The 50 best places to go out in Colchester

This is a lovely park, well maintained and with a diverse landscape, covering sport grounds, a play ground, a flower garden, tree lined walking paths, a lake, a koi pond, a sandpit and most famously - a castle. It’s great in any weather but summer and autumn are the best seasons to admire the spectacle of colors in the park.

We visited & stayed in Colchester to see James & Texas, as part of the summer series. Decided to visit castle & took part in the tour. Tour guide Gillian was fabulous, talked to us a lot & great knowledge. Castle is very interesting. We had fun in Colchester & found the people to be very friendly & helpful.

Saw Craig David at Lower Castle Park. Helpful staff, toilets were close by, amazing experience. One negative, if you don't know the area very well it's very hard to find the car park for events. I paid for parking but couldn't find where the car park was! 🤔😕

Castle Park in Colchester is the perfect spot to unwind on a warm summer’s day. The gentle rustle of leaves, the fresh breeze drifting through the trees, and the laughter of children playing create such a peaceful atmosphere. The playground is beautifully designed, giving kids plenty of space to run, climb, and explore. There’s even a drinking water tap close by, a small but thoughtful touch that keeps little adventurers refreshed during their play. The park is dotted with tall, leafy trees, offering cool shade and a sense of calm no matter how hot the day gets. Walking through, you can’t help but feel you’ve stepped into a place where history and nature blend seamlessly. The only thing missing from my visit was stepping inside the castle itself. It would have been incredible to wander through its ancient halls and imagine the stories it could tell, especially since it was my very first trip to Colchester.

Castle park concert - don't go VIP it's a complete waste of money. You get a spot furthest away from the stage with minimal views of the stage. The toilets were nice, but that's it. And whoever put the flags up needs sacking. They blocked the screens!!!

Wonderful historic place with nature calm sightseeing and kids playground

Excellent park, lots to do from sand pits to swings. Huge green area to enjoy a picnic also!

Really nice place with a very respectful conversion to among the oldest castles in the UK. Lots of interesting exhibits that give equal coverage to all the different peoples that have occupied it. There are several books in Latin and Middle English dotted around, among numerous other things. You can get a ~2hr visit done for sure, not accounting for the wonderful Castle Park! There's also two other museums close by, focused on natural history and Victorian times. Do check them out too!

Cozy little castle with a small surrounding park. There is not much going on inside, the whole interior is converted to a modern exhibition with different artifacts. 30-40 mins was enough to walk. There is a toilet (ran out of toilet paper). Also, no family discounts and they are not part of English heritage. For a family of 4 we paid about 50 GBP which is terrible. Guided tours cost extra.

A great day out. The grounds are well worth seeing (hence the couple of pictures) as well but once inside, the castle is interactive, very well laid out and really interesting. The staff were incredibly helpful and their customer service was first rate. Highly recommend.

We took our 8 year old granddaughter who was fascinated. Lovely staff who were very well informed. We all loved it and plan to make a return visit very soon. To much to take in on one visit.

A beautiful castle on the outside and an excellent, informative museum on the inside. The kids loved it, especially the interactive activities. It is set within some gorgeous grounds and pretty gardens. Highly recommended.

Amazing castle 🏰 to look at, although there are parts that have fencing around due to the deteration of brick work, but for a 900 year old building, it's doing pretty well. You can visit inside at a cost of £13.50 per adult, and as far as I know, there's plenty to see inside. The grounds around it are well maintained with lovely flower and rose beds. Well worth a visit and a walk around the grounds, good day out.

Plenty to interest people of all ages in this museum. It has a wide range of exhibits and interactive displays and a tour of the Roman part of the castle. The museum illustrates the significant history of Colchester with impressive ancient items that show how skilled people were in Roman times. Don't miss the prison cells and the story of the witch finder. All good, we spent a couple of hours enjoying it all. 👍👍👍👍

Love this place, it’s literally my go to. I love the ambience and the sheesha is marvelous. You’d be missing out if you haven’t visited this place. Coming back again ☺️

Lovely atmosphere with friendly and professional staff. Great place for birthday parties and anniversaries – highly recommend! The cocktails were amazing, made fresh right in front of us. Good prices and a wide variety of shisha flavors to choose from. Overall, a fantastic experience!

Great late night bar with clean facilities and really friendly staff from the bouncers on the door to the general staff! Great music and decent people to drink with! Music was good to!

Got there early, shisha was good tried the blueberry or blue mist – found v sweet then the black diamond – v fresh. The cocktails were terrific. The bar staff were v friendly likewise the bouncers.

UPDATED 06/05/22 A girl who loves her food also loves to dance!! This place is very popular, to be fair as are all the other clubs in Colchester.....as you see the long queues of clubbers waiting for their turn to enter the doors that lead to a fantastic night out! As the weather changes & the nights get shorter you see the queues get even longer. Everyone wants a great night out in Colchester. You can literally club crawl around Colchester Town Centre visiting all the various clubs. ATIK, Yates, Coda, Silk Lounge & lots more. The music is what I love the most, proper club tunes played loud & proud! Bring it on..... I very much highly recommend visiting Colchester for a girls/lads weekend away, you'll not be disappointed. Age is no limit as long as you're legal to drink of course then even the golden clubbers can have fun too.... Enjoy!! Love a girl who will always be 25 & dancing. Love as always Justine xXx StyleOutYourHome ORIGINAL REVIEW: Very highly recommended indeed!! Fantastic place with a range of cocktails & drinks for all tastes. Music is absolutely banging with awesome tunes. Open until 5am, last man standing on a weekend! Totally enjoyed my night out.

Waited 30 mins for our shisha coals to be changed. My friend had a button bag from his coat and thus was denied entry. Nice environment but poor service

Great place to go, great music great atmosphere and the staff were brilliant with table service very attentive and friendly, excellent customer service skills!

I love this zoo. Even though it’s busy you can still enjoy the experience. Lots to see and do. The animals have some lovely enclosures and look happy. I love the glass so you can get up close to observe. It’s probably my favourite zoo as zoos go and I’ve been to lots! They clearly do a lot for conservation too and that’s massively important for the welfare of endangered species particularly! It’s clean and the staff are lovely!

Had a lovely day out here plenty of animals to see,some were hiding in their beds as it was a bit chilly but you could peep at them there. There's walk through areas to get up close. Plenty of food and drink cafes dotted through the zoo and picnic benches too. Definitely worth a visit.

Love a zoo trip!! such an enjoyable experience. Great variety of animals to see and even though it can be very busy you still see and enjoy it all. The animals all have great spacious enclosures and plenty of items in for them to enjoy. There is plenty of things to see and to do which is great. The Gift shop at the end is brilliant as well, has a great variety of things for all ages.

Our first visit June 2025 10 people. We thoroughly enjoyed our day and the staff were so lovely and helpful. The encounters were fab and so much going on even on a. We’ve been to a good few zoos across the UK as we came from SE and visited whilst on holiday and this is the best we’ve been too so far. There is a lot of pride in the zoo and people maintaining the grounds and you can tell the animals are well looked after, some of the enclosures are fabulous. We spent the day there and still didn’t see everything! So many food places too with nice food choices. Totally recommend!

What an amazing zoological zoo. It's started off as wet and windy but cleared up as there was many indoor areas to visit. The meerkats took abit of coaching to get them outside but eventually came out. Feeding the giraffes was really good and exciting for the children. Well grown ups. The staff were really helpful and knew exactly where to send you when lost for the next adventure around the park. So many animals and looked in good care. Lots of schools visiting which was good to see. Well done teams.

Really enjoyable day and a huge variety of animals to see. It’s really well laid out and the animals all looked happy. The Africa section was impressive. The elephants and giraffes seemed happy. Every turn you took there was something new to discover. Food options were a bit hit and miss with long waits for average not even hot food. That was the only down side but went for the animals hence the 5 star review. The green anacondas were stunning as were the chimpanzees

I had an absolutely fantastic time visiting Colchester Zoo! One of the highlights of the day was the amazing train ride that took us on a scenic journey around the park, giving us a chance to see the majority of the animals from a unique and relaxing perspective. It was such a fun and convenient way to explore the zoo. Another great feature was the variety of informative talks held at different animal enclosures throughout the day. These talks gave us the chance to learn more about the animals, their behaviors, and conservation efforts, all while getting a closer look at them. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what they do. Overall, it was a brilliant experience—perfect for families, couples, or anyone who loves animals. Highly recommend visiting Colchester Zoo for a memorable and educational day out!

Great little pub. Great choice of beers. Staff were very helpful with beer and wine selections. Fantastic live music too.

Great pub, awesome drinks, shame about the owner! Just kidding, Richard is a legend! Fantastic selection of drinks and snacks, free music on Sundays and gorgeous beer garden out the back, best pub in Colchester!

Alex and team are always friendly, welcoming and attentive. They are knowledgeable about their stock, which is always vast. There is something for everyone. They're passionate about what they do and I wouldn't want to see anyone else running this place. Nothing is too much trouble for them. My favourite pub in Colchester.

The absolute home of real ale and cider in Colchester. Alex and the rest of the team are some of the nicest people you'll meet, and always ready to make recommendations based on their intimate knowledge of everything on offer. If you enjoy trying something new and like a good traditional pub with people who care about what's in your glass, I don't think you'll find better in the whole of Essex.

One of the best pubs in Colchester and the area. Cozy and traditional with a fantastic range of changing craft and cask beers and friendly chatty staff. Not sure if this place does hot food but bar snacks are available. Nice looking scotch and other whiskeys available as well as wines, ciders, lagers etc... Nice range of Belgian beers also available too. Time passes very quickly in here. Short walk from both Colchester (mainline),Colchester Town stations and the town centre. Will definitely return. For beer people this pub is also Untappd verified and has its own badge too.

If you want the REAL pub experience come here. Richard and his team know! With craft beers, real ales and something on the guest pump they know how to cater for a discerning crowd. Games, quizzes, entertainment and a very sociable crowd this place hits the mark. Excellent beer garden too! Keep up the good work.

Nice choice of beer in a cosy establishment. It does indeed feel like a 'proper pub'. Beer was well kept and decent price. I honestly can't fault it. Ended up here after a cycle ride from Norwich and it was a welcome stop off!

First time visiting the mercury theatre last Saturday evening to see the Illegal Eagles. Parking was very easy, Saint Mary's car park had lots of spaces and it was just a short walk and you were there. Small restaurant where you enjoy a meal before your show. Shop in the foyer for drinks or snacks and there's also a bar. There are stairs or lifts available to gain access to the theatre seating area. Very roomy area with air conditioning. Comfortable seats, some spacers for wheelchair users. Toilet facilities were ample and kept very clean. The lighting throughout the show was amazing as was the sound quality. Upon leaving the area I noticed that in what had been the restaurant area earlier there was a stand up show going on, so clearly there's a lot that happens here, so worth keeping an eye on their website to see what on. Good place to go for a night out.

Genuinely one of the best theatre venues I've ever visited. The auditorium is large but all on one tier, access to seats is pretty easy. The menu is reasonably priced and quite extensive. Slushies are always a bonus, and the pantos done here are a marvel.

