Great for your more expensive outlets. Designer clothes, shoes, food and household. Although all designer still cheaper than in the Cities etc. Not too busy as visited on a Monday. Great shopping and great food.

Fun place for shopping at good prices, lots of options for any budget. Many places for lunch as well! We liked it and recommend to visit!

Great place to visit for big brands and save some money. Plenty of parking across the road but it does have a 6 hour max parking limit. I know this is plenty of time but if you spend the day here shopping, eating and using the cinema or swimming pool, you could easily be here longer than 6 hours. So just be conscious of time. There are disabled and parent and child spaces available. There was some building work going on in the car park today so a lot of the parent and child spaces were inaccessible but this will only be temporary. Plenty of restaurants to choose from in the retail park side and there are a few in the village too. There are some smaller vans/cafés inside the shopping area too. Only knocked off a star because there a quite a few empty units and it's really noticeable. Definitely needs some other shops opening up soon. Overall it's a great place that I'd recommend any time.

Not overly busy on a Monday lunchtime. Parking spaces are a bit tight, especially for the larger vehicles.

This place is fantastic for shopping, offering a diverse range of items. The best part? Parking is free for the first 6 hours! I couldn’t get enough of the Nike store, where you got an amazing 50% off all footwear I'll definitely be returning soon.

Great shopping outlet with plenty of both high street and designer shops so you can buy pretty much anything. There are also numerous restaurants so everybody is catered for. Ample parking and easy to get to. The shops are all outdoors so remember a coat in the winter! Will definitely go back.

I have visited this outlet location after a long time. Some stuff deserve attention but overall it's not as cheap as you expect to be for an outlet. Good vibe , a place to go out for an afternoon especially during the weekend. Avoid places like Nike outlet or any other over hyped brand, being packed with people messing everything shelved or displayed. Coffee is coffee, sweets are sweets, parking your car and getting out need skills, energy and time. If you're local, great, if not.....

A nice shopping village. Parking spaces are a bit tight, especially for the larger, modern cars. Not overly busy on a Monday lunchtime.

Love the Freeport village. A lovely place to walk round and to get a bargain. Makes for a nice little shopping trip with the family. Then after go and grab a nice meal from one of the many restaurants. Can't wait to move and be closer

First time visiting today with my partner and it was a beautiful experience. We didn't realise how big it was. Always thought it was expensive designer shops but they were all reasonable and shops we liked. Seeing as i am 7 months pregnant, we spent a good amount of time in the haribo shop and came out with many goodies. The staff were all cheerful and lovely. We had fun at the food festival this weekend, visited the hot dog stand which was reasonably priced for how big the food was. We then treated ourselves to the waffle stand. The lady on this food truck was so lovely and had wonderful customer service. We had a lovely chat and a great laugh whilst waiting for our waffle sticks to be made. Toilets were clean and continuously had cleaners in to keep check on them. Overall it was a great afternoon and we would definitely be back :)

Busy designer outlet village with excellent selection of shops (only a couple of units empty) and restaurants and another retail park with larger stores and cinema across road. Disappointed to see premium shopper parking much closer to the entrance than the disabled parking. Clean toilets.

Great dog friendly shopping village. The best bit, most of the shops welcome our four legged family members as well x

A nice place to spend an afternoon. Range of shops and restaurants is quite good. I find sometimes I come away with loads and others nothing at all. Does get busy so worth avoiding the middle of the day.

Excellent Service for disabled . The brought a wheelchair to my car helped disabled passenger and collected it from car park at end of visit. Disabled toilets are spotless. Planned to go to Norwich but no mobility Service on Mondays. Freeport for next shopping trip!

The White Hart is a brilliant public house and an amazing restaurant. The staff are so attentive and caring. Have used the restaurant on several occasions the service and the food quality have been faultless ever time. The staff that I have met (Ben and Josh) have been focused on delivering a first-class service. Keep up the good work.... Thank you.. Gerry

The food doesn't fit this place but in the best way. The place is run down. Chairs breaking, dirty glasses, stained cutlery, sticky tables and the service is shocking. We visited in a quiet period with a constant flow of managers walking back and forth so don't know if this impacted the service. The girl with make up cakes on her face did not have a clue what was going on. She cleared half our table but left the other half. We waited 1hr for food, however I think it's all freshly made to order and it tasted AMAZING! Fishcakes were spot on, really made everything else bearable. The chef needs to set up their own place! 😃

Stayed here as we were visiting Chelmsford racecourse. The room was spacious, the staff friendly and helpful. Our only disappointment was the breakfast. Everything was overdone. A conversation with the manager resolved this though. It's a big old building in need of some refurbishment / update, but on the whole it has great character. If we were in the area again we'd probably stop here again.

