The Loose Chequers — Restaurant in Maidstone

I feel a bit bad about writing this, but for the first time ever there's only 1 star and probably the longest comments I've left.

We arrived around 12:15 on a September Thursday after having a walk - hungry, we fancied a pub lunch. Staff were pleasant if a bit rushed - the young lady behind the bar was on her own and doing the best she could. Several things were off the menu, but we ordered a "Curry of the day" (Thai Green on this occasion) and sausage & mash with gravy. Difficult things to screw up...

After a reasonable wait, two small dishes appeared. The Thai Curry was tiny, containing a few small bits of grilled chicken in a fairly anaemic sauce, with a small amount of plain white rice on the side; the two sausages were quite small and on a small bed of mash surrounded by gravy.

Both dishes were stone cold. We sent them back. Frankly, if we hadn't paid in advance, I'd have left at that point.

A few minutes later they re-appeared, along with a small dish of sweet chilli sauce and 3 small prawn crackers, two of which were not properly cooked (still solid in parts, i.e. not cooked hot or long enough). The sausages were now hot, the mash lukewarm and the gravy cloying and still pretty cold. Being fair, the very small sausages were quite tasty, but the mash was under/not seasoned and the gravy had little flavour, no onion or anything even vaguely interesting, and was still cold.

The curry was a disgrace. The rice was flaccid and tasteless, the curry had almost no flavour and the chicken was watery, and pretty grim (tasteless too). Tiny portion as well. We left the curry. I did eat the sausage & mash as I was really hungry, but in retrospect wished I hadn't. I almost never leave food anywhere in the world, but I left that curry.

I'm not sure how dishes that bad could be let out of any kitchen.

We complained to the waitress (who was doing her best) - she asked us not to leave and a minute or two later refunded our main courses with an apology. I felt for her as she was doing her best as front of house when the kitchen was a shocker. Note that we didn't ask for a refund or even hint, they just provided it. I've never asked for a refund.

It's sad, as these days rural pubs need to do things right, but this wasn't just small things; everything they could have done wrong with those two dishes they did wrong. Nothing cooked from fresh, nothing checked before leaving the kitchen, tasteless food, tiny...

Tucked away in the heart of Loose Village, The Chequers Inn is everything you’d hope for in a classic English pub—but with a standout twist: it serves one of the best chicken burgers I’ve ever had.

From the moment I walked in, the warmth of the place was undeniable. The staff were not only ultra-friendly and professional but to my genuine delight, they knew most of the locals by name. That kind of familiarity isn’t something you can train for—it comes from a team that genuinely cares. Attentive, accommodating, and full of personality, they set the tone for what would be a fantastic experience.

Now let’s talk about the chicken burger. Quite simply, it was outstanding. Perfectly cooked—juicy on the inside with just the right crunch on the outside—layered with crisp lettuce, a tangy sauce, and served in a fresh, lightly toasted bun. It struck that ideal balance of comforting and indulgent without being overdone. Every bite was satisfying and memorable.

And what better to accompany it than a perfectly poured pint of Guinness? Rich, velvety, and served with precision—it was evident the bar team take great pride in every pour.

The Chequers doesn’t just serve great food and drink—it offers a sense of place. Whether you’re a local regular or a first-time visitor, the welcome is the same: warm, genuine, and full of smiles.

In a world of fleeting hospitality, The Chequers Inn stands out as a rare gem where service, community, and top-notch pub food come together beautifully. I’ll be back—and I’m bringing friends.

All the best to you and your future...

I took my 20 month old son for lunch, just me and my boy to give my wife a nice break. First time just the two of us outside the home so wasn’t sure how this would go.

We were welcomed by the lady behind the bar, who helped bring a high chair to our table. Shortly after, another lady kindly took our order at the table once we settled in.

We ordered the Chequers burger from the main menu and fish bites from the kids one. Both portions were massive and I thought I would have a treat finishing of my son’s leftovers. However, to my amazement, he ate the whole lot. Amazement was due to the amount of food there was for a kids portion, he absolutely loved it - burger was great too!

We felt very welcomed by the two ladies who served us. I really wasn’t sure how our afternoon would turn out but it was a great success.

Thank you to the staff at Chequers for making our afternoon a really good one, you helped give me the confidence to bring my boy out just the two of us.

We will be back again soon, bringing...