CHEQUERS Pub of Laddingford

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Thursday, 02 October, 2025.

PUB LIST

PUBLIC HOUSES

Paul Skelton

Earliest 1832-

Chequers

Open 2020+

Laddingford

Yalding

10622 871266

https://www.chequersladdingford.co.uk/

https://whatpub.com/chequers

Above photo, circa 1954. Kindly sent by Rory Kehoe. Until 1929, the Chequers had been a tied house, within the estate of Isherwood, Foster & Stacey's Lower Brewery, Maidstone. In that year, Fremlin's swooped, acquired the large I F & S tied estate of some 150 pubs and closed the Lower Brewery.

Above card 1954. A Carte de Visite for the licensees, George & Hilda Burton.

Above photo 2010 by Chris Whippet Creative Commons Licence.

Described as a 15th century Inn of traditional style. In the 19th century it was operating as a beer-house.

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, 8 June 1861.

Yalding.

The Lattinford Burial Club held its anniversary last week. The members assembled in the morning at their club house, the "Chequers Inn," and having formed in procession, marched to church, or a fitting sermon was preached by the curate, the Rev. J. Hassell. They afterwards returned to the club house, where an excellent dinner was provided. The club has been established twenty years, and during that time there have only been eight deaths.

From Maidstone Telegraph 10 December 1864.

MALICIOUS DAMAGE.

Some evil disposed person or persons, on Saturday evening visited the pig-pound of Mr. Richard Shoebridge, "Chequers Inn," Lattingford where there were two pigs, one of which they "ripped up" with a knife. No clue has yet been obtained to the perpetrator of this villainous act.

Sevenoaks Chronicles and Kentish Advertiser, Friday 4 September 1891.

These sessions were held on Monday last, before Mr C. W. Morland, in the chair, the Hon. R Nevill, Mr. W. Monckton, Mr. E. B. Evelyn. and Col. Luck.

ANNUAL LICENSING REPORT.

Acting-Supt. Lane presented his report, which contained the following:—

“I have to report, for the information of the justices, there are within the Malling Petty Sessional Division 88 inns, 78 beerhouses licensed for the sale of beer. &c., to be consumed on the premises, and 13 off licenses.”

"Four of the landlords have been convicted during the last year for offences against the Licencing Act. viz.

George Willsher Lipscombe, the landlord of the "Chequers Inn," at Laddingford, Yalding, who was convicted on the 27th October last for keeping his licensed premises open for the sale of intoxicating liquors during prohibited hours; a fine of 20s. was inflicted and his licence endorsed.

William Stone, the landlord of the "George Inn," Trotterscliffe, who was convicted on the 13th July last for permitting drunkenness upon his licensed premises; a fine of £3 was inflicted.

George Crittie, the landlord of the "Railway Bell" beerhouse at Ightham, who was convicted on the 27th of July last for being drunk and disorderly on the highway, at Ightham, and was fined 1Os. and costs. This licence has since been temporarily transferred to another.

Alfred Tomlyn, the landlord of the "Black Horse Inn," at Borough Green, Wrotham. who was convicted on the 27th September last for keeping his licensed premises open for the sale of intoxicating liquors daring prohibited hours; a fine of £5 was inflicted, and the licensed endorsed. His licence has since been transferred to another person, and the house is now being very satisfactorily conducted.

It is, therefore, my intention to oppose the renewal of the licences to the first three persons named upon the grounds stated in the notices of opposition served on the licensed holders of the houses in question.

Copies of such notices are annexed.

LICENSING.

.....

With reference to the "Chequers," Laddingford, Yalding, the Bench, on the application of the police, decided to adjourn the consideration of the reneweal of the licence to George Lipscombe.

Mr. Tatham explained that should their worships ultimately refuse the renewal of the licence to Lipscombe, it would place his clients in a peculiar position, as they would be without a new tenant. He then stated the offence for which the renewal was opposed by the police, and said it was committed during the hopping season, when it was extremely difficult for the landlords to conduct their houses property. Everybody in the village spoke highly of Lipscombe, and wished the licences to be renewed to him.

Mr. Thatham then called the Rev. D. Lamplough, vicar of Yalding, who gave Lipscombe a good character, said he considered him to be in every way a proper person to conduct a licensed house.

Acting-Supt Lane said the house had been conducted satisfactorily since the conviction.

After a abort consultation, the chairman said the bench had decided to renew the licence, but hoped the tenant would be more careful in future.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Lydia Catling, 20 December 2019.

Sandbags handed out in Yalding, Collier Street and Laddingford by Maidstone Borough Council after flood alert.

A council has deployed more than 1,500 sandbags to areas affected by flooding.

Maidstone Borough Council delivered the flood defences in a bid to support residents.

Yalding Village Hall, received 15 boxes, containing 40 bags each, while Old Vicarage in Collier Street and The Chequers pub in The Street, Laddingford were given 12.

Residents can pick them up from these locations and those in Collier Street can contact 01892 730512 or 07841 776377.

A home near the "White Hart" in the village is reported to have water coming in.

A spokeswoman for the borough council confirmed it would provide emergency shelter and help for people if required.

They added: "We have staff working in several areas affected by flood water and are continuously monitoring the situation."

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Rhys Griffiths, 27 April 2020.

The Chequers Inn pub in Laddingford, near Maidstone, has been lit up blue in support of NHS workers.

A pub has shown its support for the NHS by lighting up its exterior blue to coincide with the weekly Clap for Carers.

The Chequers Inn in Laddingford, near Maidstone, glowed from the lights, which were installed by one of its regulars, despite being closed due to ongoing social distancing restrictions.

The Chequers Inn at Laddingford lit up in blue to honour the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Run by a husband and wife team, Tracey and Charles Leaver, the inn has also started to offer delivery of freshly cooked meals for vulnerable members of the community and those self-isolating.

The long-standing publicans, who have been at the Laddingford pub for more than 26 years, have also championed a local initiative to place teddies in the windows of buildings in order to demonstrate collective spirit in the community during the pandemic.

Mrs Leaver said: “The pub has long been the central hub for communities across the country, something we’ve been passionate about upholding over our last 26 years at the helm of the Chequers Inn.

"Despite being closed, our position as a hub has become more important than ever to us, and the lighting up of the pub, running the delivery service and other activities is just our way of showing our appreciation for the NHS and key workers, as well as doing what we can for the local community.

"My husband's daughter as well as many members of the local community work in the NHS, so it’s very close to our hearts.

"Seeing the positive comments across social media and being able to give something back makes all of the effort worthwhile and we're very much looking forward to getting together with the community to enjoy a drink once we're through the other side of the pandemic."

LICENSEE LIST

SHOEBRIDGE Richard 1832-64+ (age 61 in 1861)