Next on our meander around pubs in West Norfolk was the Chequers Inn in the village of Thompson. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the beautiful exterior and we weren’t initially confident that it was even open.
The building dates from the sixteenth century and it has been a licensed premises since the late eighteenth century. Throughout its history it has mostly been owned by the landlord so it’s been a free house that hasn’t fallen into the hands of any breweries.
The venue struggled by 1997 but was taken over by new owners in 1998 and given a new lease of life by Heather McDowell and Richard McDowell and they’re still there today, so that’s some considerable achievement. There had traditionally been accommodation here and there remain three rooms that are let out on a bed and breakfast arrangement.
There was a friendly and immediate welcome, with the pub having an inviting atmosphere. There was a selection of three real ales, but there was only one that I was really drawn to (my eyes were immediately drawn away from Greene King IPA) and that was the Tally-Ho from Adnams which I don’t think that I’ve had before. I cautiously had a half pint of this 7.2% ABV barley wine style beer, although Roy was merrily going for a pint of it which seemed brave as the second beer of the day.
It’s the first time that I’ve had Tally-Ho and it didn’t disappoint, it was punchy, strong and had a touch of sweetness. Walkers isn’t my preferred crisp brand, but it did pair well with the beer.
There’s a dining area and also a snug, but this room is the only bar area and it’s certainly quite compact. I did warn Roy to be careful when he stood up, but he forgot and hit his head on the low beam. As an aside, I noticed that there were a couple eating in the snug and their food looked really rather lovely and the online reviews look positive.
The pub is used to customers hitting their heads, despite their warnings….
I very much liked this pub as it felt genuinely friendly with customers talking to each other in the small bar area. The staff member was welcoming and personable, with the whole arrangement being clean, comfortable and organised. The prices were reasonable and I’ll remember this pub positively.