Chequers is a major landmark on the High Street. This pub is up the hill from Sainsbury's, on the left hand side. It is opposite 1st Choice and N&A Fishmongers and a nameless mobile phone accessories business on site of the defunct Afrosia at the junction of the High Street with Storey Road. Next door is Metrobet, at the site of the old Rice 'N' Spice cafe.

As I have mentioned in my blog on the Cock, further down the High Street, pubs are generally only as good as the mood you take to them and the people you are with. So I am not going to say this is a better place than the Cock, or if you will have a better night out than you would at, say, the Coppermill or the Nags Head in the Village. Its all a matter of taste, on the subject of which, I will say that this is a pub with an extensive snack and lunchtime menu, where English and Thai food can be eaten. The English menu involves steaks, scampi, chips etc and a lot of hot sandwiches. The all day breakfast at ₤3.99 comprises sausage, two eggs, bacon, toast, tomato and beans.

Chequers has a kids menu, and unlike many establishments, knows that the licensing laws do not prevent family groups with under 18s being in pubs - though a sign at the bar does remind people,(who don't have S168 of the Licensing Act 1964 at their fingertips), that under 14 year olds are not permitted in the bar area. Roast Sunday lunches (from 12.00 to 4.00pm) include a three pound reduced kids offer, whereas adults are charged six pounds. There is also now a fully vegetarian nut roast option, which includes vegetarian gravy.

Children are definitely not encouraged on Friday and Saturday nights, when there is an over 25s door policy. On Saturdays they have Karaoke, for those who like it.

The Thai food, which is also available as a takeaway (Tel 0208 521 0404), includes a starter platter of stuffed chicken wings, spring rolls, chicken on toast, wrapped prawns and vegetable tempura for ₤7.99. I for one have always thought life is too short to stuff a chicken wing, and therefore am very grateful that we have a Thai cook in Walthamstow willing to put this on their menu.

The curry range is the standard Thai restaurant fare in England of Red, Green, Panang and Jungle curries at ₤5.50 for chicken, beef or vegetables and ₤6.50 for prawn or squid. Soups; Tom Yum, Tom Kha and Khai Tom are ₤3.50 for chicken, beef or vegetables and ₤3.95 for prawn or squid. Phad Thai comes at ₤4.99 for chicken, beef or vegetables and ₤5.99 with prawn or squid. The menu also has one of my favourite Thai lager-drinking meals, Chicken Kaprow (which is basically chicken cooked in a chili oil with Thai Holy basil) with rice, for ₤4.99. The hotter this is, the better.

There are two pool tables in a room at the back where the large men's toilets are. (No, I don't mean the pool tables are in the toilets: the toilet entrance is in the room by the pool tables). A terrace to the left side of the pub has tables for when the weather is up to it.