My first visit to the Mercury Theatre exceeded expectations. The auditorium has raked seats ensuring that you get a clear view of the stage without having to peer around the heads of people in the rows in front of you, although the seats are a little narrow. The performance that I saw was slick, professional and the acoustics were very good. The actors could be heard clearly. There is a café and bar onsite and, an added bonus for the ladies, the toilets were plentiful, unlike in London where you all have to queue for two or three toilets. Parking at St Mary's car park was easy and only a few minutes walk to the theatre. I'll definitely be visiting again.

Loved the theatre but hated the performance of Private Lives . My wife and I left at the interval. This production had none of the waspish humour you expect in a Coward play. It was poorly acted...you didn't care what happened to the characters. We were, however, impressed by the theatre.

1st time visitor. Was very impressed with venue. Comfy rooms seats. Great sound. We saw endless love. Good show. Only comment would be upstairs bar was shut in interval and downstairs was rammed. Barely got drink before interval finished. Otherwise was great x

Wonderful auditorium, we went to see Adam Frost. We were up at the back when these really distracting noises started behind us during the second half. There was music, a compere and lots of singing and clapping. It was almost impossible to hear Adam Frost. Lots of people around us were complaining. We were apologised to at the end and told it was a party in the studio next door. One usherette said that people have complained a lot. THEN PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT MERCURY. A few more layers of insulation or no party when there's a speaker in the main auditorium. It can't be that difficult, but when you have paid good money to hear someone speak you do expect to be able to hear them.

What a wonderful place. Brilliant views from the second row. Good bar. Restaurant was offline but food is only a 3 minute walk away. Great staff. Snacks and water available on front desk. Briliant, show with the Simon and Garfunkel Story. Have to say it is a fantastic venue. Please support!

Sunday lunch 2 courses. Opted for the chicken roast, which came with generous and excellently cooked vegetables and roast potatoes. Biscoff cheese cake for dessert. Food was high quality and service was exemplary. Lost a star for adding voluntary 10% service charged without mentioning it before the meal. Apart from that minor annoyance it was a most enjoyable lunch.

This restaurant in a historic 15th century building, is worth a visit. We went on a Sunday and had the roast. This is one of the best Sunday roasts I've had in the UK. I had the white bait starter and stuffed pork belly as a main. Both were superb and the portions are generous. Worth a visit.

Fantastic beautiful restaurant with such a history. So beautiful inside with the gorgeous beams and service was excellent and the Lamb Shank we had was cooked to perfection. I will definitely go there again. I thoroughly recommend it as I think the best in Colchester

This place is full of character a 17th century half timbered french style building proudly displaying the original musket shots from the era. But more importantly the food doesn’t let the surroundings down. Offering European food with a modern English twist. Pan Fried Scallops with Pea Purée and Black Pudding Bon Bons. .A generous portion of scallops cooked to perfection sweet and tasty, but I have to say the idea of the black pudding bon bons was genius little balls of rich flavours balanced the pea purée and scallops beautifully. Pan Fried Sea Trout Fillet, Curried Mussel Velouté with New Potatoes and Samphire. Great looking fish, trout was full of smooth flavour and the curried mussels were awesome the sauce was to die for and with the sharp salty taste of the samphire was a great match. Apple and Cinnamon Crumble Tart with Vanilla Ice Cream. What can I say does what it says on the tin, loved the crispy pastry shell and the crumble was sweet and well, crumbly, to be honest and this is my fault I was expecting it to be warm like a crumble rather than cold, but it is a crumble tart so i guess a tart is cold. But a great way to end the meal. . Well that and the cracking espresso martini that replaced your standard filter coffee. . Whilst the food was great I have to also comment on the excellent staff for making us feel so welcome in the current times, it’s hard to be a great host with so many rules but they pulled it off brilliantly. We will certainly be back.

Great resturant.to visit.great staff.very relaxed.a lot of history.one of the oldest places in Colchester.english civil war

First time visiting and wasn't disappointed. Big group of 14 people for a family birthday was well looked after by the friendly head of house and her team. No incorrect or missing orders. Steak's were all cooked too perfection. Service overall was excellent. Was seated on a big table next to an open fire which was lovely. Will definitely return.

A beautiful meal that tasted fresh and inviting, served by staff that where attentive and friendly. Would throughly recommend a visit especially during August because of the "Eat Out to Help Out" when it is outstanding value.

My daughter suggested we visit the Tap Room but we landed in the bar. It was busy but we were able to get a seat. Beer range was very good but they do swap them between the bar and Tap Room so wasn’t able to try one of their beers I was looking forward to trying. That said, the beers we did try were excellent. I did also try a local gin (Moatwood - also very good) but was a little disappointed by the number of flavoured spirits and would have preferred to see more unflavoured local varieties. It does have a younger vibe but if you are that little bit older you will be made to feel welcome but just accept that on a Saturday night it will be loud. Definitely worth a visit to try their brews.

Excellent micro brewery in historic Colchester. Friendly staff and a good selection of beers. There are outside tables but not all have shade. The affiliated 3 Wise Monkeys burger joint is next door if you want food.

The best pub in town. 3 areas: one with louder music and some chances to dance and a proper brewery on two levels. Plenty of locally brewed beers available in 3 sizes, friendly stuff and a variety of customers from youngsters to more mature.

Just popped in for a pint of real ale while in Colchester town center. I would have liked to see more tables just for 2 people as big tables were only occupied by either 1 or 2 people . The ale was ok but nothing to write home about, for me. Also one and a half pints for nearly £8 , oh well . The pub itself is clean and tidy with friendly staff.

A chilled real ale/ beer place with a micro brewery and grub that complements the brilliant beer list. Nice, easy going crowd that adds to a nice buzz.

Beautiful brewery. Amazing prices! Good music good food overall highly advice visiting

Found this place by a Craft Beer search on Google. Large venue furnished in a shabby chic vibe with a brewery next door. Great selection of cask and keg beers though it looks like there was a real mix of customers (and their dogs/children) present. Very friendly barman who was more than to suggest craft beer types and provide me with tasters. Interesting menu and there was an offer of a light lunch sandwich with a pint option for £10. Good variety of seating with stools, tables and sofas as alternatives. Great atmosphere and somewhere I would recommend/come back to if in the area.

On a rainy autumnal day, I was cycling past on my way to a recommended local cafe when I spied this place. 'Looks a jolly interesting building', I mused. And so it proved to be. There's so much of the original that has been retsined that, like many of 'Spoons properties, it just oozes character. What Tim and his team have done so well, is to create a chain that appeals to all ages. Very, very clever. With a helpful member of staff showing me a little space inside to keep my bike safe, I settled into a nearby table to peruse the menu. With my Wetherspoons app, I ordered from the comfort of my seat. On my last visit to one of their many venues, all the gourmet burgers were sold out, so I chose 'The Big Smoke', which included pulled beef brisket, maple cured bacon, onion rings and chips. Very tasty too. The deal included a very pleasant 500 ml bottle of 0.5% Erdinger Weissbier, which, on its own, would have cost £2.63. Amazingly, the total bill was just £10.19. My only slight criticism was that when the server brought the meal, which arrived within 15 minutes of the order being placed (The drink was there within 2 minutes), when I asked for the condiments, there was no offer to bring them, but I was pointed in the direction of a table nearby. Well, what did you expect for a tenner? Service too?

First time eating in here and it won't be the last. Very easy to order food and drinks through the app and didn't have to wait long to receive food. Food very good along with bottomless coffee ☕️ cup. Just what you need on a Sunday morning. Highly recommend trying it 👌

Cheap and cheerful. Plenty of choice and plenty of different options. Choose the food first because some options come with a drink as part of the deal, so no point in buying another drink as well. We like the cardboard cutout figures watching the diners from the balcony level!

The Playhouse is a very large pub in a former theatre. Wetherspoons have done an impressive job on restoring and bringing this historic building back to life. The figures of famous stars in the balcony are worth seeing. It is the best wetherspoons i have visited. There is an extensive range of beers, larger, and cider at very low prices. There are plenty of food options, but unfortunately, they don't have any steaks or mixed grills on the menu anymore, which is a real disappointment but the gormet burgers are pretty good. The staff are very friendly and efficient even though we visited on a Friday night when it was packed out, the service was still quick. We came back for breakfast, and the full English was excellent. The amazing hi tec fresh ground coffee machine is a game changer, fantastic coffee, and a lot of choice.

Had breakfast here on Good Friday. Usual great and reasonably priced breakfast menu. Sat on the old stage so we could guess the celebrities in the circle.

‘Classic burger’ seems reasonable value but the menu image/expectation doesn’t quite match the reality.

Lovely place, the staff are lovely and make the place very nice to come to. Unfortunately today i had a staff member (tim) give me a single instead of a double when i ordered it. I understand mistakes happen so i showed him the recipt and ordered a second to compare it. My second drink was only filled up halfway and i said that both these drinks are the same as singles as this is my regular drink as i know. I showed the man both receipts that they were both doubles and he angrily took my drinks and said "fine I'll give you a refund and you can drink somewhere else." Other than that this place is usually lovely to come to and i would recommend it but i feel like that is not good service at all and it has ruined my idea of this place being comforting and a nice place to be

A free-spirited place for the arts of Colchester. I like that this is not just an art gallery, but it can also be a place for cinema screenings. They can keep some arts, making them go down in history with that mosaic. Arts are not always pictures or sculptures, I was also met with cardboard tags with writing on them. Artwork could also be video like a saucy one on the screen with a picture of edited with things like computer mouse marks. You have got to have this anywhere in your area

A free artistic and educational resource with a market. We enjoyed exploring the stunning building and artworks

So grateful to First Site for everything they’ve put on during the summer! Their holiday fun activities have given us so much to do because they have a lot going on during the week (Tuesday - Saturday). Special thank you to Lorraine for being so welcoming and accommodating — if you plan to come here she’s always happy to help ✨ 10/10 would recommend coming here!

Looking for something different? This is the place! We've so many live performances from Opera, Ballet to West end shows. Plus although you don't get the theatre experience your not paying extortionate prices plus train fares, being on the doorstep. Comfort with drinks and food available both inside and around it's a great way to spend an afternoon or evening😁

Love this gallery. More people should come here! We are so lucky to have it.

A great venue to host a work awards evening. The venue is spacious, close to town so plenty of parking places and there is enough equipment required to make sure the evening runs smoothly. Jess one of the event organisers has been great and will look after you throughout the evening for you and your colleagues.

Amazing place! Great for little ones. Lots of interaction and activities. Fantastic collection of art work on view and currently your art can be displayed along side some famous names! Good little cafe inside, bit pricey but tasty food and good coffee. Friendly staff, happy to chat and very welcoming. I could buy everything from the gift shop, fab array of arty gifts. It was only our first visit but will certainly make an effort to return when back in the area! A little gem of place. Lucky Colchester!

Largish park nice trails and very bikeable also. Draw back is not sign posted well for coloured trails blue and yellow . A lot of direction arrows are missing.cafe is here and parking also. The turn in too can miss if you blink.

