From the https://www.kentlive.news By Ben Ashton, 29 March 2019.

The Chequers Inn in Smarden dropped from 5 to 2-star food hygiene rating.

The popular pub near Ashford was recently inspected and found to be below the standards required.

A highly-rated 14th century pub in Smarden has been given a poor food hygiene rating following a recent inspection.

The Chequers Inn, in The Street, was found to be below the standards required when inspectors paid it a visit on March 15 this year.

It previously had the highest possible rating of 5 after it was inspected back in September 2017 but that has now dropped to 2.

The popular venue has a 4/5 rating on TripAdvisor from 133 reviews with 80 per cent of those labelling it as either very good or excellent.

So why has The Chequers Inn been given a 2-star rating?

A number of issues were raised by inspectors following their assessment of the premises, such as areas that needed cleaning, the need for pest proofing and the condition of some of the walls and flooring.

The report said: "Thoroughly clean and disinfect the ice machine that had significant mould growth and keep the scoop hygienically (not in the machine).

"Thoroughly clean and disinfect all the pipe work and connectors to the beer lines. Clean and disinfect all surfaces and equipment in the cellar with a suitable fungicide.

"Redecorate wall surfaces with a mould inhibiting paint. Redecorate the internal kitchen door and door frame.

"Pest proof the external kitchen door and the cellar door. Redecorate dry goods store.

"Repair the sink tap that is loose. Repair the patch of flooring that was damaged and starting to lift on the kitchen floor.

"Clear yard area to remove oil equipment and general redundant items to reduce pest harbourage."

Bosses were also told to provide evidence of food hygiene training and to improve the labelling on both frozen and prepared foods.

It was noted that cooked hams had “no shelf life applied”, while hot water needed to be provided to the wash hand basin in the toilet.

The report added: "It is recommended that you provide separate equipment used specifically for preparing allergen free foods e.g. knife, board, frying pan."

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Rebecca Tuffin, 24 August 2019.

13 Kent pub gardens to visit this summer bank holiday weekend.

With this bank holiday weekend set to one of hottest yet, many will be longing for an ice-cold pint in a sunny beer garden.

So we have found some of the best Kent has to offer.

Listed below are 13 of the county's finest spots to meet with friends and indulge in good food and drink.

Chequers Inn.

Chequers Inn garden.

The Chequers Inn has recently won the Trip Advisor excellence award, and has made it into this year's AA Guide 'pick of the pubs'.

Alike to a fairytale cottage, a lily-topped pond and wild flowers surround the tavern - a peaceful spot for an afternoon drink.

Ingredients are sourced locally, along with Kentish ales brewed by Harvey’s, Sharp’s, and Fuller’s.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Rachael Woods, 27 January 2020.

Paul Hollywood judges bake off at Chequers Inn, Smarden.

Celebrity baker Paul Hollywood cast a critical eye over cakes with soggy bottoms at a village bake-off.

He drew a big crowd at the Chequers Inn, Smarden, where the search for a star baker was on.

Paul Hollywood at a charity cake baking contest in The Chequers Inn.

People crammed into the cosy hostelry for the charity do, organised by landlord Melissa Spalding, 36, who has been romantically-linked to the Great British Bake Off Judge after his highly publicised split with ex-love Summer Monteys-Fullam, for whom he left his wife Alex.

Posting on Facebook earlier this month Melissa wrote: Who will be our Smarden star baker?

"Paul Hollywood will be judging your delicious cakes in a winner-takes-all competition.

"All money raised will be donated to The Smarden Parish council in order to keep our village beautiful.

"Anyone wishing to come along but not take part in the baking are also welcome as after the winner is named, the cakes will be sold off to raise further money for the parish."

Paul Hollywood at a charity cake baking contest in The Chequers Inn, Smarden.

An onlooker, who watched the contest through the pub's windows due to the crowds, said: "It was absolutely rammed, I could hardly see Paul at all."

Bakes on show included an elaborate feather-topped creation and a three-tiered sponge but it's not know whether any of them earned the famous 'Hollywood handshake', which is only awarded for baking masterpieces.

Paul was also spotted dining out at Montalbano restaurant in Tenterden this month.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Chantal Weller, 18 September 2023.

The Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood to marry Melissa Spalding, landlady of The Chequers Inn, in Smarden.

The Great British Bake Off star Paul Hollywood is set to marry his fiancée this week.

The celebrity baker and partner Melissa Spalding – landlady of The Chequers Inn in Smarden – will tie the knot in Cyprus, The Sun reports.

Getting wed at the 5-star Anassa Hotel, the couple have been pictured soaking up the sun with their family ahead of the big day.

Insiders told The Sun Hollwood and Melissa are expecting 75 guests, including celebrity pals such as fellow Bake Off judge Prue Leith, 83.

