Essex pub guide - information about pubs and bars in Essex # beerintheevening.com

Essex pub and bar guide

Here's a guide to the pubs and bars of Essex - good or bad, we bring you the most talked about venues and the places you have to visit at least once. We've included a few user reviews, to give you an idea of what to expect when you get there. Or you can follow the links to see full details and all reviews for each pub.

The Travellers Friend, Woodford Green

Address: 496-498, High Road, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 0PN [map]
Phone: 020 8504 2435
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Nearest tube stations: Woodford (0.7 miles), Roding Valley (0.9 miles)

Nearest train stations: Highams Park (1.3 miles), Chingford (1.5 miles), Wood Street (2.5 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

I visited this pub for the first time and I think it's only fair to say I was appaled. When walking in I understood the regulars staring but the bar staff looked straight through you, with just a glare and a stroppy face. Not only was the land lady the most miserable I have ever come accross in my life. Waiting almost ten minutes to get her attention, I asked if she would mind changing a drink as the lemonade was flat, she began moaning about how the drink is fine and if i didn't like it then to leave it. In which I did. Customer service was appaling, drink was awful. I wouldn't advise anybody to go there.

15 May 2008 15:27

well what can I say about the staff. They are rude, arrogant, will serve their favorites first and totally blank you. The beer is great but the staff should be sacked especially the stroppy landlady and her bully of a daughter

15 May 2008 14:55

Have not visited this pub since before Christmas I think. Popped in the other day and it was full of the regular crowd of people who seem to have their head up their own backsides and will not let you near the bar to get a drink. Was not greeted yet again by any of the staff who did their usual blank stare as you enter. Beer was in great condition though which made up for having to share the bar area with a bunch of red faced misfits alot of who were worse for wear.

20 Apr 2008 15:32

The Stockwell Arms, Colchester

Address: 18 West Stockwell Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1HN [map]
Phone: 01206 575560
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Nearest train stations: Colchester Town (0.4 miles), Colchester (0.8 miles), Hythe (1.3 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

fair enough. point taken. sausage night here we come.................!

6 Aug 2008 12:49

""but im sure the new owners will find out for themselfs soon enough, but the pubs definately back on track."" ...

*nods* some of your comments may be true 'iknowbest', however the stockwell has had a second chance so perhaps its previous regulars should be given the same chance.. fear not the pub is much bigger than any one person!...

We have a whole raft of new features incoming.. the latest is the return of the sausage night , now this is not to be missed!! i assure you.

Steve

4 Jul 2008 18:36

after living in the dutch quarter for 5 years and spending a lot of time in the stockwell,i wasnt surprised it closed down. the beer was awfull(i had bottled beer), and in the end no-one went there, including myself, as old brian was clearly losing his marbles. I have since moved from the area compltetely and was happy to hear it had re-opened.i visited recently and it looks fantastic. the beers are soooo much better and the dutch quarter now has its pub back.was slightly saddened some OLD faces were back like dave whyte, as they will only put people off in the long run, but im sure the new owners will find out for themself soon enough, but the pubs definately back on track.

30 Jun 2008 10:07

The British Grenadier, Colchester

Address: 67 Military Road, Colchester, Essex, CO1 2AP [map]
Phone: 01206 500933
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Nearest train stations: Colchester Town (0.5 miles), Hythe (0.8 miles), Colchester (1.7 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

So Adnams want to focus on food and wine now? What a surprise. I've seen some of Adnam's refurbished pubs around Essex and they are a depressing sight to behold - clinical, formulaic wannabe All Bar Ones.

It is a shame, as 'normal' Adnams pubs are some of the best around. I wish the Grenadier all the best.