High Woods Country Park is a great spot for nature lovers. The field is full of colourful wildflowers, making it perfect for a relaxing walk. The paths are easy to follow and take you through some lovely green areas. There are plenty of benches around, especially near the lake, where you can sit down and relax. You’ll also find benches scattered in other parts of the park, making it easy to take a break and enjoy the scenery. There aren’t any toilets, but that’s alright since it’s a free park. It’s also a fantastic place for dog walkers with plenty of space for your furry friends to run around. Just make sure to clean up after your dogs – I’ve come across a few spots where people haven’t, and it’s not pleasant.

Lovely place to walk in woods sandy too .toilets fishing lake park for kids .

At High Woods Country Park Park, not only can you enjoy the beautiful views and walk peacefully through the forest, but you can also bring your faithful furry companion along. This park is the perfect place for you and your dog to enjoy nature together, sharing moments of adventure and exploration while immersing yourselves in the serenity of the surroundings. The spacious and well-maintained trails offer the ideal space for walking with your dog, allowing them to enjoy the freedom and excitement of discovering new scents and landscapes while accompanying you on your outdoor experience.

Very big park with very nice scenery. I unfortunately biked here during night one time while running an errand and it was very dark 😆. The small pathway lights helped keep me on track. I felt like the Slenderman was lurking behind the trees. If I had spent any more time there during that night and I would've had to collect his 8 pages... 📃

We had a great morning at the new playpark. Plenty of equipment for older kids and a separate section for little ones. I didn't take pics of the little equipment - sorry! It's all gated and there's plenty of picnic benches. The entrance to it is just off turner road. Only downside is you have to pay to park. I think it was £1 for 2 hours. We also had coffees in the visitor centre and there were huge sausage rolls too. It's a great place to go and get some fresh air!

Absolutely stunning nature forest park! Autumn is just beautiful here. Our first visit, definitely not the last. The lady in the visitor centre was so lovely, friendly. Great place for kids. Can't wait for the new playground to open soon.

My daughter is learning disabled and it can be difficult to keep her amused but she had a go at the interactive jigsaw and games in the room with the large dollhouse. She liked the museum showing old toys and could relate to the more modern versions that she had...I enjoyed reading about Ms Cavandish and just how she seemed born in the wrong time. Extraordinary woman.

Whilst I didn’t visit the museum itself, I did book a private tour with Louise to take a small group around Colchester and it was fantastic. We walked around for over an hour learning all about the history of Colchester, seeing the Roman and Norman influence in the area and appreciating the brickwork and ruins throughout the city. There is a free tour on Saturdays that I can’t speak to, but if it’s half as good as a private tour on weekdays it’s well worth the time. Louise was enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and you could tell she is passionate about history. Thoroughly recommend. Emailing the visitor centre to set up the tour was pleasant with fast responses.

Really nice family friendly free museum. Lots of top quality items from the past to marvel at. Many of them are domestic appliances, but there are toys. The house was once a grand house owned by the MP for Colchester , Charles Grey (not the Prime Minister) in the 1700's. There is information about demostic Servants and the History of the House. Very interesting 👌

Good museum, quite small but full of interesting artifacts.

A compact social history museum featuring everything from vintage vacuum cleaners to dolls houses, art, and royal memorabilia. Should you be in the postbox spotting game, Hollytrees boasts a particularly fine early Victorian example. There's also a wide selection of clocks and a small gift shop with the usual souvenirs, along with some Roman themed items.

Hollytrees Museum is a small lovely museum located in Colchester and situated within Castle Park, off Colchester High Street. The museum is a beautiful Georgian townhouse surrounded by beautiful gardens. It is worth a quick visit if you happen to be in Colchester town and even strolling around the gardens can be very relaxing.

A very enjoyable experience with lovely staff who were very friendly. Three floors of fantastic old clocks, toys, household items accompanied with photos and write ups which really tell the story about the house. Spent a very good hour here with the kids.

Excellent friendly and helpful staff, loved the little windows to hunt things in, loved the microscope for use, megladon teeth and jaw plus information was the star for 11 year old!! Perfect free thing to do for a couple of hours with the kids.

Few gems that appear in this compact museum. Does seem to be a decent place for children to explore a litttle bit. However, the place does feel a little tired and does require a facelift. There are some features that are engaging, however and there does appear to be some plans to modernise the place.

A shame that the minerals and sea birds had no labels and were difficult to view in very tall vertical cabinets. I miss the old display cases and they could save room by making smaller gift shops.

Great 1-2 hours of fun at the museum. Little one had lots to do and see. The creation stations with feathers, glue, googly eyes and paper plates was so fun. Great addition of the free sanitary products in the toilets too.

Was a lot different to what I was expecting but it was a very nice museum. Would highly recommend if you are in Colchester

Very nice place with a lot of History there! Very educative for the Kids. The musem also has a microscop and you can even see each Line which you have on your hand. I Recommend the place especially for families with Kids! ❤️

Really cute little museum, it's free entry so a great place to bring kids who are interested in science or need something to do on a rainy day. The staff are always so friendly and engage with the little ones, telling science facts etc. I brought my 11 year old sister and 9 year old brother here (but have been bringing them for several years!) and they particularly love: The microscope Firefly the fox The gift shop (prices are very reasonable) And the little play area in the middle. I'd absolutely recommend visiting if you have a spare hour :)

Staff were nice but my husband was told he had to quit the axe throwing even if he paid for the full experience. We sensed though that the staff had to leave and there was Noone to supervise the activity. It's a cool place to hang out though. We played pools and had a few drinks

My family brought me here for my birthday on Saturday and I cannot recommend enough!! We had an absolute blast! Started off with axe throwing, darts, crazy golf then into the karaoke rooms. We had the best time, the staff were absolutely lovely. Food and drinks were great and we stayed dancing to the dj and drinking long after we thought we’d be tucked up in bed! So much to do here we want to come back and do all of it! Very highly recommend for a great afternoon/evening!!

I came in with my friends to play some pool and had a really great time the staff Bailey and Lucas were very friendly and helpful will definitely be coming back

We went as a group of 8 and we had an amazing time. There was a dj playing music the atmosphere was really good. Was just great fun, the axe throwing was different and fun. We also did the karaoke room which was so funny. Would highly recommend this place if you’re looking for something different and fun to do. Drinks were also really good price they do happy hours to even on a Saturday.

A huge thank you to the team at No Name. Me and my son had a fantastic couple of hours there on the all access ticket. We felt super safe on the axe throwing, then enjoyed some pool (decent cues provided), mini golf, interactive floor games and shuffle board. I've played a lot of mini golf on my time, and it's often done so badly. Their designs were very much in keeping with their theme, and great fun to play. We need more people like this helping reinvent the empty spaces in our town centers.

Lovely staff and great place but there was loads of kids that was ruining the golf course for us. Playing in the last hole and chucking children in this made us quite uncomfortable. The game was fun up until that and we made the person aware as well again staff are lovely and the gentleman at the front was very nice to us. we might come back and try something else but just have to see.

Bethany was absolutely amazing for me and my group. She was so accommodating and friendly. 5 star service especially on a busy Saturday night!

Very busy, bit bullish customers till 11pm.Run out of my lager lady's loos a mess apparently. They decided to charge entry on door. Day off event.

Such a lively, fun Pub. Great band playing. Will be returning very soon .

Mortified at my experience here this evening (31/10). Every other time been such a warm welcome team behind bar lovely. I am in the industry and of course appreciate what it’s like when busy / chaotic which it wasn’t . I went in with my friend approaching 1am where town still lively. Greeted by familiar door staff too which was nice. Went in to the garden after being served promptly. Again nice atmosphere. at about 1:30/1:45 had the door staff say last call need to move inside etc. totally understandable. As I went to move inside said young man made a comment ‘oh really you want to light that as soon as I said move inside?’ Please bear in mind I had not made any motion of lighting a cigarette up but I did have a pack with me, maybe misconstrued. As I tried to explain we were going and I understood the bar staff clearly wanted to go after a probable lively evening , maybe earlier on in the night . I came in pretty soon after this and said I’m just going to leave my drink, goodnight. I didn’t state why ( and may I emphasise, anything said was very calmly and politely ) but in my head it was pretty clear they wanted us to leave immediately and I genuinely felt uncomfortable staying in there, which again, never felt before in the bull, the atmosphere is so great in there . The barman who spoke who thought I was going to light a cigarette was the same one who I left my drink in front of him. Said barman flipped me away and said “yeah yeah , whatever” and physically waved me away. I was absolutely mortified. As said previous, I do know the lovely door staff. I communicated what was said to myself and they were shocked. Considering especially I have been at work this evening and was in no way inebriated when joining and leaving the venue. Thank you for any feedback that can be returned. Kind regards, Sarah

Loved karaoke night, people of love, talent and many with good taste in music.

Great live music, busy, service was good with how busy it was.

Was a great place to play! Interesting crowd (I love that about places) really good sound, really good staff also! Just a shame that there was not much stock and the coke tasted like shrimp water but as a bartender myself I do understand that sometimes post mix is a untamed mistress of beverages at times.

Seem to just let people vape in here..

Good vibe, friendly staff. The proprietors look to have put a lot of time and effort into the design layout and decoration of the bar, seating and garden area. A really good place to have a drink and listen to Some good sounds on the digital duke box, air-con in bar area makes for a well needed refuge from the long hot summer.

Twisters in Colchester is a brilliant spot for cocktails – the drinks are well-made, full of flavour, and often come with a fun twist like teapots to share, which makes it perfect for groups. The atmosphere is lively with great music and a quirky vibe, and the staff are always friendly and attentive. It can get busy inside, but the heated beer garden gives you space to relax and enjoy your drinks. Overall, it’s one of the best places in town for a fun, good-quality cocktail night.

Such a nice place! The drinks are incredible and the service even better. The teapots are a beautiful addition and the manager Vasi is such an accommodating host, he made us feel very welcome and was very attentive. Would definitely come here again.

We came here on Saturday night celebrating our friends graduation & what a great night it was. Service at the bar was amazing, smoking area was very spacious and the jukebox was a great touch. Thank you. Will definitely be back! :)

Wow, vasi was the most fantastic host ever. I have never felt more welcome at an establishment in my life. I have already recommended this place to all of my friends. The tea pots are a fantastic addition. The only thing that could make this place better is two vasi’s.

Lovely bar with great music in the heart of colchester, vasi (host) was an absolute delight, would recommend to anyone who loves indie music and strong drinks

A hidden gem in the heart of town. Vasi has recommend us the perfect cocktail for our taste and he provided a fun, interactive and professional service for our group throughout the entire visit. He is just a lovely and attentive person and he clearly loves what he does.

What a pub,, the cream stout is to die for,, the landlady Chloe is the nuts,,, knows how to pull a pint, beer is cheap as chips ,, Matt the landlord tells me that Camra card holders will soon get discount as well,, cracking pub with cracking people 10/10 😍

We hired the function room for our engagement party and we had the best time! As there was a lot of us (around 60 guests) they very kindly allowed us to have sole use of the function room (where we played our own music) but also have sole use to one side of the bar which worked amazingly for some of the guests that preferred to have a quieter seat inside near the fire. We also had our own outside area which was also made so much nicer by them having fire pits going for us! All of the staff were so attentive on the lead up to our celebration and on the night, we couldn’t be more grateful to them for helping us have such a special evening! I’m gutted that I didn’t get more photos of the function room as it looked so pretty with all of the fairy lights on, and we were able to decorate it as we wanted! Thank you so much Lisa and the team!

