Pub Awards: Best Community finalist - The Chequers, Westoning, Bedfordshire

Now in their third year, the couple took on a pub in poor condition and with an unreliable reputation and have completely turned it round, giving the villagers back their local and creating a thriving operation in the process.

• For more information on booking your place at the awards night contact Joanne Horton on joanne.horton@wrbm.com​ or call 01293 610403.​

Customer service is at the heart of the business, with the couple’s motto “Honour in Service” drilled into staff at all levels.

A strong connection with local institutions helps strengthen community relations, with the pub providing services and facilities to the church and giving youngsters from the local school the opportunity to learn important cooking skills in the pub’s kitchens.

Food

Innovation also helps to make the business stand out, as witnessed by the recent introduction of a deli-shop and a takeaway food service, Gastro-to-go, launched to help boost business during the recent European football tournament.

Events also bring the community together at the pub, from charity fundraising, like the Chequers Marathon Relay, through to the CHEQFEST music festival and even regular film nights using an outdoor screen in the pub’s courtyard garden.