1 Jun 2008 14:34

Penultimate stop on Saturday’s crawl so things are a bit hazy by now. I can just make out that 4 handpumps offered Adnams Bitter, Broadside, Oyster Stout, & Mauldons Cuckoo. There was a dartboard with its own space, ie not crowded by tables, & I think we endangered the local populace by having a couple of games of ‘tactics’, sorry folks. Quiet, so we got a chance to briefly discuss the sad news of the Adnams disposal with the friendly landlord/lady, I wish them and the British Grenadier all good fortune for the future.

9 Mar 2008 18:21

I am sure this will probably get removed but check out the Colchester Evening Gazette Video taken in the pub after their latest award - Colchester CAMRA's Pub of the Year 2008.

Add usual codings in front of
gazette-news.co.uk/video/index.var.18872.0.0.php

24 Feb 2008 12:29

King Harold, Harold Wood

Address: 51 Station Road, Harold Wood, Essex, RM3 0BS [map]
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Nearest train stations: Harold Wood (0.1 miles), Gidea Park (1.5 miles), Emerson Park (1.9 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

Have You Heard

The king Harold cant take a joke!

As you drink in the pub, you know who writes this.

We are not slagging off the pub, just having fun.

Get back to the piss taking.

Deano last seen floating out to sea at Leigh on Sea.

Joe the Perv seen eating in the public bar..Niiiiiiice

Thats it for this week Boys & Girls

16 May 2008 15:56

Visited Harold Wood last week so I popped into the Harold for a couple and it was perfectly decent. It's probably five years since I last had a pint there and the intervening years have been very kind. That's not to say it's anything more than average but in comparison to the toilet it was it's a million times better. I was so glad to see the vile turds who used to congregate around the lounge bar have been flushed away, let's hope they're gone for good.

21 Apr 2008 23:20

Well....having read the previous review by Kingmax, it's becoming a little clearer, if the Landlord sets low standards of personal behaviour, this will be taken as policy and supported with zeal by yobs.

Advice, if you believe Kingmax's assessment to be correct, abandon the place until change occurs naturally.

On the other hand, if you disagree with Kingmax's review..........what can I say apart from sit back and wait for the pub to close ?

17 Apr 2008 09:16

The Swan, Little Totham

Address: School Rd, Little Totham, Maldon, Essex, CM9 8LB [map]
Phone: 01621 892689
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Reviews by BITE users:

My experience of the Swan has been of excellent beer, including last weekend. Great service as always, a gem of a place.

27 Jul 2008 12:23

I understand the pub is up for sale due to the bad health of Johns wife and that Johns son is not interested in taking over which is a shame.
I would like to pay tribute to both John and Val for making the Swan a great real ale venue over the last 10 years.

I hope that who ever takes over keeps it the same as it is now for being one of the best real ale pubs in Essex.

27 Jul 2008 11:10

Noticed the recent poor review - BITE is all about honest views reflecting both our different preferences and experiences (a pub that only serves decent beer at busy weekends is not much use). I need to revisit the Swan; on my visit a couple of years back the quality was exceptional, particularly the (sorry) Greene King IPA. It's not as characterful as some, being more traditional than eccentric, but its beer quality that counts.

23 Jul 2008 20:01

The Blue Boar, Maldon

Address: Silver St, Maldon, Essex, CM9 4QE [map]
Phone: 01621 855888
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Reviews by BITE users:

Lovely pub, nice seating area outside. Good range of Farmers Ales which were very good but still reckon the Mighty Oak beers of Maldon are nicer.

27 Jul 2008 12:35

I visited on a week night and was very impressed with the beer and the atmosphere, so much so that i took friends back there one weekend. Was dissapointed to find that the weekend drinkers looked like they were on drugs. Would suggest a week night visit.

8 Jul 2008 21:17

Visited for the first time on Sunday and what a wonderful place to visit.

Tried one of their Farmers beers at 5% and what a great beer one of the best I've ever tried' they also had Pucks Folly and Nelsons Blood but I stuck with the high gravity Farmers.

Great oak beams in the Tap room with stuffed animals in the rafters.. a unique place..

I will return.

