please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The second of four consecutive pubs we wanted to visit but found closed (the Green Man in Gosfield was closed for renovation also). If you're looking for a local recommendation, try the King's Head in Gosfield. It's not listed on beerintheevening, and I've lost patience in trying to get new pubs added! But it was a friendly locals pub that had 2 real ales - TT Landlord and Adnams Bitter and also had what looked to be a very interesting menu.
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So the Cock joins the litany of perfectly acceptable pubs which someone thought they could 'improve'... before it shuts down 12 months later.
And I go out in Bow a fair bit - it would be good to know where 'DavidKnockton' spends his time, so I can avoid going there.
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Closed down as of 13/01/08. Looks like Mr Craze has gone bust sadly.
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Last night, Tuesday 17th July, my wife and I spent two and a half hours of fantastic food and service at the Cock Inn at Beazley End.
Our initial perception was for it to be decent gastro pub food, classics with an Italian twist but the reality far surpassed our expectations.
It is fairly modest inside, decorated in the usual traditional pub furnishings, giving it an established, warm and friendly feel to it. We were welcomed as soon as we arrived and the staff were all very well presented, very pleasant and our waitress, in particular, was very knowledgeable.
I have to say that I have never reviewed a restaurant before but I was so overwhelmed by the experience I really wanted to say how well Aaron Craze has done with this pub.
Now, on to the food!
My wife and I normally partake in a Bombay Sapphire G & T as an aperitif but the lure of Peroni on draft was too much for me. And so starts our Italian adventure.
The Prosecco Bellini at the top of the menu was a good touch and it was a very quick sale once we saw it.
We started with the Insalata Salumi Misti, excellent quality cured meats drizzled in the sweetest tasting olive oil I have ever experienced. I love Italy and I love authentic Italian cuisine but I have never tasted anything that complimented the meat so incredibly well. I had the Carpaccio which was also superb.
The Tagliarini Zucchini was, again, awesome and the mint really gave it a refreshing taste. I couldn�t resist the Papardelle Ragu with Salt Marsh Lamb. I had recently heard that Lamb raised on the salt marshes give it an amazing flavour�and it does! The pasta on both dishes was absolutely fantastic.
The Agnello con Spinachi was good until my wife realised she didn�t like baked berlottie beans but my Rombo con al forno was delicious. My only one criticism was that there were three lemon thyme stalks on my plate but now I�m just being picky!
We finished it all off with some deserts and a desert wine, all of which were wonderful. We are not normally big eaters who try every course available but, from that very first taste of that Carpaccio, I knew our credit card was in for some serious mid week damage!
The time flew and we enjoyed every minute of it. Living in Bow, East London, it was only an hours drive after work and for a spontaneous night out it ticked every box for us. It was a bit tricky to find but in some way that added to the romance of the evening but my advice to them would be�.get a website with a very detailed map and directions because we will be back again soon!
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Very disapointing. Poor beer choice, overpriced average food, poor service. Never again!
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My first visit to the pub - i had a brilliant meal.. i had a "bad experience" on the second occasion - and not wanting to ruin my friends' meal, i emailed them when i got home - and was very disappointed not to have at least had a reply ......
sadly they've lost me as a customer..
what a shame
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I have visited the cock twice now within 2 weeks, i went with my friend and then again with my husband, My first trip was very nice and we throughly enjoyed ourselves food was nice alittle fancy maybe for a pub. The second time we were very disapointed with our main courses, my husband had duck breast he was asked if he wanted it medium he said yes and it came out cooked right thru but that was once you had got thru the fat to the tiny little piece of meat at the end!!! both our plates where stacked with leafy salad and we had to pay extra for potatoes on top of a very expensive main course the duck was a tiny little piece with a leaf salad and a few pomegranite seeds my 2 year old eats more in a meal, I am sorry and I like the idea of the whole 'Graduate' thing, but unfortunatly we wont be going back. I wish them all the very best and do hope it improves over time thru receiving feedback.
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We went there to celebrate my daughters birthday at her request. To be honest, if it wasn't for the television connection they'd go bust in a month. Small portions, lazy service and a complacent attitude. avoid.
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I visited this pub and stayed overnight during my first trip to England in 1976. The landlord at the time was in the Guinness Book of Records as having the longest mustache. Wish I could recall his name. His daughter and husband toured Ontario, Canada in a double-decker bus a couple years earlier and had passed through my home at the time, Burlington. They gathered quite a collection of police patches on their trip!
Enjoyed the ambiance. Will have to get back and see the changes! Cheers.
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I used to be the Landlord of The Cock at Beazley End Along with my wife Margaret. We went into the Pub in 1980 and left in 1987. I have not had a chance to visited the Cock yet, but I would like to.
I have in my possesion some original deed's hand written dating back to the 1700's also other documents. I might even get round to copying/typing them. I also have a photo dating about 1900.
Cheers! Len..
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Biggles
That is what is good about different opinions! - I like the new look and still that extra finish to The Cock has to be completed by Aaron.
If we all knocked every pub/restaurant that has been brought up to date and made to look much brighter and cleaner, we would have no were left hardly to go for a drink or meal.
