Cool Place of the Day: The Chequers, Bath

Every day, a new place to discover or explore from coolplaces.co.uk

Tomorrow marks the start of the annual Jane Austen Festival in – where else? – Bath, and we reckon it’s a great time to visit the city. The centre turns itself over to all things Austen, with readings of the novels, dancing workshops, walking tours of Austen-related sights and performances of Pride & Prejudice: The Musical.

If you do come, you’re going to be busy, so we recommend you rest up at one of our favourite Bath hostelries, and one which would have been around in Austen’s day – The Chequers. Tucked a few streets behind the Royal Crescent, this place has been going since 1776 and is still going strong, serving up a good selection of local ales and decent grub too – a few years back it won the Bath Life ‘Gastro Pub of the Year’ award: no mean feat in a city not short on such establishments.

The food is well thought-out, with a chalkboard menu that changes regularly, reflecting what's good locally and seasonally. But expect tastebud treats such as salt and pepper squid, rabbit several ways with girolles and wild garlic gnocchi and hake with clams and chorizo – plus they also serve a seven-course tasting menu for those who can’t decide. Sunday lunches get busy (booking is advised) and feature roasts – all sourced from local farms – while veggies can feast on hazelnut, mushroom and apricot roast with Yorkshires. Yum.

Cool Places is a website from the creators of Rough Guides and Cool Camping, suggesting the best places to stay, eat, drink and shop in Britain (coolplaces.co.uk)