We visited The White Hart yesterday for an afternoon tea while catching up with my partner’s grandparents. The team were incredibly helpful and accommodating, making us feel very welcome from the moment we arrived. The afternoon tea itself was excellent - a lovely selection and variety of food, all beautifully presented and delicious! We would highly recommend and will certainly be back again in the future.

The staff are friendly, service was great. Had a nice rare rump steak with a couple of very nicely kept pints of Abbott, would definitely recommend and visit again. Thank you

Came as a wedding guest, and WOW Food was absolutely amazing, the 3 course meal and the buffet, really delicious The staff were very attentive and really lovely Just one complaint, the function room was so hot, with no proper ventilation, making it a little uncomfortable. A few fans or portable air con unit would be a great asset Otherwise absolutely brilliant and a great day had by all, thank you x

The day we arrived at the white hart hotel, we were greeted by Lauren. She noticed I had a big heavy suitcase &straight away she offered to take it up the stairs. So kind hearted. I was so grateful for her help. Also Ben and Gemma were absolutely amazing always seeing to our needs and making sure we were happy with our stay with there excellent service. Would also like to thank the wonderful house keepers. Stefanie, julie aga dana &june. Such a hard working ladies who do amazing job perfectly. Our stay at the white hart hotel & the experience has been absolutely fantastic made by the caring friendly team. Dina & Neal

Lovely Greek restaurant with delicious food and a great atmosphere. The staff were really friendly and welcoming, and the service was excellent. I was also really pleased that they offer a Blue Light discount , a thoughtful touch that makes you feel valued. Definitely recommend and will be coming back

This was a very endearing company to come & open at Braintree Freeport. When I was going to eat there for the first time, we were early until its opening on midday & there I was accesing. The place I sat in felt like I was on a vacation in Greece & being at a Greek hotel. Especially with those stripy seats coloured like the flag of Greece. Oh baby, they spoiled me with the rich olives, tiers of plates of Greek Salad, bread & meat (I e: lamb, pork) that I was excited to feast on (I am a carnivore unfortunately). Then, I was heartwarmed by my dessert than custard in filo-pastry with vanilla ice cream on top (I never saw that before). Got that burning love. I will forever have a audacity to return there one day.

We had such a lovely meal for my Dad’s birthday! The service was so good and the waiters so friendly. We all had the set menu and it was delicious. We were lucky to be the golden menu winners :) Silvia was amazing! 🙏🏼

Worst of the chain water 40 min for our food They must visit the Stratford brunch to learn ! The courgette frites were like small fried meatballs , well burnt , the taramasala was some running white sauce ?!? The flatbread was wet and not what it should be The quinoa salad was blunt and watery Never have I ever regretted eating out ! Stay away or prepare to be disappointed

This was one of the most underwhelming dining experiences I’ve had in a while. The portions were shockingly small – even the salad came in a tiny bowl that felt more like a garnish than an actual dish. For the prices they charge, the value is simply not there. You leave feeling like you’ve paid a lot and eaten very little. Definitely not worth the money, and I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone looking for a proper meal. There are far better options out there.

After a day filled with shopping, we decided to dine at The Real Greek, as its one of my favourite restaurant chains and I absolutely love Greek cuisine. We were a family of 5 and we served by the lovely waitress called Vicki. Her service was absolutely brilliant and she amazed me when she took our order, but didn't write anything down. She brought our order out and ro my surprise...everything was what we ordered. Such a good memory. I had the pork souvlaki and it didn't fail to disappointment. A generous portion filled with pork, fries, tzatziki, onion and the wrap. So delicious. We also had a Greek salad to share. Omg...simply the best. Relaxing atmosphere. Brilliant customer service by all staff especially Vicki. Would definitely recommend this branch and will definitely be back.

Really lovely waitress (Jasmine) and the food was amazing some of the best calamari I've had in a while. The humous was also really flavourful and everything was seasoned well. I had a great experience with great food and friendly staff.

Popped in here after staying in Braintree for the night and our Hotel closing their restaurant at 8 o'clock, booked online travelling down, parked at Sainsbury's, Sunday after 4pm free, less than 2 mins walk to the restaurant, the amazing aroma from the grill as we approached put a smile on both our faces having travelled from N Wales we were famished, greetes with a lovely welcome as we entered by staff, nice, clean stylish decor inside, ordered 2 pints of Efes to start, followed by some complimentary warm bread pieces with a slight spice sauce and a yogurt one arrived shortly after, we ordered 2 mixed grills were presented at the table fairly quickly, and must say was one of the best, both of us in agreement booking a table was the right decision, thanks to you all for a lovely meal and making us welcome

Had our wedding meal / reception at Mosaic for 24 people. The restaurant is very stylish & the interior is very tastefully done. The staff were very attentive & nothing was too much trouble . The food was plentiful, very tasty, hot & well presented. We all ate together and everyone enjoyed their food & drinks. A special ‘thank you’ to Ebru who made sure everything was perfect for ‘my special day’. She made sure we had everything we needed for the day. Everyone commented on what a great venue Mosaic is & I am so glad we had our wedding meal here. Thank you team - Anita & Andy 🤗

Absolutely fantastic!! The best espresso martini I’ve ever had, the baklava was delicious, and the staff were so friendly! Our waitress Ebru was delightful and completely perfect, we could not have had a better experience!

