How funny. I've just finished writing a review as well, but it won't come out until September in the next Viva Lewes issue. I totally agree with you about the quality of the food. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Sounds like I was a bit more fortunate with the service, but then MCP was holding court in the bar the day I went. And he may have been engaged in a vice that he would prefer not published. I won't dob him in, bad boy that he is (David Hockney was doing the same thing at Glyndebourne this week, cough cough).
Location: High Street, Maresfield, TN22 2EH
Overview: “The arrival of team Pierre White in East Sussex is fantastic news, offering competent, classy English cuisine in a stylish and traditional setting. What is more, the price of the food and drink puts The Chequers right in the face of every so called gastropub in Sussex.”
I’ve lost count of the amount of weekends I’ve had ruined by pubs charging over the top prices for underwhelming, uninspired dross passed off as gastropub food. So, imagine my excitement when news filtered through that Marco Pierre White, arguably God in chef whites, was setting up a new country pub venture near Uckfield, described in the promotional material as offering, “An eating, drinking and sleeping experience unrivaled in its Englishness”.
Marco Pierre White and business partner and hotelier Paul Clark have landed at The Chequers in Maresfield, East Sussex, which is the first site outside of London for the expansion of their historic English pub brand Wheelers of St James.
The Chequers is a stunning 18th century Coaching Inn boasting twelve elegant en-suite double rooms and two grand suites set off the main High Street. The venue is split into various dining areas each with its own character, ranging from the traditional country pub bar area with open fire and raft of real ales, to a room decked out with the skulls of over a dozen deer’s dispatched by Marco himself.
Crisp white linen and quality table where sit alongside walls containing numerous artworks from Marco’s own personal collection. These include many original cartoons by the satirical Daily Express cartoonist JAX, which feature Pierre White donning chef whites and brandishing his trade mark cleaver.
Although Pierre White hasn’t cooked professionally for ten years, he has installed the trusted hands of Neil Thornley as Chef De Cuisine, who helped established Marco’s successful Yew Tree Inn restaurant in Berkshire.
The menus feature a range of quintessential English fare, demonstrating enough skill, elegance and expertise to lift them above your average pub fodder. Dishes include favorites such as Fish & Chips with Mushy Peas (£13.50) and Braised Steak & Ale Pie (£13.50) plus more adventurous fare including Confit of Lamb a la Dijonise with Creamed Flageolet Beans (£14.50) and Scottish Ribeye a L’escargot (£19.50).
For me, I know when I’m eating good food because the moment I first taste it I become sad that it’s going to end, which is exactly how I felt eating my Confit Lamb followed by the Eton Mess. Every forkful of the lamb delivered pleasure and when I had finished I knew I would be back here again very soon indeed.
Despite the Michelin Star heritage of its patron, the food and drink is actually really reasonably priced, with two courses from the table d’hote menu (available Sunday - Thursday) costing £15.90 and three courses for £19.90. Even the a la carte menu doesn’t break the bank considering the quality of the food on offer, with main courses starting at £13.50. A pint of lager costs £3.50, delicious house sauvignon blanc £3.90 a glass and you can even get a Marco Pierre White Scotch egg for £2.00.
The Chequers is still going through its post Pierre White transitional period, and when I visited there were a few minor issues with the service that I’m sure will be resolved. Saying that, these minor faults are easily forgiven considering how good the food was.
Summary
If like me you’ve become disillusioned by the quality of Sussex country pub food recently then salvation has arrived, as Marco Pierre White has created a beacon of light in the Sussex culinary countryside.
Team Pierre White haven’t just bowled into town leading with their egos, instead they have clearly taken into consideration the needs of their locals and the wider market they are trying to attract.
What I love about The Chequers is no matter what the occasion, there is a menu to suit, from afternoon tea, to the bar menu including Devils on Horseback, to the a la carte itself - marvellous.
Walk into the light and prepare to remember how top quality food should taste my friends.
Spread the word
Comments
Hi Emma
The customer service niggles were minor to be honest and I did ask to eat outside, right on the end of service as my young lad wasn't in the mood for sitting still and quietly appreciating the ambiance.
I've done an interview piece (via email) with MPW which will be coming out in Brighton Visitor soon, would like to meet the man himself though.
Top place - can't wait to go again.
Best
Steve
Hi Steve
I'll look out for that, sounds interesting!
Yes, was that when you were Camber bound but bad weather stopped play? We were a bit intimidated by the man, truth be told. He's a big chap! My other half was nervous about whipping out the camera and did it very discreetly. The salt marsh lamb was fantastic, as was the Trifle Wally Lad.
If I get to go again, I'll try the Eton Mess though, on your recommendation.
