The Chequers was a

public house A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and wa ...

which occupied a Grade II listed building in

Potters Bar Potters Bar is a town in Hertfordshire, England,in the historic County of Middlesex Hertsmere Borough Council – Community Strategy First Review (PDF) north of central London. In 2011, it had a population of 21,882. In 2022 the population was ...

, England. Originally opening in the 1700s, the pub moved site across the road and opened in its current location in the 1840s. Although there is no consensus as to when the current building was originally constructed, it started as two separate houses which were joined together before the pub moved onto the site. The building was made Grade II listed in 1985, but the pub shut on 30th December 2019. Before it closed it was the only pub in the

British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, ...

to have

traffic lights Traffic lights, traffic signals, or stoplights – known also as robots in South Africa are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings, and other locations in order to control flows of traffic. Traffic lights ...

on site. The pub's

namesake A namesake is a person, geographic location, or other entity bearing the name of another. History The word is first attested around 1635, and probably comes from the phrase "for one's name's sake", which originates in English Bible translations ...

is thought to be the chequer tree.

History

As an independent pub (before 1815)

Originally occupying the building across the road from its current site, the specific opening date of the pub is unknown. The earliest records of the pub are those showing the Jacques family as the license-holders from around 1770 until 1805, with the pub opening on its current site in the 1840s. The building it currently occupies was never intended to be a pub, and constructed by joining two buildings, which were from either the 1500s or 1700s.

As a chain pub (1815–2000)

From 1815 the pub passed through the hands of various chains - first the Hatfield Brewery tied estate, and by 1837 was in the hands of Alfred Pryor, then his son Edward in 1876. In 1881 the company was renamed to Pryor Reid when Edward's brother in law, Percy Reid, joined the company. In 1920 the Chequers and its company of the same name was sold to

Benskins Brewery Benskins was the pre-eminent brewery in Watford, and Hertfordshire's biggest brewer until its acquisition by Ind Coope in 1957. While Benskins has not existed as an independent company for over half a century, the brand continues to be well kno ...

, which in 1956, was bought by

Ind Coope Allied Breweries was the result of a 1961 merger between Ind Coope (of Burton), Ansells (of Birmingham), and Tetley Walker (of Leeds). In 1978, Allied Breweries merged with the food and catering group J. Lyons and Co to form Allied Lyons. The bre ...

, which in turn merged into

Allied Breweries Allied Breweries was the result of a 1961 merger between Ind Coope (of Burton), Ansells (of Birmingham), and Tetley Walker (of Leeds). In 1978, Allied Breweries merged with the food and catering group J. Lyons and Co to form Allied Lyons. The br ...

in 1961. In 1978, as part of a larger trade, the pub was transferred to the now defunct

Courage Brewery Courage Brewery was an English brewery, founded by John Courage in 1787 in London, England. History Courage & Co Ltd was started by John Courage at the Anchor Brewhouse in Horsleydown, Bermondsey in 1787. He was a Scottish shipping agent of Fr ...

. The pub was made Grade II listed on 12 August 1985, just before it received a major refurbishment in 1987.

Second period as independent and closure (2000–2019)

The pub became independent again in 2000 when it was taken over by Paul and Gill Englefield. On 30th December 2019, the pub closed, but the owners said it may reopen. However there were concerns from residents regarding the pub's future. In 2020,

Hertsmere Borough Council Hertsmere is a local government district and borough in Hertfordshire, England. Its council is based in Borehamwood. Other settlements in the borough include Bushey, Elstree, Radlett and Potters Bar. The borough borders the three north London ...

received a planning application for ten apartments on the site. In response "save our pub" was graffitied onto the building. Before it closed, it was the only public house in the UK to have

on its site, with a set in the car park.

Footnotes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chequers, Potters Bar Grade II listed pubs in Hertfordshire Potters Bar Former pubs in England