First time experience in Braintree Mosaic Turkish Restaurant. We have tried the branch in Chelmsford which was impressive. The presentation and quality were very good. The food has always been amazing, flavourful, well-presented, and consistently great. We ordered deep fry calamari and lamb musaka. Initially we were served with some complimentary warm bread pieces with a slight spice sauce and a yogurt one.The fresh bread served before mains is one of the best ever had. Service is too quick but effective. Delicious food & calm and quiet atmosphere, service was brilliant too. Would definitely recommend.

Came here tonight for our 8 year anniversary meal and hadn’t been since the refurb. The restaurant looks beautiful and spacious and we had the best time. Food was spectacular and the staff were so friendly and attentive. We can’t wait to come back already.

On Friday I went into mosaic restaurant for the first time, I was greeted by the friendly staff with a warm welcome, there was many people eating in the restaurant And all looked as if they were having a great time, I met the manager who was sitting at the top table and told him how nice his restaurant was, Then proceeded to sit down I ordered some coffee tea and orange juice and some chips and homemade skin on chips as we were not feeling to hungry, But wow to our amazement when it all came out the tea and coffee was lovely the orange juice to die for and the chips were gorgeous especially the skin on chips I have never in my life see skin on chips like it, They were so big and tasty and filling me up I thought I wouldn't be able to eat them all but at the same time being so nice I just couldn't leave them alone, I wish I had taken a picture of them so you could see how good they looked, It won't be long before I come back to sample the delights on the wonderful menu I looked through I urge you to go to mosaic and try it for yourselves

The food was lovely - I had steak Diane- mouthwatering steak cooked perfectly- the nicest Diane sauce - fresh salad and tasty saute new potatoes. Spent more per person as was my birthday and had some great cocktails . Have been here several times and never been disappointed.

Great outdoor space, fishing lake, cafe, plenty of activities for the children and a great place for a walk.

Lovely place for kids and dogs. Car park charge is a little bit on the dear side, £4.2 for 2h, but I guess they need to spend a lot on the maintenance of the site.

Lovely country park to have a picnic, go for a walk, sit quietly round the lakes or picnic benches. Lots of open spaces for people, dogs, children to run & enjoy the outside. Parking bit expensive. Biggest issue is cafe not only open at wkends!? Ridiculous! Toilets open till 4pm. Thoroughly enjoyed out time there meeting family, walking dogs. We were lucky with we had glorious weather but no shelter if it rains.

Really nice park, clean and well kept. Easy parking and easy to pay when you leave. Didn't walk too far but I think there are a few trails you can walk around. Took a picnic The sky ropes are brilliant, decent for the kids Good few hours.. 👍

Perfect size park with different kinds of playgrounds spread across the whole park which makes the experience even more fun for the kids. It's not 5 stars because the cafe was closed during the bank holiday, sky rope was also closed and the football pitches were only available after paying quite expensive fees. Car park fees were not cheap but reasonable, especially if you plan to stay more than 4 hours. Worth the visit.

Parking is terrible as payment is by app only and there is little to no mobile signal at the park making it very difficult to pay. I happily use parking apps normally but the owners need to make sure it is actually possible to use mobile payments. Conversely the cafe is cash only. The park itself is fairly well maintained with good paths though a lot of the play equipment is out of order.

Very nice walk and good for kids as there are many wooden structures they can play on during the walk. Real shame about the price for parking tho. £4.20 for two hours, which I'd say is the minimum needed for the walk. Many other Country parks are cheaper and/ or free parking.

Took 13yo to ring as part of Essex Youth Change Ringers. Tiny door to get to entrance route to the ring chamber. Ladder not for the faint of heart.

This church is never open.... yes I can pray from home but its not the same.... I remember when church was open all day and evening.... Where's the effort of faith gone?

Peaceful and serene

this church is in a prime location for everyone to see built in the 14th century and its very well kept

Lovely old church, well maintained. Definitely worth a look just for the history.

It is so beautiful there is different things inside the church.

Lovely church and people. Newcomers always made welcome

Hidden gem. Well worth a visit, both to view the museum/exhibition displays as well as to attend one of a wide range of workshops. Very friendly staff. Gift shop is worth a visit in itself - extraordinary range of stunning items. Beautiful greeting cards.

