WiFi and dogs are discouraged. On the plus side, though, they don't allow prams and pushchairs inside. I'd happily come back for a meal, but it just doesn't feel like a pub.

Official site of The Chequers Inn - www.thechequerswt.co.uk

Official site of The Chequers Inn - www.thechequerswt.co.uk