The Chequers Inn, Lincolnshire

Overview

The Chequers Inn is a quintessential village pub that's committed to top-class food and drink - it has been feeding the locals since the 1640s when it was a farm supplying bread to Woolsthorpe's villagers.

The pub is all about destination dining in lovely Lincolnshire countryside - but you're also perfectly welcome to drop by for lunch and a pint after a ramble up to hilltop Belvoir Castle. Expect sash windows, rugs, flaming fires, claret ceilings - keep exploring and you'll stumble on the Drawing Room, decked in wallpaper honouring local hero Sir Isaac Newton and perfect for a private knees-up.

The sun-trap courtyard out front is bright with parasols in summer. There's also a pretty garden at the back, with lawns and a chicken coop housing Black Copper and Cuckoo Maran hens. The spacious function room opens onto the garden, so weddings and parties are very popular at the inn. The neighbouring cricket pitch also belongs to the inn - catch the the village cricket team play on summer Sundays.

Rooms from

Doubles: £90

Good to know

All major credit cards accepted
Alfresco & private dining
Wedding venue
Parking available
Dog stay: £5

Dog-friendly
You'll be hard pressed to find a more dog friendly pub - book a long communal table in the bar specially designated for dog owners.

Family favourite
Little ones are welcome throughout, and they have their own mini-menu. They'll love getting to know the friendly flock of chickens, too!

A touch of culture
You're less than a mile away from Belvoir Castle, a historic gem with beautiful gardens and woodland trails.

Rooms

The rooms at the Chequers sprawl across the original 17th-century farmhouse so no space goes to waste here: the old stables next door have been converted into four gorgeous en suite rooms, close to the dining room and the bar.

The loft suite is the plum choice - fully refurbished in 2020, it's a vast space with sloping eaves, shades of pale greys, purples and pinks, with Matthew Williamson designer wallpaper, and its own immaculate wet room. There are three smaller doubles downstairs, all with king-size or super-king beds, shower rooms and vibrant patterned wallpaper. Save room for breakfast - the full English is legendary with eggs from the inn's own hens.

Restaurant & bar

With a daily roster of impeccably put-together starters and mains to a nine-strong 'pub classics' menu, diners can choose from a wide selection - expect hearty mains and delicious desserts.

The main challenge for diners is the chargrilled rib of beef for two, served on a groaning board with béarnaise sauce and all the trimmings - it's near-legendary round these parts. There's plenty of Derbyshire beef dishes on the menu, including pies, burgers and dripping on toasted brioche - a firm favourite - plus local game in season, fish dish of the day, and excellent lunchtime sandwiches.

Four real ales including Lincolnshire's own Tom Wood's Best and brews from Wentworth Brewery in Rotherham, plus craft beers and lagers from some very surprising places indeed. The chalkboard cocktail menu is cosmopolitan and seasonal too, from perfect Manhattans to Bakewell Tart Martinis. Oenophiles are also well served: 100 bins in the cellar, more than 30 vintages by the glass and a separate Champagne list - even the choice of Cognacs runs to double figures.

Things to do

Lincolnshire is a great county for walking, with wide-open spaces and big skies. The county has over 2,500 miles of public rights of way, so there's plenty of opportunity to explore and the area around Woolsthorpe by Belvoir is rural, with plenty of quiet, unspoilt countryside, as well as pretty villages and lovely churches. For something more challenging, try the long-distance Viking Way path, which starts on the banks of the Humber in the north and winds its way through Lincolnshire to finish on the shores of Rutland Water.

There's plenty of activities taking place all year round in this part of the world. Equestrian enthusiasts shouldn't miss the Lincolnshire Horse Trials which take place every march, followed by the Shire Horse Society's annual show. The Nottinghamshire County Show in May features livestock competitions, dog agility displays and show jumping. The Gate to Southwell Folk Festival also takes place in May and consists of four days and nights of international roots and acoustic music, and come August, medieval re-enactors take over Sherwood Forest Country Park for the Robin Hood Festival, which has been going for more than 30 years and well worth the trip.