Lovely, cosy pub with roaring fires and friendly staff. Great home cooked food with an excellent Sunday roast and range of pies as well. Nice selection of local beers on offer. We go in as often as we can!

Lovely local pub. Friendly staff. Great value pies and lots of choice. The beef madras pie was exceptional, will definitely order again. Nice selection of beers.

The new proprietors have done an amazing job, you can see and feel the love and time they've put into this. Thank you so much!

First time in this pub. The guy behind the bar was very welcoming and helpful. The beer was kept well and lovely. The bartender said they change beers regularly which is a good sign. Nice beer garden that's very quiet even though its near a main road. Would definitely come back and planning on doing so.

Fantastic atmosphere and very friendly. Great to see the new owners injecting some young blood into the business and wish them all the very best in their new venture.

Absolutely awful experience. The male staff thinks it’s okay to enter the women’s bathroom with no adequate warning or signs saying men also clean these bathrooms. The men that entered did not even clean the toilets all they said was they can be in there because they work there! This seems to be a common occurrence at this nightclub. The managing team are absolutely ridiculous also And very unprofessional it is no wonder this place has Such a bad reputation. If you are a female, I should warn you to stay away from this place as it does not feel safe to even be in there. I’m glad this is now going viral online as there are numerous videos and complaints!! As either this place needs shutting down or need a new management team that actually care for women’s rights.. you ought to be ashamed of yourself’s It used to be a great nightclub until you guys took over..

Went for new years, it was decent. The staff however stole my wallet from bag that was in the cloakroom, which I paid extra money for and got reassured it was safe. I lost my health insurance card, my debit, and all my documentation that was in it. I filled out their contact form to enquire if they happened to see it/find it, but I never got a response, and for the past few months, through the phone number I gave them to contact me about the wallet they stole, they’ve been sending me promotions for their upcoming events. Disgrace

Myself and my friend got our privacy violated by 2 male staff in the female toilets, the security and management were absolutely awful about this and said it was okay for 2 men to violate women's rights to privacy and was asked to leave by head doorman or accept what had happened and finish our drinks. We then left and asked other doormen who disagreed with their actions. Wouldn't ever enter this establishment again. Could you imagine if we were assaulted we would get the blame for that too.

Went to rave bingo back in September for my first night or in 6years and honestly had the best time!! The lads that ran it had fantastic banter, and honestly couldn't stop laughing (their dancing was my highlight) can't wait to go again and would highly recommend!!

We bought tickets to get inside of the club for 22:00 but because they had another event going on the club opened actually at 12:00, why would you sell tickets if you’re not gonna actually open the club when you say so? Waste of money, we didn’t get to see the djs we went for.

I booked a vip package for £350 for my wife’s birthday we’re in our 30’s so slightly older than the normal crowd in there. Our first time going to trilogy, so we were looking forward to it as my wife like the music in there. On our email it said we need to turn up by no later than 11.30pm. we were there at 11.15, greeted by the vip guy, paid our balance and told to wait on the smaller room for 15 mins until our table was ready. It wasn’t very busy at the time so we waited, half an hour went past and still nothing, i was pretty hacked off already as just spent £350 and we had no drinks so we’re expected to buy more over the bar while we waited. Midnight comes and we decided to talk to the manager, we’re then told that our table would not be ready until 1.30am. I couldn’t believe it, we were not told that on the email or booking at the time. We demanded a full refund, which the manager kindly gave us back and apologised but it made the whole experience of trilogy no good for us and i don’t think we would return. Good customer service how they dealt with the situation on the night, but not clear at the time of booking. Really disappointed!

I recently visited Trilogy Nightclub in Colchester for their 30th night celebration, and it was an amazing experience! Having not been out clubbing in years, I was thoroughly impressed. Firstly, the cleanliness of the venue stood out. From the dance floor to the restrooms, everything was well-maintained, which made the entire night much more enjoyable. The pricing was also reasonable, which is always a plus. Drinks were not too expensive, allowing us to have a good time without breaking the bank. What truly made the night special was the incredibly friendly staff. From the moment we arrived, everyone from the bouncers to the bartenders was welcoming and helpful, creating a great atmosphere. Additionally, the club has undergone a stylish makeover and now looks fantastic. It has a new lease of life, with modern decor and a vibrant ambiance that enhances the overall experience. Overall, Trilogy Nightclub exceeded my expectations. It’s a fantastic place to go if you're looking for a clean, stylish, reasonably priced, and friendly clubbing experience. Highly recommended!

Me and a friend came for the bottomless brunch. Our server was Fran who was friendly and provided quick service, regularly coming back to take our drink orders and we managed to get 7 drinks each in the 2 hour slot. The food was also very good!

We popped here for a little lunchtime snack and a cheeky cocktail🍸 and have been back every week for the last four. The atmosphere at this time is nice and chilled. The food has been consistently delicious. I also highly recommend the salted caramel brownie with coconut ice cream. 😋

We stopped by Turtle Bar for lunch and were pleasantly surprised! The flavors were incredibly tasty and felt authentically fresh. I had the fish tacos with a side of sweet potato fries, and everything was perfectly cooked and well-seasoned. The cocktail I ordered was also excellent — refreshing and well-balanced. Great food, relaxing vibe, and friendly service. Highly recommend if you're craving something flavourful and satisfying.

Krish was a really helpful and friendly server when I was dining alone. Food arrived quickly and was well-seasoned and cooked perfectly. I had the roti with sweetcorn fritters and jerk cheese fries. Very nice atmosphere. Although, I would say that the lighting in the venue is very mismatched and could be improved for a better experience.

Amazing food amazing staff Naomi was very chatty brilliant customer service highly recommend 🍹

Great Caribbean food and atmosphere. Josh was a great server.

I had such a lovely meal here, the food was lovely and I felt so welcome as soon as I walked in and put at ease visiting a new restaurant. Particularly a young waitress called Naomi was very attentive, and catered to my every night. She talked me through different options and what she thought would be better for me as sometimes I am a bit hesitant with trying new things and I loved it!!! Thank you Naomi will definitely be returning soon!!! Xxx

Really nice location next to the water. Food tasted good and the service was quick. 15% blue light discount on food. The tables outside did get full in the nice weather, but that's to be expected in such a peaceful spot!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Stopped by the Rose and Crown in Wivenhoe and had a brilliant experience. Enjoyed a couple of pints alongside their burger with rosemary chips and onion rings – absolutely scrumptious! The outdoor seating area overlooking the River Colne is a real gem. Lovely benches and shaded tables with umbrellas made it a perfect spot to relax in the summer sunshine. Service at the bar was top notch – friendly and efficient. I ordered the food through the Greene King app, which was straightforward and made things even easier. Only downside is the limited parking nearby, but it didn’t take away from what was a thoroughly enjoyable visit. A lovely few hours well spent – will definitely be back!

Wonderful spot next to the river. Had a sunny day, so I was happy to be able to sit outside. The food I ordered was tasty. Handy to order from the app. Dog friendly is perfect for our doggy holiday.

Cute little pub on the estuary in Wivenhoe. Sun was out and some little boats sailing past. Atmosphere was good although clearly not enough tables for everyone to have a table each for their party of people and often tables were shared or some customers were unable to get tables outside. Food was pub food standard stuff. Service let it down if I am honest. Very slow and probably quicker to order at the bar than on the app

A lovely local pub on the picturesque Quay. Great food, great service, chilled out atmosphere. We will be back.

An unplanned visit which was very enjoyable on the weekend. We sat outside which was a little chilly but with the lovely hot drinks all was good. I ordered the chicken shawarma flatbread and was very pleasantly surprised in the style and flavour. The Burger and fries were also very tasty. Good and helpful service and well priced. The inside is very welcoming and cosy. The only comment would be that the bench tables outside could do with a lick of paint, and with better planning from our side will visit when the tide is in next time.

Went on a Fri evening and they had a great guitar duo playing. Went back again Sun evening for a roast. Warm welcome from the staff, very attentive. Have read the recent reviews about new and untrained staff - well they must have had a crash course in customer service as we enjoyed both our evenings and service and food were both great. Good luck to the new owners!

One of the best restaurants in Colchester! We went for lunch and sat upstairs on the first floor — it was quiet and felt really relaxed. The service was amazing, very attentive and friendly. We shared the T-bone steak for two, and it was absolutely delicious. Great food, great service — highly recommend and we’ll definitely be back!

Really good food across the board. Bursting with flavour and small but quality menu. I had the monkfish as a main which was cooked well and portions were good. Rump of veal was also good although maybe cooked for an extra few seconds then I prefer. Great selection of wines and special shout out the member of staff who was working the bar for the first time having normally been in the restaurant. Price point matches the quality of the food and service. Recommended.

Had an amazing meal here tonight, food was fantastic, wine choice brilliant and our waitress Frankie was the perfect.mix of professional and friendly. Highly recommended

We came here for a date night on Saturday night, lovely atmosphere and the food was absolutely fantastic, great value for money considering the quality. They had great selection of drinks and a special thank you to our waiter, didn’t catch his name but he wore glasses and a mullet, made us feel very welcome and relaxed, knew all of the drinks and specials off by heart and took our order without notepad. Really great service, thank you!

I came here for a meal whilst on my hen do and it was incredible! Not only was the food incredible was the service was absolutely top notch! Our waiter Andrew was incredibly attentive, super friendly and so lovely to us - he made me feel very special! Thank you so much for making my hen do so magical!!

Andrew the barman is EXCELLENT. His margaritas are second to none, and his service is thoughtful and genuine. Ask Andrew to make your cocktails, and you’ll be a happy customer. Very very pleased.

OMG. So third time now we've been and somehow the food just gets better. Great decor and the service is quick and professional. Bonus being as soon as you sit down you get a bottle of still water with no charge. Why all restaurants don't do this is beyond me. Now to the food. We had Sunday roast. I had the beef and it was amazing. Also probably had the best roast potatoes I've ever had. They were epic. I had Cauliflower soup for a starter that was also delicious. Highly recommended.

Went here for dinner and drinks for my daughters 18th on a Monday evening. Very quiet in there, just the four of us the whole time we were there. Food was great as was the service and all at a reasonable price. Would definitely recommend trying it.

Great value for money, fab music vibes. Clean spacious premises. We enjoyed our choice of main and Starter. The meals are well presented and taste amazing. Amazing cocktails. Friendly helpful staff, great atmosphere. I would highly recommend.

Shelby our server today was so lovely and hard working. She was here there and everywhere yet she still maintain a welcoming atmosphere. She also was very kind and helpful so a disabled customer. When ever he needed to pay she made sure she counted the money in front of him and clearly. Food was nice especially my fiance chicken burger 🍔 😋. Would recommend.

