Chequers Inn, Darlington

Community Food Partnership Opportunity – The Chequers Inn, Dalton‑on‑Tees, Near Darlington
An exciting opportunity to take on a recently refurbished, food‑led community inn with a strong mix of wet, food and letting room income, located in a beautiful rural village close to Darlington.

The Chequers Inn sits at the heart of Dalton‑on‑Tees, a popular village setting with strong local support and excellent connectivity via the A1 and Scotch Corner. The business also benefits from its close proximity to Croft Motor Racing Circuit, which hosts regular race meetings and events, supporting both food and accommodation trade throughout the year.

The Pub

Following a full internal and external refurbishment, The Chequers Inn presents a smart, welcoming environment with facilities that support a well‑rounded hospitality offer:

Large dining room and bar area served from a central bar
Approximately 50–60 dining covers, well suited to a strong food offer
Rear beer garden, plus additional seating to the front of the pub
Customer car park
5 en‑suite letting rooms, all trading well with consistently good occupancy

The layout lends itself to both relaxed dining and casual drinks, while the rooms add an important, reliable additional income stream.

The Trade

This is an established and growing business, with solid foundations following its recent conversion to partnership:

Currently trading between £7,000–£8,000 per week
Sales split of approximately 30% wet / 50% food / 20% rooms
Strong weekend trade, particularly around Sunday lunch
Regular accommodation demand driven by road links, Darlington, and Croft Circuit events

There is clear scope to continue building on this performance through consistency, food quality and strong guest experience.

The Opportunity

This Community Food Partnership offers flexibility and strong earning potential, particularly for partners who enjoy being hands‑on in their business.

The opportunity would suit:

Operators who are passionate about food and hospitality
Those confident leading a food offer, either personally or through a small team
Partners who value strong community ties alongside destination trade
Individuals or couples looking to benefit from diversified income, with food, drink and rooms all contributing

Being able to cook within the business can provide clear personal and financial rewards, but support structures are also in place to help partners deliver a successful food operation.

The Area

Dalton‑on‑Tees is a picturesque rural village set on the banks of the River Tees, offering countryside living while remaining close to major transport links and employment centres. Darlington is only a short drive away, providing access to rail links, shopping and amenities.

Nearby Croft Motor Racing Circuit is a major regional attraction, hosting events throughout the season and driving regular demand for food, drink and accommodation, particularly at weekends.

Why Choose The Chequers Inn?

• Recently refurbished inside and out
• Strong food‑led community business
• 5 letting rooms providing valuable additional income
• Healthy wet, dry and rooms sales mix
• A well‑invested site with clear opportunity to grow

What’s in it for you?


26% share of weekly sales (excluding VAT) plus a guaranteed annual retained sum of £35K (released weekly)
Incentive bonuses based on business performance and standard audits.
Low ingoing costs, starting with just a £5,000 deposit and £360 legal cost.
Accommodation included with most bills covered, except the council tax & TV Licence

As part of our application process, we use Lily, an AI-powered interviewing assistant to support the early stages of screening. Lily helps us move quickly, keep things flexible for you, and create a more consistent candidate experience, but one thing you should know – all hiring decisions are still made by our people.