I do agree with you about plastic looking woodwork to make things look old! and premises that keep the original construction/decor are great, but some insides of building just have to be changed and "The Cock" for me was one - it had definitely had its day!
J
jaybs - 22 Feb 2007 12:53 |
I did see some episodes of this 'soap' and was horrified by what had been done to the inside of an old pub.
What were presumably once wall timbers (quite possibly from other buildings, I don't know) now just form the skeleton of missing walls, they are nothing more than sticks dotted about the interior.
Of course, for all I know that may have been done under previous ownership but it's a pity it's been done in the pursuance of the 'quaint' while 'opening up' the interior. It looks dreadful.
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As far as I am concerned it is a Pub/Restaurant, there are no rules saying you have to eat a meal?
Thanks "anonymous" for the good and respectful discussion!
J
jaybs - 22 Feb 2007 06:44 |
is the cock a pub or a restaurant?
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John: The review in the Telegraph was essentially a restaurant review. Its talks predominently about the food, which is kind of the point I'm making.
The focus in the cock is on the 'gastro', not the pub. The Cock has a "front-of-house manager" and a "ma�tre d" none whom should appear in a pub. I understand your points and I'm all for renovating pubs, but this really isn't much of a pub anymore.
anonymous - 19 Feb 2007 22:48 |
Thanks for your reply "anonymous" - no "roasted quail" not for me - this is a thread though just about "The Cock"
Don't know if you may have read it but Saturday's "Daily Telegraph" did give Aaron and The Cock a good review, yes the reviewer made some constructive points, but he and his family eat roast lamb and roast beef and praised it very highly. The article said the restaurant was fully booked for weekend lunch. Only half of the pub seating has now been fully refurbished, but with the loan? from Fifteen (8% Int??) Aaron can run before he walks.
The review did make a point about the colour of the outside of the building, which I agree with, but we all have different tastes.
I do know the licence trade, my older brother worked for a brewery, my best friend's dad had a real street corner pub and moved to the country. he sent us to look at this country pub and when we walked in, everyone stopped drinking and talking, it was a lovely place little more quaint than The Cock, when m friends dad took it over regulars drifted away, so many of us do not like change! but soon those regulars were back and got to know and love us and it became an amazing family country inn, smart but keeping its real local character.
Regards John
jaybs - 19 Feb 2007 07:24 |
My point with the quail remark, was to say that this is a *pub* review website but more and more pubs here aren't pubs, but actually restaurants located in old pub buildings, with reviewers simply talking about the food. It wasn't specifically aimed at any specific place.
If you understood the licence trade then you would know a pub doesn't have to be either run-down or failing for it to be closed or removated.
Incidentally, I rather like roasted quail - a classic English dish - I don't think its a joke.
anonymous - 16 Feb 2007 01:11 |
The Cock Inn is just what Braintree needed! Aaron Craze has done a tremendous job in both the conversion and in the excellent quality of food produced and featured on the menu, I have found both Aaron and his staff to be fully receptive of menu suggestions and at this stage Aaron is only still settling on.
Negative posts, I note "anonymous" critics and posters complaining about the loss of a community pub, no longer are such big venues viable with such a small clientele, if it highly successful it would have not been so run down looking and for sale.
To even suggest "roasted quail" will feature in the future is nothing but a joke, it is good food being cooked by an up and coming English chef working hard to succeed, why we Brits love to knock people down who try! I will never know, accept times change.
Check "The Cock" and it's food out, you will not regret it!
John
jaybs - 15 Feb 2007 14:07 |
Something which occured to me about places of this ilk, notwithstanding Jamie Oliver's conversion into a restaurant. "Why"?
Why turn an apparently nice pub into something exclusive and definately non-pubby? Are there not enough empty commerical properties to convert without the loss of *another* community pub. Sad.
Beer in the evening? Give it a few years it'll be "Roasted quail in the evening".
anonymous - 12 Feb 2007 00:16 |
The meal was excellent and arrived at the table very quickly. Service was prompt, friendly and very efficient - I would say a lot of thought has gone into it the training of the waiting staff. For the standard of service and food, it was very good value.
Only fault I would find was the size of tables (very small, considering how 'busy' they were with flowers, glasses, cutlery, plates etc), and how close together the tables were. I've sat further away from people at the same table in most restarants, than I'd have had to do here. Not a problem on a quiet evening like last night, but if we'd had to sit next to an occupied table, it would have detracted from the pleasure of the meal considerably. Will be back though - the food really was great.
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Wonderful pub. The menu was fantastic, although we didn't eat this time, we will be back soon! Woodfordes Wherry on tap, which was perfectly chilled and served. Great atmosphere, and very friendly staff. Can't wait to return.
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A friendly country pub with excellent ales and a varied menu. The restaurant is pleasantly decorated and you are sure of a warm welcome.
Philip - 3 Jun 2005 17:11 |
A Country Pub which does superb food and beer with a warm welcome.
House beer is Woodfordes Wherry and two guests, typically from Exmoor, Ringwood or Archers. Restaurant does get busy, so best to book. There is also a Spacious Beer Garden
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