Unfortunately, me and my friends walked in smug and lettuce for a spontaneous lunch idea and walked out feeling highly disappointed. Me and my friend received glasses for our Coke with white stains covered all over the glass which left us feeling extremely unsatisfied so we drank out of our bottle which was very inconvenient. Aswell as this our chicken on our Caesar salad was extremely unpleasant; very rubbery and slimy so we did not eat it. Overall not very pleased with our experience at the slug and lettuce and will not be returning.

A stylish and lively venue with a great atmosphere. The food was excellent and the service was friendly and efficient. Perfect for a get-together with friends or a celebratory meal. The decor is modern and chic, making it an ideal spot for a special occasion. I would definitely recommend it to others and will be returning soon to try more of the menu.

Me and my friends decided to eat at slugg and lettuce in Colchester today, thinking it would be a good idea, however we exited feeling incredibly dissatisfied. First of all we walked in, me and my friend had diet cokes each, to which there were suspicious white dried up stains on the glass (a picture is inserted) we then proceeded to drink out of the bottle given to us). Then, when our caeser salad arrived, the chicken was very gristly and jelly-like, it didn’t taste fresh, so we had to put it on a separate napkin away from our food, as we didn’t believe it would be edible. Overall, i would never recommend this to other people, it isn’t worth it.

We had a nice lunch in the big air conditioned bar. The burgers were very nice and filling. The beer selection was all lagers and 'trendy' beers, with no real beers on tap. I'm sure other S&L venues have a real beer on tap.

We went to Pizza Express for a catch up and dinner before the cinema and had a great experience, we both really enjoyed our meal here. The service was fairly good, the waitress was accommodating on our arrival to seat us at a different table from the one initially offered. At the end of our meal the manager was friendly and really helpful in applying my £10 e-gift card. To drink we ordered a Two for £10 Aperol Spritz, it was really good that this offer was available. We were charged the full price on the initial receipt that was printed, however this was quickly amended to the offer price at our request. To eat we ordered Calamari and Dough Balls ‘PizzaExpress’ to start and a pizza for our main courses. My friend ordered an American Classic Pizza and myself a La Reine Large Classic Pizza with an added Burrata. The Calamari was nice and came with a Caesar dressing and lemon though not the parsley mentioned on the menu. The calamari rings had breadcrumbs around them and would have been more enjoyable with a lighter, tempura batter. The La Reine Large Classic Pizza with an added Burrata was delicious and exceeded the expectations I had before we arrived, largely due to the size upgrade as the standard Classic seems a little small. This was even nicer with garlic oil, I was also offered chilli oil by our waitress. The burrata really enhanced the pizza as well. The only improvement would have been to have more olives and a slightly larger plate to fit the pizza. The only slight downside was the price of my pizza, this totalled £24.20 as the initial price was £15.75 with an additional £4.95 to upgrade to large and an extra £3.50 for the added burrata. The décor in the restaurant was nice, green leafy decorations had been added to the light fittings overhead which gave a really nice feel. The bathroom was suitably clean and serviced when I used it at the start of the meal. We really enjoyed our visit here and I plan to return to try more of their menu.

Had a lovely date with my partner. Lisa was absolutely lovely and super friendly. She made us feel incredibly welcome and put us in the perfect mood for a few cheeky daiquiris 🤣 Thank you so much!

We had an amazing meal in the Colchester Pizza Express, we were welcomed by Robbie the Manager who made the experience excellent. The service we received from Lisa was friendly and attentive. The food was first class. It was an all round incredible experience !

Lovely small pizza eaterie, better than other pizza express branches, cooked exactly what was ordered, friendly, funny staff with somewhat of a personal approach offering a lovely eating experience. Big up Robbie the manager on shift at my visit

I recently visited Pizza Express in Colchester and had a very good experience. * The atmosphere was pleasant, and we were seated promptly by friendly staff. * The food was good, as expected really for a Pizza Express - you know what you're going to get * Service was efficient and attentive Overall, it's a reliable choice for a meal out.

Our waitress Lisa ensured our celebratory meal exceeded all expectations! Thank you Lisa for your care, attention to detail, meal recommendations and fabulous sense of humour! You made our evening 🙌

I was served by a lovely waitress called Chloe, she was very attentive and answered all my questions. Best service I’ve received in pizza express, I hope me and my husband can come back soon !

First time visitor to The White Hart Lane. We were there to celebrate my daughter’s engagement. Staff were delightful from the moment we entered. The place has a lovely relaxed, easy going ambience. My younger daughter asked about a dairy free menu - a choice rather than an allergy - but the landlord was quick to chat thru their offerings and explaining which items would suit her best. On being told it wasn’t an allergy issue, we had a good bit of banter with him. However, it is excellent to see how seriously and efficiently they take dietary requests. The food also didn’t disappoint - copious and delicious, a perfect combination. We didn’t hold back on food or drink but it was excellent value, with prices being very reasonable. We were probably one of the last tables to leave but at no time did we feel rushed. We will definitely be coming back and I would suggest you give it a try.

I visited this lovely pub because it's part of my family history. It is a really good pub. Real ale. Great food. Garden space for children. Well done. You made my visit a pleasure.

Probably the best place to have lunch in town. It's my first time in this lovely pub. The coffee is just great. And the meat dish is very tasty. The staff were very friendly and helpful. I recommend it! P.s. Before going for lunch, I recommend checking which days are available.

Great food, lovely big portions. The staff are very friendly and attentive and a beautiful roaring fire on a miserable damp day. Highly recommended

On a lovely sunny day stumbling pass, (we hadn't had a alcohol drink) we decided to stop for lunch with a warm welcome we was dog free due to weather being to hot but this pub is dog friendly Monday to Saturday and outside on Sunday just because they are busy on Sunday. Food was lovely so much and very reasonably price.

Absolutely lovely setting. Turned up without a reservation on a Sunday and they managed to fit us in, 2 adults and 2 toddlers. The food was very nice indeed. Started with a mushroom and stilton starter which was amazingly good then we both had the roast and there was no complaints. The staff were very welcoming and polite. The pricing was reasonable I felt. We will definitely be back maybe when the weather's warmer as I want to have a drink in the garden 😉 Edit: We've been a few more times since and it's lovely. Staff and owner are great and so's the service.

We went to a summer event at the white hart. BBQ food was well priced and very good. Pitchers of pimms and aperol were well priced and extra ice was on tap as needed. The staff were attentive to all the customers and the atmosphere was fun and light hearted. It was clear the management had thought of everything to put on a fantastic event. The outdoor decorations were the icing on the cake. We will be back for other events they schedule.

All the screens appear dirty. Whenever there is anything white or light on screen, it looks like the screens are stained. Several of the screens have an issue with the sound system causing rattling when there is loud music or bass. They have increased the price of what they now class as "standard plus" without actually improving or changing the seats. While the new "Premier" seats are more comfortable, the excessive prices they charge means a family trip to the cinema is now a luxury, and not one which is worth it here.

We booked before arrival for our movie on Tuesday 10th June.The ticket/service area was not that busy. I'd say at least 10-12 people. All we wanted was to order my partner a tango ice blast. We waited in the que that did not move for 5-10min. So, I decided to order at the self-service machine. Only to then wait for around 15 minutes before it was made. In that time, the staff managed to make one large popcorn and one milkshake, the phrase busy doing nothing comes to mind. There was a lot of moving around. Picking stuff up, but not much was actually getting done. Ontop of this, the staff member at the service desk kept having to ask the staff doing food for help at the till. But having worked 8 years as a chef In the past, I know for a fact that what they had to serve isn't that hard and can definitely be done quicker. This caused most of the slow down experienced. We then got to our screen to find it was cordoned off. We went in regardless. The chairs were great and comfy, although off centre from the screen, understandable, given the fire exit. My last issue is the screen. In scenes with light blue skies or clouds, it's clearly visible that the screen is dirty. Once I picked up on that. I couldn't shake how easy it was to see. I doubt we will use this particular Odeon cinema again. For me, it's the first and last time.

Friendly staff, clean and quiet atmosphere. I had a hotdog which was tasty as well. All in all a great experience

Odeon Colchester is a fantastic cinema! The comfortable chairs make for a great viewing experience, and with 8 screens, there's always a good selection of films. The ushers are consistently friendly and welcoming, which really adds to the visit. Plus, the store offers a good variety of food and snacks, including tasty popcorn at a good price. Highly recommend!

Seats are too close together and my husband who is over 6 ft his knees touch the ones in front, very uncomfortable, I've tried the premium seats and not a fan either. The staff are lovely but the cinema isn't the best.

Wow if you want to see what Netflix has done to cinema this is the place to go. Minimal staff causing a que for the highest priced food and drinks I have ever seen with the few people in attendance. Carpets are disgusting and the actual screen room smelt like old feet and was hot. Some of the chairs have been swapped for comfier ones which was nice but I can’t imagine how cinemas make money these days sadly. For a high price experience I would not come back.

We usually love odeon cinemas nachos. However here the cheese sauce was not hot and there was not enough space for legs to be comfortable. I wouldn't return

Very atmospheric and well-kept place. We went there on a Friday evening and it wasn’t as busy as usual. Got a table very quick, drinks and atmosphere were good, food was quickly served and very tasty. Desert was also a fine little treat. Definitely worth a try.

This is a great town centre bar that serves delicious food. I have used this bar for quite some time and it never disappoints - whether visiting during the day, for some food, or meeting friends in the evening for a drink. During a recent visit, we enjoyed the food that we ate: fish and chips and the stuffed cheese burger. The burger was excellent because the beef was good quality and it was cooked very slightly pink. It also had a chilli jam relish that accompanied the rest of the burger very well. What was noticeable was how happy the staff looked and the service couldn't be faulted. The bar is dog friendly and even when our clumsy labrador knocked over his water bowl, clearing things up was not an issue. The Purple Dog caters for visitors from all walks of life and the atmosphere is also friendly and relaxed. In the evening, they have security staff but I have never seen any trouble. It is one of the few Colchester town centre pubs that serve Ghost Ship which is also an added bonus. I would highly recommend this bar.

Good food, helpful staff good place to spend time with freinds and family.

Lovely pub with a wide selection of beers and cocktails. Friendly staff and cozy atmosphere. No wonder it’s busy!

Nice atmosphere, friendly staff. Good location

Spent an afternoon at Purple Dog and found it warm and inviting. £45 for 3 drinks, 2 large mains, a side and a kids mela is very reasonable in my book for such lovely food. Highly recommend this venue as a place to come for a quick pint or two settle in for a long lunch to enjoy the ambience. Kudos also to the attentive and charming staff.

Good food with friendly, helpful staff. Nice atmosphere as well. Would recommend this pub

Saw Solstice and Ebony Buckle in concert. Cute venue and easy to get to. Worth paying for the car park via the venue as it works out cheaper.

What resurrection of an old C of E church. Great lighting. Engaging maitre d. and a fun place to listen to your fave folkies. Two bars. And the award winning cistern chapel says it all about the amenities!

