The Chequers Inn

The Chequers Inn sits beneath Froggatt Edge in the Hope Valley, near to some of the UK’s most scenic walking routes. It’s a classic Peak District pub that dates back to the 16th century, when it served flagons of ale to grave robbers, the owners proudly claim. Nowadays, it serves craft beer to ex-ravers and ramblers. Plus ça change.

It’s a friendly, laid-back place, popular with families, dog walkers, hikers and all things wholesome. It looks great too, enough olde worlde character to feel like you’re soaking up some dyed-in-the-wool, honest-to-goodness, capital E Englishness, but polished and pleasant. You’re not going to slip in muck or snag your shirt on a stray nail, not here. 

If you’re looking for an overnight stay or two, the Chequers Inn lives up to the old-school meaning of the word ‘inn’, offering a handful of rooms to visiting travellers. Do it. If you’re visiting the Peak District, this is a fine place to kick it all off. 

The staff are pretty much the exact kind of people you want at a place like this – greeting everyone with a cheery smile and going above and beyond to make sure everyone gets to eat what they want, where they want, when they want. 

Your fellow drinkers and diners are the same – happy to chat but never overbearing. Cast those Straw Dogs-fuelled ‘outsiders not welcome here’ fears out of your mind, this is very much not that. 

With a venue this pretty, and an atmosphere this amiable, they could serve up stewed socks and we’d be happy. Far from it. The food is as pretty as it is delicious, and they have an AA Rosette to prove it. 

Style-wise, it’s traditional grub, jazzed up and prettified, while keeping all the key elements that make our rural foodstuffs the envy of the world. Bold flavours, big proud portions, locally sourced and as fresh as it gets. 

As for the menu, stick a pin in it, you won’t be disappointed. The sea bass fillet is a flawless end-of-summer dish, with the all-important crisped skin and a gentle new potato salad. 

The steak pie is the kind of big meaty beast that will have been cooked the same for centuries: with a thick buttery crust, seasonal veg and huge chunks of slow-cooked beef in a rich, hazily ale-ish gravy. 

The Chequers Inn is the Peak District at its best. A fine mix of modern and tradition, welcoming as it gets and with food that’s more than a match for the many nearby beauty spots.