Chequers Inn Hotel

Standing in the village of Forest Row is the Chequers Inn Hotel; a delightful 15th century Posting Inn built approximately 1452. It is ideally situated midway between London and the south coast.

The Chequers Inn Hotel is a grade one listed building, situated in the picturesque village of Forest Row, surrounded by the Ashdown Forest & has been standing here since 1452, with its original foundations mentioned in the Doomsday book. The bar area contains an inglenook fireplace with heavy oak beams and real log fire, akin to a warm & friendly atmosphere. We offer an extensive menu including daily specials & desserts with a range of Real Ales, Lagers and fine wines, which are available throughout the Bar & our non smoking Dinning room areas. PLEASE NOTE THE DINNING ROOM AND BAR WILL BE CLOSED ON CHRISTMAS DAY ONLY Our hotel consists of 21 rooms to the quiet rear of the premises in our 20th century extension. All rooms are equipped with modern facilities including en-suite bathroom & internet dial up access, with wireless broadband access available in the Bar & breakfast room areas. One hour by train to London, 30 minutes drive to Gatwick and 45 minutes to Brighton, the Chequers is centrally located in the South, with many 5 & 4 star hotels, such as the Ashdown Park, Gravetye Manor and Ravens Wood Park within 10 minutes drive. Local attractions such as Pooh Corner and Pooh Bridge of A.A. Milne fame and the Bluebell Railway are also within 10 minutes drive of our hotel, with the Ashdown Forest Golf Club within walking distance. A MORE COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO OUR BUSINESS MAY BE FOUND ON OUR WEB SITE CHEQUERS1452,CO,UK Smugglers used this Inn extensively and it was this Inn that was associated with a famous mail coach robbery, which took place at the foot of Wall Hill on June 27th 1801. John Beatson and his adopted son William Whalley Beatson hid in a meadow at the bottom of Wall Hill, by the entrance to an old Roman road. The mail coach made its call at the Chequers Inn to collect the weekends mail and then proceeded up Wall Hill, where it was waylaid by these two robbers just after midnight. The Beatsons took between 4000 Pounds and 5000 Pounds of the approximately 14000 Pounds total the mail coach was carrying that night. Their trial took place on March 29th 1802, by Judge Baron Hotham with the jury finding both men guilty and sentencing them to death by hanging. Gallows were erected on the spot where the robbery took place on, April 17th 1802; in the presence of 3000 people, Beatson and his adopted son were hung until dead. This was to be one of the last public hangings to take place in England.

Flip Charts, Full English Breakfast, Internet access, Meeting Facilities.