Now, this is exactly the sort of pub which, not only needs, but fully deserves, to be supported by its locals.

But, sadly, it seems the response of villagers could put the future of the Chequers Inn on Stone Street, near Canterbury, in jeopardy.

As it was, we very nearly missed the pub altogether as it boasts about as much kerb appeal as roadkill.

Fortunately, I spotted the tattered chequered flag fluttering in the wind and managed to persuade Mrs SD it might be worth a look.

It was a Saturday evening but I’d already promised ‘er indoors a bite to eat with her drink and I sensed a packet of crisps wasn’t going to cut it.

So, given there were only three other people in the bar, I was relieved to hear they were indeed serving food and doubly relieved to see More’s Head from the nearby Wantsum Brewery was the real ale of the day and a few pints had already been drawn off the barrel earlier in the evening.

The only real local was sitting on a stool at the bar and was also nursing a 3.7% More’s Head which he agreed was a very decent drop.

Having made the most important decision and seen it poured, I ordered up a glass of white wine, in the only size she knows to exist, and we turned our attention to the menu.

Fish and chips at £10.99 for me and for the pie lover it was the steak and stilton variety which proved too tempting to resist, this was priced at £12.95.

Always on the lookout for fun and games at the pub, I used the time while we waited for our food to check out the wonderful looking old-fashioned bar billiard table in the corner. I was surprised to find it was only 20p a game and when I asked barman Steve for some change even more surprised to be handed a pound’s worth for free and be told he was just happy to see it being used.

Apparently, the table was rescued off the top of a skip and has resided in a shed at the back for months before Steve dragged it out, brushed it down and reinstalled it.

We’d been playing some time but the bar still hadn’t dropped when our food was brought out so the game had to be put on hold while we sat down to eat.

It’s very much pub food but it was fantastic pub food and we both thoroughly enjoyed it.

My fish and chips were superbly cooked, hot and tasty, while the meat in Mrs SD’s pie was described as nothing short of ‘delightful’. She said there was no way she could manage a pudding though we did ‘share’ a homemade cheesecake – what is it with women and ‘two spoons please’?

Anyway, I didn’t allow losing a few mouthfuls of Biscoff cheesecake to spoil my gentlemanly behaviour and when we returned to the bar billiards I generously allowed the fairer sex a victory.

However, I couldn’t leave without recording a win so I challenged local Neil to a game and while we played he explained why he feels some villagers bear a grudge against the pub – apparently they bid for the licence but were beaten to it. Their reaction has been to host ‘pub nights’ at the village hall, whether it be quizzes, music nights or other events.

The previous incumbents at The Chequers barred all sorts of locals, apparently for no real reason, and even mild-mannered Neil, who seemed entirely affable, fell foul of the regime and was given his marching orders at one point.

He went on to talk about his stint on the door, in full costume, for the Abba night and his performance at the karaoke night, though ‘sadly’ the photos seemed to have mysteriously disappeared from the website.

This is clearly a pub pulling out as many stops as possible to be successful and it’s a great shame there are a number of villagers failing to support Paula and Steve’s efforts.

The beer was excellent, the food was really good and the welcome was second to none, but, with just one local in at 8pm on a Saturday night, and one other visiting couple who popped in for a bite as well as to get out of the wind, it’s going to need a serious change in fortunes to move the pub forward.

I personally wish them every success and sincerely hope they can pull Petham round to their way of thinking.

THE CHEQUERS INN, STONE STREET, PETHAM, CANTERBURY CT4 5PW

Decor: This is a proper local pub, it’s not flash and there are some signs of wear and tear but it is well maintained. But, to pull people in it definitely needs improving outside ***

Drink: It’s much better to do one thing well than several things badly. Keeping one excellent ale, in this case Wantsum Brewery’s More’s Head, makes much more sense than trying to keep several that won’t be drunk. Mrs SD also said the wine was very quaffable. ****

Price: My pint of bitter was £4 and a large wine, for £5.50, represents equally good value. The meal prices are in my review, but the pudding was £4.50 and bar billiards (either free or 20p) was the deal of the day. ****

Food: Pub grub of the highest quality, the pie was locally sourced and the fish and chips cooked to perfection. ****

Staff: Both Paula, the licensee, and her hardworking other half, Steve, were welcoming, professional and good company. They deserve to be successful for the effort they’re putting in. *****

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