Cool little stop with great coffee and great service. I recommend you stop in if in the area. I may…read moretry the food here on my way back from the coast.

Me and my partner managed to discover this gem of a pub by randomly choosing somewhere close on the…read moresat nav whilst we were away for my 30th birthday. The pub is beautiful and cosy, the landlady was kind and cheerful and the food.....oh god, the food! We both had a starter of pigeon, not something you usually see on a pub menu and it was superbly cooked and tasted amazing. For my main I chose the steak burger with chips and onion rings, the burger was big, flavoursome and juicy and the touch I like is that the tomato ketchup on table was all homemade, not from a bottle! We will certainly come back to this awesome place if we are ever near the area again because it was outstanding!!

If you're looking for a good pub, it doesn't get much better than this…read more Lovingly called simply "The Axe" by locals, this pub is in a different league to most other rural pubs. I'll explain why and try to be concise. The cuisine is exceptional. There's a good selection of quality drinks. The service is excellent. The atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming -- the sort of place where complete strangers tend to strike-up conversation. The location is perfect, overlooking the Village Green, with a big beer garden behind, and a vast playing field behind that. It's a lovely village, nestled in the gently-undulating farming landscape of rural north-east Herts -- no wonder Braughing was recently awarded the prestigious "Village of the Year" accolade. The pub's menu always includes the best of local produce, from locally-reared beef to local pork sausages, alongside popular country pub dishes. (Braughing village is famous for, among other things, the delicious local sausages, and this is a good place to sample them.) Did I mention the pies? A different pie every day it seems, and you won't find better pies than these. I don't make a statement like that lightly.

Great gastro pub. Fab food, atmosphere and really friendly service. Strongly recommended.read more

The Bear has become a good quality gastro pub recently with a nice atmosphere and a good menu and…read moresome great specials. The ambiance is relaxed country pub and the staff are very helpful. There is a reasonable ca park as it gets quite hard to park in the summer. I have visited for lunch and dinner and both were very nicely presented and well cooked. The skate is very tasty and the scampi and Jenga chips are good. The costs can be a little bit higher for lunch but the menu is very similar and therefore for dinner, I thought it was quite reasonable. Peter who used to be at another Billericay restaurant is the restaurant manager and as normal makes sure we get well looked after.

I always visit the Thatchers when visiting my friends down here!…read moreMitch (the landlord) is a bit of a beer buff... Always seems to have a cheeky special beer tucked away to try... And a good array of real ales on tap. The food is always excellent, and the staff are always eager and cheerful! If you get bored with the company you're with there's even a full cinema at the back ... I jest not! If there's not a film showing you can always talk to Dillon the resident Black Lab !

This place is incredible!!!! Where do I even start??? The location is just stunning! You're…read moresurrounded by the most amazing views. All of the food is absolutely incredible.. Especially the yummy homemade cakes and the white hot chocolate!!! (The cakes are made fresh daily)! The breakfasts are just amazing too! The afternoon teas are delicious as well, I've had quite a few now.. Usually our children come with us as well and it's never an issue at all!! The staff are so so lovely here! They're so attentive, patient and beyond friendly! I just can't fault this place. If you're ever near here or live local you definitely should stop by! You won't regret it. If I could give 10* then best believe I would! I go here all the time and absolutely love it xxxx

We just moved to the area and whilst on a drive to Cambridge saw this place and thought we'd give…read moreit a go. It has traditional opening hours and even though is part of a brewery chain, still feels locally run and independent. The draw for us with the Sunday Carvery which didn't disappoint. We booked as we were not sure how busy they got and was glad we did. They weren't packed but were busy enough. I think larger groups should book in advance. The standard menu has a good variety and those who ordered from it enjoyed what they had. The roast was a selection of Beef or Turkey and both were cooked very well. There was the usual selection of vegetables on offer which meant you could fill your plate and fill up quite quickly! We managed to wolf down our roast dinner very quickly and managed room for traditional desserts such as Lemon Meringue and Spotted Dick. The service was very friendly and the cost was very good too for the standard of food available. My only criticism is that the food was not pipping hot. I know that's difficult with carvery as everything sits around under heat lamps but maybe they could make the food just a shade hotter. It's a minor criticism though as we had a lovely lunch. A nice pub with a friendly atmosphere. Nice to visit if you're in the area.