A hidden gem of Colchester. Beautiful venue with charm and character. The shows and gigs here are always of a very high standard, often better than mainstream events for a smaller fee. The staff is very welcoming, nice choice of drinks and snacks at the bar. It deserves more recognition.

What a fantastic intimate venue, with a great atmosphere to watch live music, super friendly and helpful staff, well stocked bars with drinks at sensible prices. Big stage and excellent lighting facilities, this was a surprising find and I very much look forward to a return visit.

Great shows, gigs and comedy

Colchester Arts Centre is based in a former church (the Church of Saint Mary-at-the-Walls, so named because it was close to the old Roman town walls). It opened as an arts centre in 1980, and hosts a range of live events such as concerts, comedy nights and DJ sets. It's a really good venue for gigs: I was there for The Wedding Present. It's intimate and impressive. The front-of-house staff, bar staff and security team are professional and friendly. The venue is easy enough to find, on a side street just next to the Mercury Theatre. For anyone driving, St Mary's multi-storey car park is just across the main road via a footbridge.

One of my favourite venues of all time, being that they have such a variety of acts from Folk to Acid Jazz, Live Art , Comedy , Theatre - you name it. And probably the best veggie chilli you experience.

Excellent food, drinks, and service, which made for a wonderful family meal out to celebrate my granddaughter's birthday.

We sat in the gardens but no one showed up to pick up the order, so I went into the restaurant to order, I found a very boring staff there. After another15 min the food was finally on the table but a waffle the ice cream was out of date, but when I said it to the waitress she started pretending she didn't understand…

Delicious fresh food, and lovely atmosphere. Staff were really accommodating. We visited for my birthday and the resteraunt came out with the most authentic piece of tiramasu signing happy birthday, really lovely of them! Can't wait to go back and try their pizza

The restaurant is situated close to the museum. On entering, I was welcomed by the most pleasant waiters I have ever met with lovely Italian songs playing in the background, the interior is nicely decorated with rare exotic pieces and a pleasant aroma, and the temperature was warm despite the harsh cold outside making it cozy and homely, it is an amazing spot for a romantic candle dinner. On Saturdays, they have a saxophonist play all through the evening. Meals are very tasty and it is worth every penny spent. You can have your birthday party, child christening, and even a wedding reception as the ground floor can seat about 45 to 60 people. It is the best Italian restaurant in Colchester and its environs, a visit will convince you.

Very nice restaurant & varied menu. The staff very friendly & were happy to modify a dish from the menu to my friend's preference. Good portion sizes. My only grumble was the food arrived at the table luke warm and as we had waited a little while for the order to arrive we went with it. We went on a Wednesday evening and it was quiet with only 4 other busy tables. Overall though I would recommend & would return.

Overall experience was present. Good atmosphere with good service and freshly made food. The food was tasty and as per menu. Advice to book in advance as very busy. The choices for Vegetarian are limited and non for Vegans. The place is located centrally and attracts a trendy crowd. The place was moderately expensive. Choices for desserts are limited especially if you are a veg/ vegan.

What a shame. Food was good, pizza arrived with different toppings from menu but was quickly changed. Priced rather fairly for what we had I thought. Service was bad, we were seated inside, next to the door, so I asked if we could move (inside area was empty) which was greeted with a huff. As we sat I asked if we could order some drinks, huffed. Didn’t get the chance to order another round as we couldn’t find the waitress. No hand towels or dryers in the toilet I used. Had to go to the bar to request the bill. Bit of an off day perhaps.

Had an amazing afternoon tea for hen do!! Absolutely recommend!! The staff were wonderful and we all had a brilliant afternoon. I wish we could do it all again!! Food was delicious and the cocktails were unique!

Been twice and loved it. Staff were attentive, warm and friendly, food was delicious (I’m told the vegan option was good too!) and it was generally a really lovely afternoon. Highly recommended.

Best cream tea I've ever had. So fancy and the cakes and sandwiches were perfectly created. Definitely a great father's day treat!!

Took my mum and sister in law for afternoon tea and it was the best ever ! The coffee and teas were lovely and fresh . The hot scones were to die for - was all so filling we took some home in a lovely box . Staff were really helpful as my son has a nut allergy so they triple checked everything with us and the kitchen then made some swaps to make sure everything was safe . Really appreciated the care , thank you ladies ! If I could have all the decor of the tea room at home I would buy it all , visually it’s such an amazing space 😊

Great Tearoom with contemporary interior design. Ellen talked us through selection of teas, sandwiches which were delicious. Great fun teapots. The scones amazing light with fruit and plain available-best ever. Too full for macaroons and cakes so took them home in great doggy bags. Definitely comeback, thank you Ellen great service.

Fantastic afternoon tea at the George. Catered so well for gluten free. The herbal tea actually tastes beautiful. The staff make you feel like your visiting friends. Just lovely. Will be back for sure.

Lovely afternoon tea experience, good range of teas and great sandwiches and cakes in a relaxing environment. Worked around vegetarian requirements very well too and staff were all lovely!

These imposing ruins were part of one of the first Augustinian priories in England. They've stood at the heart of the community since the 1100s and are a fine example of early Norman architecture. The church was built in flint and reused Roman brick. It showcases massive circular pillars, round arches and an elaborate west front. It was badly damaged by cannon fire during the Civil War siege of 1648 and was never repaired.

A little let down by the place being a hang out for the local pot heads. However handy for a view of the Roman walls and a short walk to Colchester castle

Beautiful ruins but not much to see and the surrounding area is not inspiring.

Apart from the drunks it's an amazing place. Very atmospheric.

Went St Botolph's Priory to have look around as it was okay only 30 mins then left.

Wonderful ruins and definitely worth visiting.

Stunning. Highly recommended to visit this heritage to witness the amazing historic buildings.

A little gem of a pub tucked in the heart of Colchester city centre, just by the castle and park. The atmosphere is very warm, the staff are very friendly and welcoming. The food is amazing. It just happened to be St Patrick's day on my last visit and the place was buzzing with friendly locals and a live Irish, couldn't resist the temptation of an Irish stew.

Best roast beef dinner we have had for a long time very good fresh vegetables.Lovely atmosphere. Great for children with lots of games. And very clean toilets.

A small pub, tucked away close to Castle Park. I was passing and noticed the kitchen was open. Ronnie and the chef mentioned that roast dinners were available as soon as I walked in. I had an excellent Sunday roast consisting of a decent portion of beef, a good selection of vegetables, a Yorkshire pudding and a separate dish of cauliflower cheese.

Just had an outstanding set of chick wraps from Holly. At an outstanding price and I must say the food was of great standard. Will be back again!

We booked here randomly for our yearly Christmas/friend’s birthday gathering, what a wonderful little gem. Holly is superb landlady decor , the social media competition , huge jar gravy bones available for your furry friends , darts , and much much more. You made us feel really welcomed and right at home. Food was lovely Brie wedges and onion rings delicious. Cocktails we had many Apple strudel was my favourite! Shots squashed Elf 🤣 yum. Will definitely be returning. Felt so cosy and we laughed so much.

Fun, friendly and cozy local Colchester pub. Slightly tucked away but well worth searching out. Friendly and professional staff, good food and importantly clean beer. A nice changing selection of Ales. Definitely one to recommend. A large car park is situated close by if that’s your thing, bus stops also a two minute walk.

Awful service today 18th may 25, waited 30 mins for a cup of tea, to be told they were waiting for the boiler to heat up. Greasy eggs, definitely won't be going back.

Outstanding service from the gentlemen on the bar on 11/12/25 evening. Really knowledgeable and friendly and a brilliant selection of home brewed beers at competitive prices. I was just visiting for one night and had a brilliant time at this pub.

Mac and team were absolutely amazing! My husband and I booked our wedding reception quite short notice at OMB and he more than delivered the perfect night for us! OMB is such an amazing gem, with great food and drinks. The place completely fits our vibes with the dark blues and greens and Tudor interior! Highly recommend. Although we were at max capacity the were no issues and service remained smooth throughout.

Had a lovely visit to the taproom, tried a Bao with beef brisket which was nice, as well as obviously trying a variety of beers! What I particularly liked was that you could get a tasting rack of 3 x third pints and thus try a selection of beers you perhaps wouldn't otherwise try. Following some of the social media, it looks like they are adding a few more menu items / special food days, so will be keeping an eye on those!

Great selection of craft beers, more of their own brews coming on line shortly. Friendly staff who are well informed of all the current rotation of beers. Food looks great although we were not eating we were given a selection of roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings on the house, washed down with a int of Deya Hazy IPA , faultless 👌🏻

Saturday evening - not too busy upstairs, but still had a nice atmosphere. Love the open wooden roof beams. Decent ales.

Good place, good food, good service.. location wise is easy to find as it is right in the heart of Colchester Town.. parking is bit tricky but i guarantee you wont regret the experience you get.. Big thanks to the restaurant staff and chef for making our Valentine Dinner so special and memorable..

Great selection of craft beer from new England hazy and juicy IPAs to creamy stout, awesome vibe and décor with friendly staff and fair prices. Worth a visit for any craft beer enthusiast.

Nice little place if you fancy a German or Belgian beer! Also have a few other drinks including some more unusual ciders. I had a cherry beer that was really quite good... It's a small place, and it's definitly a bit different to other places you can go drinking in Colchester... if you like a 'trim and proper' type of bar then perhaps not for you as it does feel a bit all over the place in terms of decor!

If you enjoy Belgian-style beers then this is the place for you. An unrivalled bottle range plus some specials on draught, alongside some local beers and real ciders. It’s on the small side so can get busy but the staff are happy to chat and help you with your beer choices. I believe there is live music some nights also. Well worth a visit if you are in town.

A nice authentic pub with a good selection of beers. The only minuses are that it's quite cold inside since the pub is in a very old house + it's a bit overpriced.

Great atmosphere and friendly bar staff, there is frequently live music playing too and a nice outdoor seating area

Called in for a couple of beers Ona visit to Colchester, great selection of beers and very nice service

A quaint little pub with much to offer both locals and visitors is the Queen Street Brewhouse. The day I visited the bar man was so helpful and knowledgeable on the many choices of beers and ales that they offered. The toilets were also very clean.

Huge selection of beers and very friendly staff. It has a traditional pub atmosphere which is great. They have events and live music some weekends so have a look to see what’s on. You must visit this place!

Highly recommend. Friendly staff. Clean and tidy. Food is amazing and great value for money.

Me and my family had our first roast at the Live and Let Live today and the food was delicious. Proper home cooked and with all the roast trimmings! The pub was a bit quiet though and could have done with some background music, but everything else was perfect!

3 of us had afternoon tea as a little celebration of my daughter finishing school! Oh my god, it was amazing! Food was absolutely lovely and the service was fantastic!! Good price! I would highly recommend this especially if you fancy a treat!!! Thank you for making it a wonderful afternoon x

This pub is tucked down a little lane, which to be honest unless you know it is there you probably wouldn't notice. Have popped in a couple of times a few years back, but not recently. Had noticed that they have a garden so decided to go again and sit outside. Whilst there we then decided to get some food. Food was well priced and good size, and tasted good too. They also have kids meals, but these were £5 which isn't quite as well priced as the adult meals...! They also have plenty of drinks choices, the wife particularly liked the gins. A few craft type beers and proper cider also available. The garden has some beach hut style areas to sit but also picnic benches. Fair bit of space outside. Staff were friendly and were able to recommend drinks which is always nice when your not sure...!

