Reviews in Essex

The owl is a local pub and we have eaten in there numerous times, we booked a table no problem, was quiet in there but was a tues tea time. They didn't have any pork belly, so I had the fish chips and mushy peas, the fish is always large and good, small amount of chips and a tiny pot of mushy peas, so you end up with masses of fish left and nothing to eat ut with. My husband has the lamb shepherd pie with veg, it had little meat in it no gravy so was dry, he said it was the worst meal he had in there which was a shame. Don't know if they are trying to cut costs but I would rather pay more and have a decent size meal, it's not cheap anyway as you would expect I suppose. I'm all for supporting local businesses especially at this time but was a little disappointed.

Lunch with my daughter & we both ordered from daily specials - when I received my meal & on tasting it I knew I would not be able to eat it as it was too rich for my pallet- I explained to serving staff why this was the case ( I was recovering from a nasty stomach bug & not fully back to normal eating but had felt soup would work- my daughter tried it & said she would have struggled with it too- however the serving staff did not quibble at all & offered me a replacement meal without any fuss or & suggested other options First class reaction without fuss or question- top marks to the 2 staff who dealt with me- replacement food was acceptable & was enjoyed

A fabulous Sunday lunch enjoyed by veggies and meat eaters alike. The roasters were some of the best I've had when eating out and the pavlova dessert was delicious. Really high end food, if I didn't live so far away I would go here regularly!

Lovely lunch at the cafe. We both had the open club sandwich which was so yummy and very filling. Would definitely return again soon.

We are regular visitors to the Barn but it has become increasingly difficult to be seated comfortably to eat. There are always many tables available but the staff are unable or unwilling to allow one to choose a seat. The outer area is very cold and the main room although charming is very very noisy especially if seated at central tables. Service is often slow /very slow and the food has become increasingly complicated and expensive. Maybe the cafe is a victim of its own success or maybe it needs a manager to step in. Disappointing decline which could be easily improved.

Sunday 18.01.2026 We visited to celebrate my partner's birthday, and the whole experience was outstanding from start to finish. Our waitress, Iris, was superb; she immediately recognised my brother’s cognitive disability and instinctively adapted her approach, ensuring his order was customised exactly to his needs. That level of understanding and respect made a real difference to our evening. The food was excellent, with generous portions and very high quality across all dishes. What really set the night apart, though, was the thoughtful extra touch: the team surprised Gill with a small chocolate cake complete with a birthday candle. It was a simple gesture, but it meant a great deal and showed how much they go above and beyond for their guests. A genuinely memorable visit. We’ll definitely be returning

Lovely service but roast dinners a bit poor for the price I would say.

First time visit, won’t be the last. Delicious food, fabulous waitress

Can't fault service, quality or quantity of food. Even the dogs get treated well. Always first choice for a Sunday roast

Our first visit to The Owl and we were very impressed. Two of our party are vegetarian and they were very happy with the options available. The food was delicious and of generous portions. The Staff are very friendly and helpful and we really enjoyed our visit. We will definitely be back. An added bonus is that this is a dog friendly pub and our pooch was made very welcome. Highly recommend.

We celebrated my daughter 9th birthday at Grumpy’s Diner today with a party of 11 people, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. The staff were welcoming, accommodating, and made us feel really looked after from start to finish. The food was delicious, came out promptly, and there was something for everyone in our group. The atmosphere was relaxed and fun, which made it perfect for a family birthday celebration. Thank you to the whole team at Grumpy’s we’ll definitely be back!

Enjoyed as usual , a fabulous dinner at The Dukes Head . We had fish and chips., sausage & mash and slow cooked rib of beef. All three meals were delicious. Drinks, we had a bottle of house red , and a Guinness . All went down very well. David especially, and the team/staff again always makes you feel very welcome indeed, in this lovely pub. Excellent.

Enjoyed as usual , a fabulous dinner at The Dukes Head . We had fish and chips., sausage & mash and slow cooked rib of beef. All three meals were delicious. Drinks, we had a bottle of house red , and a Guinness . All went down very well. David especially, and the team/staff again always makes you feel very welcome indeed, in this lovely pub. Excellent.

We met here for a birthday, great service and hot delicious food. Managed a little desert too - all beautifully presented and we were never rushed so we had a good catch up!

We had lunch at the Barn yesterday and were beyond delighted with the food. I had the nourish bowl and my husband had the prawn sandwich. The presentation, flavour and freshness was wonderful. This is our new favourite spot for lunch. Highly recommend

First time eating here and it was lovely. Service was great and the food was good. The bread and butter pudding was delicious. Will definitely be back.

Excellent food and service

Lovely home cooked food