16 Jun 2008 10:41

The Fat Cat, Colchester

Address: 65, Butt Rd, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3BZ [map]
Phone: 01206 577990
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Nearest train stations: Colchester Town (0.5 miles), Colchester (1.1 miles), Hythe (1.5 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

Fat Cat - Good Job! great selection of beers, friendly atmosphere, good live music and late license, a pub to be cherished and well used me thinks. A v impressed customer, will be back.

7 May 2008 23:59

Having learned of it's existence I was excited by the prospect of a visit to The Fat Cat. Initial impressions were favourable with an excellent selection of beers on offer and friendly staff. However the place feels extremely new and lacks a community feel in my view. Strangely there were very few male patrons when I visited.

14 Apr 2008 15:53

Bright lightwood front bar above which a blackboard showed available ales - five of six handpumps Sat pm, and seven of the originally listed eleven from the tap room; I don’t have all details but when the choice is reduced and still stretches to 12 beers, it’s gotta be good. I know they had Brewers Gold & Hophead and, I agree with GDS, the couple of FatCat beers I tried were really tasty too. A plain looking pub, too plain according to my fellow crawlers, but I didn’t mind the simplicity of the whiteboarded walls & ceilings in the front, contrasting with the green wall housing the windows to the tap room stills, and there was a small plasma showing the rugby above a decorative fireplace. Around the bar to the right is a more shadowy section with some serious beer tasting going on, beyond this a small tiled area leading to impressively spotless loos, and a tiny outside corridor for smokers. Come on FatCat, we need you to open an outlet in SE London.

9 Mar 2008 18:07

Golden Lion, Rochford

Address: 35 North Street, Rochford, Essex, SS4 1AB [map]
Phone: 01702 545487
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Nearest train stations: Rochford (0.2 miles), Prittlewell (2.5 miles), Hockley (2.7 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

Traditional free house pub dating back to the 16th Century. Lovely stained glass windows at the front of the pub. Seven hand pumps were available, 4 regulars; Crouch Vale Brewers Gold, Adnams Bitter, Greene King Abbott and Weston’s Scrumpy. The 3 others on Saturday were Brains SA Gold, Crouch Vale Anchor St Porter and Skinners Betty Stoggs. The beer was in good form and not bad at £2.60 for the Anchor St Porter. An ever changing dark beer is always available here. Former guest pump clips cover the ceiling area. This is a multi award winning CAMRA pub over the last 20 years. A TV was present but was not switched on although I understand big sporting events are shown. A juke box was also available in the pub. Pub snacks including pork pies, cheese rolls and burgers were available for reasonable prices. Only criticism from me was the less than clean gents toilets. One of my mates who smoke said that that the rear paved and covered area was good.

20 May 2008 12:40

cracking pub was visting my brother who has moved from se london to rochford and paid a vist on a saturday afternoon, plenty of reals ales on tap great service tv on with the sound on(not to loud )please note wetherspoons as i cant lip read

12 Feb 2008 18:52

A belated thank-you to the staff who were so superb on Rugby World Cup Final night.

A brilliant venue. Well done again.

10 Nov 2007 14:24

The Viper, Mill Green

Address: The Common, Mill Green Road, Mill Green, Ingatestone, Essex, CM4 0PT [map]
Phone: 01277 352010
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Nearest train station: Ingatestone (1.9 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

Probably the best real ale pub in the whole of Essex situated in the middle of a forest you need a car to get there.
Its worth visiting if your within a 20 mile radius its thats great.

21 Mar 2008 11:47

Visited on New Years Day in the evening, the only pub open in the immediate are. Been here many times but never posted before. Great location, fantastic beer, food is great too (except not available on this visit). The place is 10/10....always.

18 Jan 2008 23:16

Fine traditional unspoilt country pub, approx 2 miles from Ingatestone Station. The Mild was in fine form. Supports local micros and does a reasonable range of food at fair prices.