Great Family run old style pub , many different beers and Ciders. Amazing Food , Especially for the price. Sunday Roast is so popular your best to book first . Lovely Atmosphere and well worth a visit . Great Sun ☀️ trap garden in the Summer. I would Strongly recommend this Pub for a family visit or if on your own you will be welcomed. I myself Enjoy going to the Live and Let Live whenever I get the chance. Tuesday is only day there is No kitchen. Ps best Pub around Colchester because it’s a real pub with plenty of activities!! X Dominic.

Pete and Geraldine have done a great job with this place since they took over, quite a few years ago now. Extensive food menu, plenty of drinks on tap, as well as catering for some local brews, changed on a regular basis. Their beer and sausage or pie weekends are always a hit with locals and others from further afield. A la carte it's not but if you're after a good, honest and friendly local , give this a go.

Great food, fantastic welcome, great selection of beer, gin and cider. Definitely go there again.

Not alot to report here. Little village pub selling beers and food. Little beer garden out the back with some benches and swings. Nice staff. WiFi

Friendly bar staff and a clean, though compact, environment. Two big thumbs up for stocking grab bag sized Monster Munch and the uncommon Scampi Fries. Just a TARDIS needed to get Cheese Moments and I'd be in pub snack Heaven.

A friendly welcoming atmosphere. Good bartenders. A nice local pub that regularly has live music. Well worth a visit. Prosecco was delicious

I was only there a short time but I can say very good staff on duty and I enjoyed the Garden area as well briefly thank you

Lovely food. Great service

This is the first time that I've visited this public house since 1988. And I have found it to be quite honest and relaxing. The draft Guinness was beautiful, very nice. In fact it was excellent. So good that I will be going back for more very soon. 😎, Cool.

This is one of the nicest pubs ever. That’s what I heard, and it’s true. Nice tea and crisps. The students came in, 1/2 way through and in a nice way it was a glorious riot, during and when they left after their party. Staff are lovely. I will visit again! If I could give 6* I would

Always a pleasant experience but especially today. All the baristas are friendly but a young man named Lucas was very welcoming and went the extra mile. He spoke to everyone he served, held the door open to a customer who was holding a tray and made sure we had everything we needed. Clearly enjoys his job and makes sure his customers are looked after. Please pass on our thanks.

Worst Costa I have been to. Floor and chairs dirty and unable to use the app.

Good service here, no wait at all. Glad to find some new additions to the Gluten-free range, I tried the Millionaires Shortbread which was quite pleasant and went well with my Cortardo. The good thing about Costas is the Coffee is consistent whichever one you go to. I have a passion for Coffee and am disappointed frequently when using individual Coffee houses that serve scalding watery Coffee. Well done to the Staff here!

We have just been in this store (Turners Rise) to get our usual coffee. We bring our own reusable china cups and the lady said she cannot serve us as our China cups do mot have lids. The China cups they use in store do not have lids. We have been using this store for the last couple of years. We will not use this store again. She is definitely a jobs worth. Such a rude .lady. We have not seen her before and hope we never see her again. Costa you need to sort this out. We use the one in Clacton too and have never been refused

Without sounding offensive I was served by an older lady who couldn't have gone any further out of her way to be polite and happy. Such a refreshing change in the Colchester Costas! The barista was also chatty and made a lovely decaff latte. Thank you for making my solo trip very enjoyable.

Absolutely delish skimmed de caf flat white in Turners Rise. Colchester. Essex. We had broken down and were waiting for recovery to pick us up. If you had to break down that was the place to be 😊

Good service. Sofas / chairs and tables needed a good clean though.

Mixed Experience at Aqua Spa Aqua Spa is a lovely place with some great features, but my recent visit as a disabled user highlighted significant issues with front desk service that truly marred the experience. The spa pools are quite nice, and the facility itself is generally clean. The spa staff are very lovely, and there's a particular lady who handles food and drinks who is brilliant and very polite. I also want to commend a "bigger guy" at the front desk; he was incredibly helpful and made my life much easier, demonstrating excellent customer service. However, my experience was severely impacted by one particular front desk employee. Despite having my carer's details linked to my card, this "stroppy" lady questioned my disability, stating my PIP payments weren't sufficient and demanding to see proof of Universal Credit. This was incredibly rude, unhelpful, and frankly, felt like she was "taking the piss" out of me and my brother. She caused my disabled brother to waste six hours trying to sort out his membership, only for her to leave before the issue was resolved. Her attitude was completely unacceptable and she really needs to be sacked. For future improvements, I'd suggest adding heated sunbeds – I think they would make a fantastic addition to the spa experience. More importantly, there's a clear need for better training for all front desk staff, particularly regarding empathy and understanding of disability access and appropriate documentation. No one should have to endure such a disrespectful and unhelpful encounter. Overall, while Aqua Spa has wonderful facilities and most of its staff are excellent, the negative interaction with one individual significantly detracted from what could have been a truly relaxing visit.

Could be better. Take a padlock with you, as most of the coin operated lockers are broken and the staff seem pretty unconcerned about it. The cafe was closed at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon, so couldn't get a cuppa or a snack. The poolside was very slippery and wasn't swept very often (once in the 2+hrs I was there) and there was a mystery object (maybe a hairball, or a poo?) sitting on the side of the hydrotherapy pool that everyone including the cleaner seemed to be politely ignoring. All in all, AquaSprings has become a bit worn out and nobody seems to want to put much effort in to making it the relaxing and enjoyable afternoon out that it once was.

It’s a great spa and I’ll explain at the end why I put 4 stars on the review, firstly it’s an amazing place for the entry fee you spend, you get, a spa pool and 2 different depths of hydrotherapy pools, a cooling pool and cold plunge, Steam room, monsoon shower and cold bucket, you get a Salt inhalation room, Aromatherapy room 2 types of saunas, ones a smaller volcano sauna while the.other is a big steam sauna, all packaged in a nice Mediterranean/roman/greek style which makes it very nice, I also like the ambiance of it all, you get 6hrs free parking and plenty of areas to chillax, I also love the whole idea of a public spa being able to continuously fund and refit the spa unlike some private places I’ve been to, the only bad thing I have experienced (why I put 4 star) which isn’t the end of the world is that the non management staff aren’t trained on accepting Hussle passes even though the Spa do take it, please train your staff on taking the Hussle passes number thanks, this would make the experience a bit better and saves time for you too! Other than that I’ll be coming here again as I do love the place but they just need to train their staff fully as they do accept Hussle and most of the normal staff don’t seem to know this Lastly I cannot attach pictures as by policy you cannot take photos unless management approve which is great for privacy

Mixed Experience at Aqua Spa: Declining Standards, Discriminatory Practices, and Accessibility Concerns My recent experiences at Aqua Spa have been deeply disappointing, marked by a noticeable decline in facility standards, frustrating membership issues, and concerning accessibility shortcomings. What once seemed like a potentially relaxing escape has, unfortunately, devolved into a source of considerable stress and frustration. Upon renewing my membership, I was dismayed to discover it had been inexplicably disabled. Further inquiry revealed a discriminatory policy limiting entry times, making it virtually impossible for me to utilize the facilities given my 4:30 PM work finish. This not only negates the very purpose of a membership but also unfairly targets disabled individuals who, like myself, are employed and rely on a spa's flexibility. It's a baffling decision that completely disregards the diverse needs and schedules of your patrons. Beyond the administrative headaches, the physical state of the spa is concerning. The facility appears to be "falling apart," indicating a severe lack of maintenance and investment. Even more disturbing are the conditions within the disabled changing rooms, which on multiple occasions have been plagued by a "strong smell of urine," rendering them unpleasant and unhygienic. This is simply unacceptable for any public facility, let alone one purporting to offer wellness services, and raises serious questions about the spa's commitment to basic cleanliness and accessibility for all. Furthermore, reports of "money stolen from lockers" and "other items" add to a growing sense of insecurity and distrust. When combined with the general disrepair, it paints a picture of a facility that is significantly "going downhill." I am particularly confused as to why the council continues to support a facility that is so demonstrably not disabled-friendly. It's imperative that Aqua Spa understands that not all disabled people are unemployed; many, like myself, work and struggle to balance their professional lives with their personal well-being. A spa should be a place of respite, not another hurdle. Aqua Spa urgently needs to address these multifaceted issues. The rooms are in desperate need of updating, and the discriminatory membership policies must be immediately revised to accommodate working disabled individuals. Most critically, the spa must prioritize cleanliness, security, and genuine accessibility for all its patrons. Until these fundamental problems are rectified, I cannot recommend Aqua Spa, and I urge potential visitors and the council alike to consider these serious deficiencies.

Whose stupid idea was it to change the entrance ticket? Will you soon be taking a blood test to allow entry? Was a good place to relax. Now I'll have to find another place to relax. 🤦🏻🤦🏻 ""Barlocksshait"" about safety monitor

Great place . There are plenty of rooms, of which 2 are dry saunas 2 steam rooms. 2 pools ,a jacuzzi and another room which is a steam roo. But isn't that heated, which maybe be nice for those people that can not take too much heat.( yes there are some, not me though. ). You can book online . Free parking. Register your car at reception.

Absolutely 👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻 What they done is absolutely 👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻 Not going to go here anymore. if you're policy not changed , Why then a woman at the entrance not letting me in without registration.. this weekend (13-09-35) ? put a sign on your doors that only those who are registered in the system can visit so that I no longer travel from another city to Colchester

Lovely receptive welcome, service was very good. The food piping hot and very nicely cooked, certainly not a scrimped meal. Would thoroughly recommend.

The Castle Inn is a large impressive pub with a contemporary feel. There is a wide selection of draft drinks, including four hand-pulled cask conditioned real ales from Timothy Taylors brewery. The ones we tried were in excellent condition. I haven't tried the food, so i can't comment, but the menu looked very tempting. There is a nice large outside seating area. The staff are very welcoming and the pub is dog friendly.

What a lovely pub! I got stuck in Colchester with my cat due to my train being cancelled. I got kicked out of another pub as they didn’t allow animals, so I made my way towards the town centre and ended up here. So glad I did! I just wanted something light to eat and a pint, I was glad to find they had buildable salads. Had a salad with prawns, which were cooked to perfection. Lovely atmosphere and the staff was wonderful (and loved cats). Wish we had such a nice pub were I live! Definitely coming back if I am ever in Colchester again.

Management are absolutely fantastic , makes you feel welcome and recommended a new lager for me to try with a sample, the area outside is excellent and well maintained to a high standard. The actual bar area is beautifully finished with a modern / rustic charm. Brilliant selection of beers and spirits including Japanese whiskies.

Great pub serving fantastic Timothy Taylor’s Cask Ales. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. Perfectly situated on the high street, right next to the iconic castle.

