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Pub Guide

Opening Times

Issue 130 Spring 2007

Download a copy of Opening Times 130 as a PDF file - 1.0 MB

PUB OF THE YEAR

The Chequers, Little Gransden
Chequers, Little Gransden

The Huntingdonshire Branch of CAMRA has this year selected the Chequers, Little Gransden to be awarded Pub of the Year 2007. This means a hat trick for the Chequers, having won the award three years in a row.

CAMRA gives this annual award to the pub that it judges to provide the widest appeal for its combination of good beer, atmosphere, style, service and value.

Bob and Wendy Mitchell have owned and run the Chequers, Little Gransden for 13 years and the pub has been in the Mitchell family since 1950.

Bob has a passion for real ale. Check out all the beer festival glasses - a sign of a true enthusiast. As well as the house beer Oakham JHB, at least one unusual guest beer is always available (on special occasions as many as 6 real ales are available).

Bob also has a passion for good food. Friday night is fish night at the Chequers, and on a recent visit, Bob had organised a home made Cornish pasty competition which he, numerous pub regulars and CAMRA visitors took part in.

The cosy public bar with its plain wooden seating and open fire is an unaltered gem and there is a choice of two other rooms. There is always a warm welcome at this family run pub, from Bob and Wendy and the village regulars.

The Chequers truly is a community pub, and the heart and soul of this Cambridgeshire village. Many of the regulars are country people who work in agriculture.

The Chequers is also very much a family business. As well as Bob and Wendy, their son’s Andy and David, and David’s partner Nicola are all involved in running the pub. Bob hopes that he will one day pass this pub onto the next generation.

Bob plans to open a brewery at the Chequers. This would be the first operating brewery within the branch area since James Paine closed in the 1990’s. Much of the infrastructure work has been completed, and the next critical step is for Bob to acquire the brewing equipment. He’s not in any hurry—he knows what he’s looking for and will bide his time until the right kit comes available, but given Bob’s commitment to quality real ale, it will undoubtedly be worth waiting for.

There was a presentation of a framed certificate to licensees Wendy and Bob Mitchell on the occasion of the branch’s post Christmas party in January. Pictured are Wendy and Nicola, with Branch Chairman Andy Shaw.