Worth seeking out if in the area

19 Dec 2007 13:37

The Thatchers Arms, Mount Bures

Address: Hall Road, Mount Bures, Essex, CO8 5AT [map]
Phone: 01787 227 460
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Nearest train stations: Bures (1.4 miles), Chappel & Wakes Colne (2.1 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

A welcome return to The Thatchers Arms again today. Excellent ales as usual. Good to hear that they ask which type of glass you like your ale served in (straight or handled).
Tried the 'Roast Rib of 28 Day Hung Local Beef with Yorkshire Pudding, Real Gravy,
Roast Potatoes & Fresh Seasonal Vegetables'.
Very helpful and friendly staff served throughout the meal and even offered to deliver fresh drinks to the table. Whilst not the cheapest sunday lunch around a very nice meal and fantastic service.

7 Jan 2008 00:47

Excellent beer, super food, all fresh, cooked on the premises and sourced locally and really friendly staff. What more could you ask? Oh yes, and the dog is the best behaved you will meet this side of Ipswich!

16 Dec 2007 17:19

Wonderful pub that you must visit.
The young couple that run this free house have only been there just over a year and already they are on the short list for 'local pub of the year' in their area.
Three real ales from local breweries are available and ALL were in ace condition. They also had Meantime Stout available on draught (electric pull as served by the brewery itself) pure nectar.
The food was also very good and they use as many local ingredients as they can. I met the egg supplier in the bar so know that it is fact. Sausage and Mash plus a wonderful pud to finish. Can't get much better than this.
Support the true local pub and visit this one as soon as you can. The true counrty pub is under threat so use them while you still can.
Well done the two of you, keep up the good work.

1 Dec 2007 09:54

The Queens Head Inn, Harlow

Address: 26, Churchgate St, Harlow, Essex, CM17 0JT [map]
Phone: 01279 427266
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Nearest train stations: Harlow Mill (1 mile), Sawbridgeworth (2.4 miles), Harlow Town (2.5 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

Jump on the number 7 bus from Harlow Town and 14mins later you arrive outside this lovely old pub set in a picturesque village street with a variety of aged and weatherboarded buildings. The bar has low, original heavy beams and timbered ceiling & walls, comfortable fabric settles below the windows and darkwood tables & chairs. A handful of locals were already chatting on the barstools when we arrived at 12:05, the service was friendly and the beers good. Brewers Gold (£2.90), Websters Wonderful Wallop (aka Nethergate IPA) £2.50, also Adnams Bitter & Broadside. Smaller room to left of entrance is similarly timbered, with a large working brick fireplace, 3 tables with seating for 12-15, french window to rear carpark, decorative old brass cash register, a serving hatch from the bar, and a dartboard (although tables would need moving to use), also a local version of the Paul Whitehouse character Rowley Birkin qc, babbling on incoherently, I suspect he was already ver ver drunk.

20 Apr 2008 09:29

I was off drinking beer when I visited, but the range of wines were great. The food, although standard pub grub, was excellent and the welcome warm. And we could set up a tab which I'm sure was totted up wrong at the end of the night (in our favour!). The only downside was that I couldn't find the gent's toilet door which was outside and had to hang on till closing time. That could have been down to the vodka though...

11 Jan 2008 19:26

Perfect, perfect olde worlde pub: ancient outside and in, old beams, fireplaces, etc, etc. Beautiful churchside location too in a gorgeous street. Who would have thought Harlow could be so idyllic?

28 Oct 2007 15:04

The Three Colts, Buckhurst Hill

Address: 54 Princes Road, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, IG9 5EE [map]
Phone: 020 8506 0335
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Nearest tube stations: Buckhurst Hill (0.2 miles), Roding Valley (0.5 miles)

Nearest train stations: Chingford (1.7 miles), Highams Park (2.4 miles), Wood Street (3.5 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

Great pub on a Friday night. Very good atmosphere, nicely busy with very capable and polite staff. Brilliant selection of music on the jukebox. Highly recommended.

