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!!

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.

What was I supposed to think when I was repeatedly given warning about what The Odd One Out was…read moregoing to be like? I was clearly instructed not to dress up for this place and not to expect much. So I didn't. When you walk in to TOOO it's as if you're stepping back in time and right away I recognised the wallpaper as being the exact same that my Grandfather has at home in NY from the 1960's, so I automatically felt comfortable. I laughed actually. Look around and it's as if not a single thing has been moved since it was put up there for the first time, whether it be pictures, the wood in the fireplace or the old man at the bar. You can nestle up next to one of the fireplaces, which you'll need to on a snowy winter night like when we were there. Get yourself your pints, or as I prefer, the spectacular cider from one of the barrels lined up on the bar. We're talking 7% alcho content people! On cider! Get some crisps for you and your mates and sit back talking about how old and great this pub is. In a town that is hailed as "the oldest recorded town in England" and hosts meeting for the Colchester Historical Enactment Society you surely can't go wrong. A place like this made me feel right at home like my own American dive bar, but in the States we don't have such grand cider served from wooden barrels or a lovely old fella giving out warm Christmas mince pies with joy. This place is top notch. Here are a few vital tips to help you survive a pub that could easily knock you on your arse whether it be by the cider, the step you drunkenly miss, the old man or the bar keep... 1. Don't you dare answer your cell phone here. This is a rule I LOVE like no other. Seriously, watch even pulling it out of your pocket if you know what's good for you. 2. Don't be surprised if you think someone's talking to you and they're not or if they're talking to you and you don't realise. There's no music to get in the way of a conversation, but all that quiet makes it sometimes confusing. 3. Good luck in the ladies room. You could really freeze your butt to the toilet if you're not careful. 4. And, if you're lucky enough to pull while in TOOO, feel confident in knowing that the condom machine is fully stocked. P.S. please don't start coming here and making it THE cool spot in Colchester. I want to find a seat when I return next Christmas, preferably by the fireplace.

The Odd One Out or Oddy as the regulars like to call it, is a cosy pub not far from Colchester…read moreTown-station. Its decoration and the crackling fire make you feel like coming home instead of entering just an ordinary place to have a drink or two. The Oddy is most famous for its delicious ciders from the region and got most recently awarded as the East Anglian Regional Cider Pub of the Year by the Campaign for Real Ale, but you also get a nice range of Scotch and of course ale here. The crowd is mixed from young to old and always friendly just like owner John Parrick, who has a few rules, though, like no swearing and no usage of mobile phones inside the pub. But once you tried one of the aforementioned ciders you want to enjoy it with no disturbance from the outside world anyway. And on top of all that the prices are low and to quote a good friend of mine This is one of the few places where you still get a pint when you order a pint.

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!

Beautiful pub. Fair took me breath away when I walked in. I didn't even go in for a drink, I went…read morein for information! But the sheer age of the place, the heavy dark timbers, the utterly *English* vibe of the place (despite being an Irish pub) made me want to go up to the bartender and say "Barkeep, pour me a pint!" The information I went in for WAS beer related though. You see, for Christmas they has this most excellent window display that really caught my eye. It was a nativity scene. But not just any nativity scene, it was created out of Guinness bottles. The Joseph Guinness had a little shepherd hat on and everything...but the kicker, the real "win" in this whole thing was the baby Jesus. Baby Jesus was being played by a tiny eensy weensy Guinness bottle in a little manger.....it was freakin' AWESOME! So anyhow, I walk in and ask the bartender if I can get a baby Jesus to go. (Mind you, the window display was not up anymore since it was January when I went in to ask this) And she didn't bat an eyelash, she knew just what I was talking about and was super friendly and chatty with me telling me all about how the owner brought the baby Jesus back from Ireland and that they didn't have any to sell unfortunately. But she was one of the nicest people I met in all of Ipswich and I wish now that I had indeed asked for that pint. By the by, I rated this as pricey, but then everything in the UK seemed pretty pricey to me....so I may be biased in my opinion.

Okay for a drink or two on a night out but not nice enough to visit on the regular.read more

The Vibe: The atmosphere is a perfect blend of modern and…read morecozy. The lighting is warm, and the background music is subtle enough to allow for easy conversation--ideal for a quiet dinner. The Food: I ordered the [Dish Name, e.g., Grilled Sea Bass]. It was cooked to perfection--moist on the inside with a crisp skin. The flavors were balanced, though the portion size was a bit smaller than expected for the price. The Service: The staff was attentive without being intrusive. You can tell they take pride in their work, which gives the place an authentic feel rather than a corporate, "robotic" vibe.

Really cool pub with lots of history. Bar staff was very friendly and explained lots about the pub.read more

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.

I wish I could pack this pub up and transport it to London with me…read more Not sure how much of a 'scene' there was in Southend, through trawling the internet we found Hush bar and this place. Approaching we nearly turned around. Slightly out of the main shopping area this place looked like a dodgy local boozer with hanging baskets. Getting closer I spotted the dazzling lights of a disco ball and I knew we were in the right place. This place is awesome. Pool table, check. Clean, check. Good selection of booze, including a non-alcoholic beer for the Mrs, check. Cheesey tunes, check. Fabulous and friendly staff, check. Lesbians, check. I have to especially say to the guy behind the bar when we went who was an utter delight. Letting us know the places to go an be seen. Even remembering my order. Toto, we're not in London anymore.

A great, but really quaint, old English pub in the middle of nowhere. Great service and extremely…read moregood food. Very nice in the summer as the gardens are vast and overlook the countryside. Lao, if you are in the area in November, they have a fantastic firework display (arrive early, it gets packed)

What an amazing traditional pub. Views to die for, massive garden space, ample parking and the…read moremost amazing pub brimming with character. The staff are always friendly, professional and helpful. The food is always amazing quality from rolls at lunch to the best chicken pie in the evening. We turned up without a booking just wanting a summer time drink but when we asked if we could possibly have a table they managed to fit us in. During lockdown we visited several times. Everything was really professional. We felt extremely safe but none of the enjoyable experience was compromised.

Honestly u have to pop in here, theres an app so u ordered from ur table, the funniest staff and…read moreits so cheap. It's just a better version of spoons with a beautiful interior to look at... and huge tvs for watching stuff

Food is called out to you over a mic! How amazing is that?…read more Great nightlife atmosphere and not what I expected in the land of Essex :) An alternative venue, with an upstairs bar area and downstairs bar area both serving food late on a Saturday night! The bar staff are friendly, up for a laugh and there to help. Drinks aren't expensive and there's a cash machine in the venue too. The food is yummy grub pub food - opportunity to get either 10, 20 or even 30 chicken wings!!! I chose the Nachos as per, with chilli, and they were nommylicious. A balcony on the first floor, that leads down to the outside decking area with garden benches and nice pot plants for those summer evenings.