Cheers
Emma
We went there for lunch today having heard about it from friends. The food was good but service snail like. The manager (?) somewhat Fawltyesque.....
I forgot to add the somewhat Fawltyesque scene of the dirty linen and new linen being carried through the front dining room in the middle of lunch by the laundry delivery man... It added to the amusement factor of the lunch.
Hi Fergus
It certainly like the kitchen is running at full speed leaving the service staff lagging behind. I'm sure these teething problems will be resolved v.soon.
Did you enjoy the food tho?
Best
Steve
On Sunday 22nd August 2010 with four friends we visited Wheelers in Maresfield for the first time.
Sorry dissapointing, Why you may ask?
The service was slow and we had to request our pre lunch drinks twice,the staff gave the impression that they lacked any experience in service and true as in a previous comment 'Faultyesque'.
We ordered and the starters eventually came,the Kipper pate was lacking presentation and the Soft Roes were delicious but spoilt by the fried bread it was put on far to greasy.
The main courses: I ordered Lamb and when it came to the table and before it was placed in front of me I could see that fat was presented on top of a small piece of meat,I said this was unacceptable and the reply I received from the waitress was 'It is the nature of the animal' and still she tried to put it in front of me,I sent it back and ordered beef which was very good except for the string the chef had not taken out.
On the opposite table someone else ordered the lamb and was told it was finished,so my guess was that I was given the scraps and I was expected to accept it.
For the other guests the roast potatoes looked as if they had been deep fried, quite tasteless and not apertising and the Yorkshire puddings were burnt around the edges.
No one offered to pour the wine after the first glass and did not ask if we would like another bottle which we did.
Dessert and coffee, the sherry trifle not very good, M&S do a better one!
If Marco Pierre White endorses his name to this type of service and food I suggest he spends some time in the kitchen.
The local people will not accept this type of restaurant and does not relate to Wheelers good name.
Robert White
That doesn't sound like a good overall experience at all, which is a shame because apart from some wobbly service I thought the food on my visit was very good.
I do hope that team Pierre White iron out these early niggles asap, because I think the chequers is a great venue.
We are locals and have watched The Chequers gradually emerge into an absolute jewel. The village has suffered for years with a lack of a welcoming focal point from a pub/eating point of view. We have had lunch there about four times since it was reinvented and have always found the food to be excellent and today we tried the new Sunday lunch menu which was first class. Top quality, wholesome and extremely delicious. This was the first time in years that all six of our party came out feeling absolutely full and delighted with great English food. A full choice of tasty roasts with appropriate trimmings and a generous selection of well thought out vegetable sides. I had suckling pig which was to die for. For starter I had fois gras which was amazing and to finish with Banana Eton Mess finished the meal off perfectly.
The three courses were £16.90 per head, a rare value for money deal if ever there was one. To combine this with excellent service and a perfect Sunday lunch was a real treat. You can afford to make this a regular weekly endulgence, we certainly will!
Thanks MPW!
It is a pity that now there is now no public house in the village. The last remaining area of bar being lost to more covers. The 'recipe' for reviving the fortunes of the place may work but in the long term I do not think so. We will see...........
The loss of the pub side COMPLETELY LAST WEEK and the greater loss of the Harveys bitter will not bode well with the local drinking trade who have been sytematically driven out of the Chequers bar for the more lucrative foodie types who seem to wallow in the chic environment with their noses in the air under some misguided thought that they are being looked after by MPW who has little or nothing to do with the place. It is merely a franchise, just like the disasterous one he operates with P & O aboard the Ventura cruise ship. Clearly the worst restaurant I have ever been in on board a cruise ship.
The secret of the licensed trade is to cater for your diners and your drinkers equally as one feeds off the other. Should this situation remain, I will ask the council to consider revoking the full license hereand raise a petition accordingly. Maresfield must not lose its only pub.
I love this place! we chose this from the internet as we were flying out from Gatwick with 3 small kids and needed somewhere to stay nearby rather than travel at 3am! we ate early in the bar - suprised to see the last comment- its a fab cosy room with a fire and georgious oak bar. So glad not to see chicken nuggets on the menu there is plenty of real good food for each child's taste, including a great fish pie. Service was brilliant and the fois gras is not to be missed- which is a praise indeed from a midlander who was very happy with the full English in the morning WITH black pudding! Will be staying again next time we fly from Gatwick.
Having recently visited the
Having recently visited the restaurant for dinner,with a warm and fairly friendly welcome.I was very dissappointed in the pre -dinner drink served in an incorrect glass, the Table'd' Hote menu was very dissappointing,Spatchcock was tastless ,...also only creamed potatoes was served with it,which meant vegetables had to be ordered extra..very pricey. Is it a bistro pub trying to charge restaurant prices.?