We visited early on a Saturday night. We were looking for somewhere to have a drink and an evening meal with our 12 year old. We had wandered up and down the high street and couldn't find anything to suit us. Then we happened upon the Castle Inn. Atmosphere was lovely. Not to noisy. But comfortably busy. We ordered the Meat platter for 3 of us to share. The food and the staff were excellent. One of the best meals out we've had for as long as we can remember. Great potions of really well cooked food and topped off by a great price and really helpful and friendly staff. We may never visit Colchester again. But if we do we will be stopping here. Great work from everyone here from bar staff to kitchen. Loved it. Thank you.

Went with my parents for lunch, sat outside. We shared some Taster/starters, food was excellent. The young lad that served us was fantastic, friendly, attentive and had a great sense of humour.

A decent pint of Guinness and not too expensive, a great outdoor space to enjoy the fine weather but a ridiculous bar design that results in a long queue across the pub. Understaffed on busy days so won't return.

Tried to order a mocktail for 17 year old daughter but told needed ID for a non alcoholic drink as there could be alcohol in it - despite being advertised as alcohol free!! When trying to order food using blue light card for a discount, was told could only use it if linked with the Greene King app. Neither blue light app of GK app stated this but she still refused to take apply relevant discount despite all proof being there - felt like they just couldn’t be bothered to serve us

Great dog friendly pub, with excellent food, the staff were excellent attentive and helpful, the pub quiz on the Tuesday was great fun and very well run. The beer garden is also excellent. Over all a great experience well worth s visit.

Don’t book a large group event here unless you want them to completely mess up your booking!!! One of the managers Jodi was very rude and so unhelpful, such a shame as I had previously had good experiences. I had originally booked for 28 people and arranged tables in the outside area. I was told that if I wanted to move the booking inside I would need to ring and email and pay a deposit. To mention also, I was told that no one in our party of 28 people would be able to order food as the kitchen wouldn’t be able to cope (I would like to know if they would have said no to 28 people booked separately ordering food). I then decided to move it to inside, so emailed the correct email address with no response. I also phoned and moved the booking inside which was confirmed on the phone, and at this time there was no mention of a deposit needed for this. After turning up to our booking, we were told that the tables were not available inside because no deposit was paid (no deposit was mentioned on the phone when i moved the booking to inside). I was then told that I should have emailed as this was how they would have requested the deposit if not over the phone, when I showed them the email I sent, I was told ‘ohh this must have gone into our junk’. Complete shambles of a service, would never book here again!!!!

Nice outdoor area. Dog friendly and decent food. New menu with tapas style food and portions are big and tasty! Nice selection of beers and ciders on tap and for summer it's an amazing and large suntrap.

When planning an overnight stay between jobs I found this little gem of a place on booking dot com. Firstly the room, i stayed in no.7, part of the new building. It was decorated and furnished to an amazingly high standard, and was so comfortable. One of the reasons I chose this place was for the desk, I had 2 hours work at my laptop to complete before morning. I had dinner at the restaurant, amazing pub food, fresh and homemade. The Adnams beer was kept well too. Breakfast was equally as good as the dinner, and it arrived pretty quick after ordering. Overall I hope to go back if work ever comes in over in the East.

Brilliant staff, well run and great service. Anna has been fabulous today, such a good pick me up. Toilets out of order though.

Walkabout has a good atmosphere, chilled fun vibes. All the staff are friendly especially the Manager Jonhy, his always been very welcoming and helpful to me, and many other customers. The drinks are fairly priced and the food is good. The toilets are clean compared to most alcoholic drinking establishments, also the music is good here, a mixture of genres so something for everyone. Overall good experience.

This is my new spot! Music was great and food was fantastic. I'll recommend our server, Esther as well - she was the best and made our experience ten times more worth it, give her a raise!!

I had a bottomless brunch served by Jonhy who gave 5 star service! He was very welcoming and made our bottomless brunch a very good experience. I would definitely recommend!

I had a wonderful experience thanks to Esther! The service was exceptional, and she was incredibly attentive and friendly. Esther went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect, making my visit truly enjoyable. Highly recommend her.

Had a great time at the bar! Esther was such a wonderful server—friendly, attentive, and made the experience so enjoyable. Will definitely be coming back!

Lovely pub and club. Bustling with a very rock and roll kinda crowd . I loved the atmosphere. The bar is fully stocked and they sell this salted peanuts that are to die for. DJ knew his stuff too.

Went to walkabout for my birthday where me and my friends couldn’t fault the atmosphere and vibe, Jonhy served us countless times and made our experience even better, presented and served with a Smile and very friendly. Drinks were quick despite it being busy. Definitely recommend for a night out !

Parking. Plenty of space, but Paying was a nightmare. It took several attempts, various methods and 25 minutes for success. Several others had the same problems. Easily accessible for all. Nice sized hall. We went see country by candlelight. Good seating. Even left some floor space for those who wanted to dance. There was also a bar. Can't say what was being served or comment on price. Don't drink. The music was loud. Trouble is sometimes too loud. Couldn't hear the words. We also had a group sat near us which insisted on chatting/shouting through first half. Second half they stayed on the floor near to us and carried on their conversation for some time. Unfortunately staff did not ask them to quieten down at all. This ruined for several people. Yes it's nice to chat with friends but not at the expense of others enjoyment. The first half was a little slow but the second half was a real party. The music was brilliant and practically everyone was up out of their seats dancing. All in all it was a fairly good night out.

Attended the North Essex Expo at Charter Hall and was really impressed! It’s a fantastic venue - spacious, well-equipped, and ideal for large events. Free parking for both exhibitors and visitors is a huge bonus and made the day even smoother. The main hall had great facilities, and the on-site café was a nice touch for grabbing a coffee or bite to eat. Overall, it was a well-run event in a great location. Highly recommended for exhibitions and large gatherings!

Nice space for holding concerts and other entertainment. Stage at the front and bar area at the back. Toilets out in the foyer. Probably getting a little tired now but still good space for entertainment.

Amazing night with Rock Orchestra! Great music, great energy, had a fab time! Only complaint would be the narrow seats, difficulty parking, and an extremely long wait to leave the carpark but worth it!

Got the pleasure to see Lutherlive at Charter Hall. It was a pleasure, lutherlive with the band and trio were amazing. Charter Hall was a great venue, easy to park at and well organised.

Visited here last Saturday for a gaming convention. Despite the number of car parks (chargeable) around the hall there weren't any free bays, so I had to park in a side road opposite. The venue was ok. There appeared to be only one less able toilet which also doubled as a baby changing room. There are other activities on the site as there is a bowling alley and a swimming pool independent to the hall. These require additional payment.

We bought VIP tickets for The music of Fleetwood Mac 11.10.25. The seats were appallingly uncomfortable. Very narrow width, worse than Ryan air! They were not in tiers so the view of the stage was blocked by the person in front. As for the quality of the sound, it was dreadful to the point we left during the interval. It was extremely disappointing. We thought the sound engineer had taken the night off. If Charter hall management think this is acceptable for VIP seating, they need to think again. We will never go to another music event if held there. Masses of room for improvement.

I feel conflicted writing this as I adore this business but I have some complaints. It's the only place worth going for a night out in Colchester. The live music is always phenomenal, they always manage to get the most amazing vocalists for Facedown. There's a wide variety of activities offered every night, truly something for everyone. Punk, ska, jazz, metal, rock, pop, indie and open mic nights are available. And I have to say the venue theme is beautifully done. But too many times I have had a negative experience here. And it's nothing to do with the staff or the business itself but rather the people who go there. I have had hate speech and slurs yelled at me and my boyfriend at the bar. On punk night, the mosh pit got so ridiculously dangerous and one man pulled my friend at the time's necklace right off their neck. The staff only stepped in after this had already happened but not before when they should have seen it becoming dangerous. Not to mention the countless times I have been groped or harassed there. It doesn't feel like a safe space anymore for me and my friends. I say this because I believe that there can be improvements made, it was a safe space before and it can be again. Please train staff to spot these things before they occur and for bouncers to actively escort people off the premises who are promoting hate speech. Thank you.

I had the absolute worst experience at this venue. I started my Friday night with friends, enjoying the music, and then my phone got stolen. When I asked a staff member for help, I was accused of taking drugs and completely ignored when I needed help the most. It was incredibly offensive, especially after spending my time and money there. I asked to talk to the manager multiple times, and finally, a young lady came to help me look for my phone. While I'm grateful for her help, the attitude of the other staff member was so rude and unkind that I will never come back again.

Played here with my band days ago and genuinely love this place! Great dive bar for everyone alternative and beyond. Friendly staff and venue promoter very nice.. recommended! Hope to be playing here again or attending gig there xxx

People of all ages, live music the night we were there. This varies of course. But I am yet to have an issue on my many visits. And they held onto my partners lost phone for us when someone handed it in.

The best live music venue in town. The place always feels cool, and later on it always reliably turns on the party atmosphere. I've been a customer and musician several times now, and it's absolutely my favourite place to play in the area.

Recently visited for first time to watch a band with friends, I was surprised that it was a mixed age group of customers all enjoying a brilliant band, good service and atmosphere, highly recommended.

This is a great place,good choice of drinks and live music

Adam the manager and Georgia went out there way to help us. We really appreciate it. Georgia make made the best bubbly candy cocktail I've ever had. Will be back 100%

Really great cocktails, good selection and actually made to order by experienced bar staff. Good value if having multiple of the same

Don't go. It is not safe. People were nearly killed by falling masonry today as the building is falling apart.

Good bar for the weekend. Has a Dj playing a mixture of dance music. Good selection of drinks and some lovely cocktails. The place has a more mature crowd.

Service was good. Good selection on top shelf. Good place to start your day with the boys

Great night out on the weekend. Drinks were spot on and staff made me feel comfortable and welcomed.

Nice little Bar with Friendly Service. There is seating outside and with the good weather we have had this year it is regularly used. Good selection of drinks. Also a good refreshment place while waiting for the Bus.

The best place to drink in Colchester. Everyone who works there is awesome. Dog friendly. Excellent selection.

This is what a bottle shop and coffee bar should be! Superior selection of canned and bottled domestic and imported beers that have been lovingly curated. Great selection of rotating beers on tap and delicious coffee to drink in and speciality beans to take home. You will not find a better selection of beers to drink in Colchester.

Cracking little place with a superb range of beers and friendly staff. Does sometimes get pretty busy but that's no bad thing

Always enjoy a quick visit to Two Brews. Paul is always willing to chat and recommend the latest beers (or coffee, spirits & cigars) and there’s even more fun to be had if Dennis is around. A great selection of beers, covering all styles from all over the world - there really IS something for everyone!

Beer, coffee and cigar lovers paradise! So much choice and very friendly staff. Amazing downstairs area with the old architecture that comes from one of England's oldest towns. Highly recommended.

If you like coffee and love craft beer then Two Brews is like walking into a wet dream. The landlord allows tastings so it's win win. Amazing selection of beers with a very knowledgeable host.

Huge selection of canned and bottle craft beers and also some on tap. They also have a variety of coffee but I didn’t try. They appear to do different events too so check that out. Looks small from the outside but there is more seating downstairs. I will definitely be back. Lovely place!