Hollywood, who previously lived in Wingham, near Canterbury, lived in Cyprus during the 1990s and worked at the same hotel as head baker.

He met his ex-wife, Alexandra, there and they got married in 1998 but split in 2017.

He began dating now fiancée, Melissa Spalding, four years ago after meeting at her pub.

The Grade II-Listed site has been owned by the Spalding family for several years, but was recently put on the market for almost £1 million.

The venue has seven rooms, a 35-cover bar, a 37-cover restaurant with a pizza oven, and a large two-bedroom owner's accommodation.

Last week, the owners rubbished speculation that Johnny Depp is interested in buying it.

"It’s an absolute load of rubbish,” the owner told this website.

“Johnny Depp has never had a drink here and is certainly not interested in buying the place.”

It followed a report by The Sun in April that the Pirates of the Caribbean actor was “a huge fan” of the inn.

Hollywood judges The Great British Bake Off with Prue Leith.

Before lockdown in 2020, Hollywood judged a village baking event held at The Chequers Inn to raise money for Smarden Parish Council.

People crammed into the cosy hostelry to get a glimpse of the 57-year-old who was searching for the star baker.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Oliver Leonard, 29 January 2024.

Paul Hollywood's wife pub The Chequers Inn in Smarden, near Ashford, could shut and be turned into house.

A Grade II-listed village pub run by Paul Hollywood's wife could be closed and turned into a house.

The Chequers Inn in Smarden, near Ashford, has been owned and run by the Spalding family for many years – including long-serving landlady Melissa who married the celebrity baker in September.

Plans have been submitted to turn The Chequers Inn, in Smarden, into a residential house.

But the historic site in The Street – which dates back to the 16th century – could now be converted into a “single dwelling” home after a planning application was submitted to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) last week.

The public house was listed on Rightmove for £999,995 in April last year – with Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp linked with a bid – but efforts to offload the site have “failed”.

The application states that owner Glenn Spalding and his wife have reached “retirement age” and have recognised that the business is “unsaleable”.

It highlights how The Chequers struggles to compete with nearby pubs The Flying Horse and The Bell, which are both owned by breweries.

It says: “With three public houses serving such a small community and with a changing approach to drinking in the 20th century it was always going to be difficult for all three to survive.

“There is no obvious other commercial use to which the building could be put and the decision made was to seek a residential use of the building.

Paul Hollywood and his wife Melissa, who has been landlady of The Chequers Inn in Smarden for many years. Picture: Paul Hollywood/Instagram

“Whilst the business has good Tripadvisor reviews, Smarden is not located in a prime position to capitalise on the tourist trade and the trade there is, is no longer adequate to maintain the business.

“Use of the guest rooms, which underpinned the business, has been heavily undermined as the three local attractions drawing visitors now have accommodation options closer to them.

“Headcorn Aerodrome now provide accommodation in Egerton as part of a “package deal”, the nearby Big Cat Sanctuary now provides accommodation adjoining the site and Sissinghurst Castle is now served by closer accommodation available at The Three Chimneys and The West House Restaurant in Biddenden. This has left The Chequers struggling.”

The application says the pub has battled to stay afloat since the pandemic and amid rising energy costs.

It says the reason the business survives is largely down to the fact Mr Spalding lives on-site, takes no “salary” and has help from family to staff it, “thus keeping the overheads low”.

“The situation now is that bar trade is insufficient to justify seven-day trading and the public house element now closes from Mondays to Wednesdays,” it adds.

“In three years of marketing, there have been no viewings, presumably because potential purchasers can see the same issues.”

In April, it was reported by The Sun that Johnny Depp had his eye on the £1 million boozer and was said to be a “huge fan” of the pub.

However, the Spalding family branded the rumours “absolute rubbish”.

One famous face who has definitely taken an interest in The Chequers is Paul Hollywood, 57, who lives in Smarden and reportedly met Melissa at the pub four years ago.

Before lockdown in 2020, the Great British Bake Off star also judged a village baking event held at the venue to raise money for Smarden Parish Council.

According to a LinkedIn page for 39-year-old Melissa, she has been landlady of The Chequers for 16 years.

The seven-bed property dates back at least 500 years, according to Historic England, and listed building consent would be required for any work to or alteration of the site.

The quaint, weather-boarded pub reportedly possesses a secret underground passage to the parish church next door, but its whereabouts is uncertain.

According to local legend, it is inhabited by the restless ghost of a French soldier who was a prisoner of war in the area during the Napoleonic Wars.

In more recent times The Chequers won a Tripadvisor excellence award and made it into the 2019 AA Guide 'pick of the pubs' .

As well as a bar, the timber-framed pub has a 37-cover restaurant with a pizza oven.

The plans say the property, while large, has a considerable area of land around it with parking and outbuildings - and would suit a “particular part” of the residential market.

A decision is set to be made on the application by the end of March.