Good service good food good portions clean and decorated very well nothing more to addread more

Where do I start? The pub is on the main through road of Gosfield so can't be missed easily. Plenty…read moreof parking space, if one of you is driving. Unlike many pubs today, which thrive to survive using the the restaurant side, this pub has two bars as well as the restaurant. So, if you want just a pint then there is plenty of seating room. Wood beamed ceiling and inglenook fireplace, nice for those colder nights in winter. We were there to celebrate a 30th birthday and on arriving, early, we were welcomed by the bar staff with warm cheery smiles (a pleasant surprise these days). A table for the eight of us was already laid and we decorated it a little. Then down to a few drinks while awaiting the other guests. Nice selection of real ales and, I noticed, a fantastic selection of worldwide whiskies (although my favourite, Laphroaig, was absent). Once seated we perused the fantastic menu. I guarantee that there would be something on it that anyone would choose, even veggies. My problem was that there was so much choice and I wanted to try everything. I started with Cromer crab and avocado with lime dressing. Aberdeen Angus rump steak with a homemade peppercorn dressing (none of the usual bottled sauce), Portabello mushroom and really CHUNKY chips Wow delicious, both courses. Finally, cheese and biscuits. Three unusual local cheeses, with loads of crackers, celery, apple wedges, butter and a pot of home made chutney. A meal in itself. Going on the sounds from our friends and the empty plates around the table I can only assume that the other meals were as delicious as mine. Nice touch for a pub. Cream teas in the afternoon, unusual. Anyway, thanks to all you guys and gals behind the bar and in the kitchen for a wonderful evening. You all have done the English pub/restaurant trade PROUD. We will see you again.

We came across The Angel by accident originally but were so impressed that we have been back many…read moretimes since. As it is not possible to book in advance i have often found it a good idea to try and arrive early or with time to spare before you wish to eat. As soon as you arrive you cant help but notice the welcoming atmophere of the place, which is i guess what brought us back after the first visit. The choice of food is enough to give you a headache narrowing down what you are going to order now and what you will leave and have next time! I have not anything but totally satisfied with the food to date and hope this continues for some time....

Beautiful interior with multiple rooms to choose from. Food is very good and the service friendly…read more Had a very good time.

A real discovery, 14th century building with friendly staff. Good, uncomplicated, pub fayre…read more Generous portions and for the area, good value.

A great gastro pub on the Suffolk/ Essex borders in the lovely little village of Nayland…read more The pub is very unusual in that it grows most of its own vegetables aswell as rears it's own meat, so those worried about their food miles can eat here with a clear conscience. There is a seperate restaurant upstairs serving great comfort food, the steak with green beans and lardons and the beef and onion pudding are highly reccomended, added to that some locally produced real ale, really friendly staff, and open fires, make for a cosy night in a country pub. Be warned though, don't be fooled by the pub's quiet country location, you'll need to book for the restaurant at weekends. If you are in the area it is well worth a visit

I wonder if the previous poster has even been to The Anchor Inn or is indeed the owner of the Lion…read morein Leavenheath or the Crown in Stoke by Nayland. I have been going to The anchor for about 2 years since moving to Colchester, the food is amazing and the staff are very friendly, I prob go maybe once a month or so usually on a Sunday, which is so busy i always book( after being caught out one Sunday!) To say there were 4 people in there! I think the fewest I have ever seen is about 40! The waiting staff are superb always running about with the food like a ants nest, you usually have Becky or Rachael behind the bar both of whom are lovely and the new manager Dave never stops moving. Sunday Roasts are I think £9.95 and they come overlapping the plate and its not your usual Sunday offering there is always something random like Boar Pigeon or Pheasant. I had not been for a couple of months and in my absence the conservatory had been redecorated and had new tables and chairs and the bar had been repainted, although the tables in the bar could do with replacing as a couple are a bit rickety!