PMA awards winner opens West Sussex pub

Alex Tipping has opened the Chequers at Slaugham on a free-of-tie lease after a refurbishment of the pub and its five rooms. He formerly ran the nearby Royal Oak at Poynings where he won Food Pub Manager of the Year and Barbecue Pub of the Year with the PMA.

Head chef at the Chequers is Wayne Cortilla, who has also worked at the Royal Oak.

The menu at the Chequers focuses on fresh, traditional British food. There will be bridge and music nights, a book club, a fishing club and live music with a piano at weekends.

“I have always absolutely loved the Chequers and wanted to run the place so this is a dream come true,” said Tipping. “I ran the Royal Oak for five years and we had a reputation for food and hospitality that was second-to-none — we are hoping to re-create the Royal Oak’s magic here.”

The rooms at the 80-cover pub were at full occupancy in the pub’s first week of opening. There will be an official launch party on Friday 9 December.