This gastropub is very popular with the young and trendy, but the gorgeous food attracts all sorts. Recommended to all foodies.

The Venue
The bustle starts on the pavement outside, where nice benches, often entirely occupied, entice you to sit down and enjoy the good weather. It's set in a quiet street and, inside, Chequers is not particularly outstanding.

There is a wooden bench going all around the walls with matching wooden tables and chairs, a black fireplace, photos of Bath hanging from the walls and heavy silver chandeliers.Chequers may not dazzle you with extravagant decor, but it is airy and bright, and as such it’s radically different from the many stuffy pubs you find in Bath.

The People
The feeling people get from Chequers and other nice gastropubs is that they are not pubs at all. They are in between a bar and a restaurant, but with none of the pretentiousness of either.

This type of place attracts people in their mid-to-late twenties who've grown out of the cheap old-fashioned boozers packed with students. But they're not the only crowd. If those yet to reach 35 are here mostly to have a drink in a better environment, those above that age come in to spend some cash on the delicious food. So, expect a chatty atmosphere and a varied clientele.

The Food
The food is the real star of Chequers. The seasonal menu is dotted with foreign terms, unknown ingredients and elaborate descriptions. This detracts slightly from the pleasure of tasting the actual food, but a bit of snobbery should not deter you. For starters (£4.5 to £7), you can choose from dishes like poached pears, Gorgonzola and watercress or pork liver and Madeira pate with overnight bread.

The mains (£10.50 to £12) are no less titillating, with cold poached salmon, celeriac remoulade and dressed lambs lettuce garnish, or the crab meat and parmesan risotto with shrimp bisque. In case you want something easier, they still serve some pub favourites such as a burger (£10) or a sirloin steak (£15).

It is worth coming in just for a dessert (£5.25) as they serve elaborate ones like goats milk bavarois with roasted figs.

The Drink
The beer selection is not particularly long, but you should still find something you like. You can pick from San Miguel, Bath Ales Gem, Butcombe Bitter and Butcombe Gold, Stowford Press cider and prices are rather reasonable at £2.80 to £3.25 for the draughts and £3 to £3.20 for the bottles.

If you are eating, you're better off skipping the lager and getting a glass of wine. Their bottles are well chosen, although some are a bit pricy. And although the beers may be averagely priced, a fruit juice will cost you a whopping £2.25.

The Last Word
Chequers is great for lunch and dinner, or even just for a drink. Some aspects of it are slightly snooty but if you are not too sensitive to this kind of atmosphere you will have a good time enjoying their tasty food.

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