16 Apr 2008 19:34

Tried to visit yesterday (Monday) lunchtime but it was closed (not permanently).

18 Mar 2008 13:06

Great pub - fantastic atmosphere - especially on Fridays - great bar staff - good pub quiz on Sunday - great clientele - all in all a real local gem.

29 Oct 2007 16:19

The Station Arms, Southminster

Address: 39, Station Rd, Southminster, Essex, CM0 7EW [map]
Phone: 01621 772225
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Nearest train stations: Southminster (0.1 miles), Burnham-on-crouch (2.3 miles), Althorne (3.8 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

Popped in for a couple and was happy to get some live music from a kiwi chap who coping well with the ribbing he was getting from the locals. Good ale.

27 Jul 2008 14:45

{Rating Unchanged} ~ Still as good as ever and the locals and staff VERY friendly indeed. Beer spot on, Westons cider on draught too. Shame I have to wait another whole year before my next visit. Ah well, all good things come to those who wait.

20 Jun 2008 18:24

A traditional pub that does have a feel of being at a rail station about it. A number of train pictures are displayed in the pub. The pub has six hand pumps although only five were in use. Mighty Oak Oscar Wilde, Dark Star Hophead, Adnams Bitter, Tring Ridgeway and Westons Scrumpy. The beer was reasonably priced as well at £2.50 for Oscar Wilde. There is an outside paved and seating area that you can see when walking along the corridor to the toilet.

19 May 2008 12:06

The White Hart, Grays

Address: King's Walk, Grays, Essex, RM17 6HR [map]
Phone: 01375 373319
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Nearest train stations: Grays (0.2 miles), East Tilbury (1.6 miles), Tilbury Town (1.7 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

Best pub in Grays. Great ales and beers, good atmosphere, great staff, great Landlord/Landlady, no chavs, Highly recomended!!!!!!

11 Jun 2008 18:45

A friendly traditional pub in Grays. Friendly welcoming landlord looked after us during our stay. Four hand pumped ales were available Crouch Vale Brewers Gold, Crouch Best, Anchor St Porter & Sharp's Doom Bar. I understand that the Brewers Gold and Doom bar are regulars. An ever changing dark beer is always available here. Many Doom Bar and own branded White Hart glasses. Quite an emphasis on sport in this pub with the two TV's in the main bar showing a Setanta Scottish Premier League game. The TV in the back room was showing the League Two play off game. There is even another TV above the door to the rear which I guess they use in better weather. A pool table was also available towards the rear of the pub. Reasonably priced ale at £2.40 a pint.

19 May 2008 18:15

Nice pub in the traditional manner, better than most in this area

24 Mar 2008 23:52

The Hoop, Stock

Address: 21 High Street, Stock, Ingatestone, Essex, CM4 9BD [map]
Phone: 01277 841994
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Nearest train stations: Billericay (2.9 miles), Ingatestone (2.9 miles)

Reviews by BITE users:

Discovered this pub on a walk from nearby Ingatestone. Just had a pint then, and was impressed by the selection of bitters. Took a few friends for lunch at the weekend; the food is very good quality and reasonably priced, and the changing range of beers exceptional. It's a great building and we got a nice welcome, despite out-of-towners. It's well worth a big detour for.

24 Jul 2008 18:12

Lovely village pub. Good ale. Friendly welcome. Nice atmosphere.

7 Feb 2008 16:11

Friendly landlady ensures a warm welcome for all.Good range of ales with lots of interesting guests plus house beer brewed at Brentwood Brewery by "head girl"
Friendly landlady ensures a warm welcome for all.
Good range of ales with lots of interesting guests plus house beer brewed at Brentwood Brewery by "head girl" bar manager Sophie,all served in tip top condition.

Landlord usually in the kitchen rustling up posh nosh for the Oak Room restaurant upstairs or more modest fayre for the locals.

Well worth a visit.

23 Dec 2007 09:17

More information

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