The core collection contains 60,000 printed and woven samples representing the output of Warner & Sons whose silk weaving business, was based in Braintree between 1895 - 1971. The Archive includes an unparalleled collection of powerwoven designs by Herbert Woodman, Bertrand Whittaker, Alec Hunter, Marianne Straub and Frank Davies; trials and experiments for Jacquard and dobby cloths; Coronation and other royal fabrics.

If you're interested in the history of Braintree it's worth a visit though opening times are very limited.

A very interesting visit. Perhaps a little expensive for what we got in the tour though

nice u know not just am I only walking past my dad's house 🤪🤪🤪😂

Great small museum, friendly staff.

Great to go if your intrested in designs and local history

George yard seems like it's abandoned half the time. First week in December and still empty. Lots of shops still not open. Potentially be upgraded here but not good as it is. Only reason you're coming here is for the shop you directly need or to walk through... Plus side is they keep it clean so that's good.

Elena's Bistro, great restaurant owned and run by beautiful Turkish family. Great atmosphere, delicious and very affordable food served by lovely people. One of our favourites in Braintree.

Lots of seating areas, nice and calm midweek. Decent ish selection of shops

Perfect for an afternoon out retail therapy, loads of different shos and cafes , toilets etc x

Lovely open planned shopping centre very clean and well maintained.

Superdrug visit Working Great shop Gorgeous selected for search It's fine nothing to hide Asked if I could be searched again Lol 😆

This is a great little shopping centre where there is always space in the multi story car park. You can always find a bargain in B&M Bargains or Poundworld, a tasty treat in Greggs and some good clothes in Peacococks, Dorothy Perkins, Topshop or Miss Selfridge in Co-op. Plus WHSmith, Game, Carphone Warehouse, Cexx and so many more shops.

Pleasantly surprised, sound was good, staff very helpful and friendly. Highly recommend especially if you live close it has a bar and isn't too large a venue. Tribute bands are better value and strive to be as good as the real artists. The Simon and Garfunkel story was extremely good

Great little venue, music sounds fabulous, staff are friendly. It does get a little warm in there.

Who knew the place which was once a hall for fairs and the like is now a live venue, the new bar area is good, outside decking makes good use of space, sadly the audio of the venue when GLC played made it so you could barely hear the lyrics, all the other levels were great

Lovely little theatre and a great asset for the town . Been here several times for various shows. Friendly staff . Seats are fairly comfortable .Shame the seats aren’t tiered but understand the limitations of the building and the budget !!

Great local venue for music. Saw the Floyd Effect there, and the acoustics were excellent.

Great sound and light set up here. Well stocked bar and lovely staff.

Nice venue , friendly helpful staff the chairs were slightly uncomfortable but had an enjoyable evening.

I would have liked to talk to message the restaurant directly but can't find where! The food was tasty and had a good level of spice. However, the vegetable biryani had quite a few hard inedible green sticks (probably from the green beans) which really spoiled it for us. Probably won't be ordering again from them.

Used to be a regular here but never again. The quality of the food has become dreadful over the years, sauces are watered down and the flavours are gone. Last two times I've been here I've asked for paneer curry as I'm vegetarian but have been given chicken then prawns instead as a restaurant that prides itself on it's vegan and vegetarian options, this is extremely disappointing. Don't trust them to get orders right anymore. I'm lucky I don't have allergies. Update: My husband went back to The Ruby to complain and the guy told him that he must've mixed up the curry with someone else's. So at least two people got the wrong order that night. He then gave my husband a full refund for the order which seemed fair as he had driven there twice at that point and I certainly wasn't going to be eating anything else at that point. But the employee then changed his mind and chased after my husband before he could leave and wouldn't let him leave the store until he gave back some of the refund so he only had the money back for the curry. Disgusting behaviour.

Although they probably hate me now, I have nothing but appreciation for the staff and delivery drivers at the ruby. I got my order early like I always do, except this time they forgot my sauce. I called up the restaurant and they had the delivery driver sent out straight away to drop it off to me. Props to them

Our favourite Indian in Braintree. Very tasty food with good vegan dishes available. Staff always help with our dietary restrictions. Usually very quick delivery. Highly recommended.

As an Asian myself I have to say, by far the best curry house I’ve been to! The flavour is perfect with a wide range of dishes and spice levels. The customer service was lovely , the chap Mo dealt with my order with great care and service. The food was delivered promptly and was hot still which is always a bonus! All in all best experience, I will always order from the Ruby! Thank you so much for the great food n deals!

What a joy to have clear, vegan options listed when getting an Indian takeaway. The food was sublime too 😊🌿

Delicious food as always. We ordered a takeaway for delivery online (really easy) which was on time and the driver was lovely. I will definitely be ordering a takeaway for delivery again. My husband had a dish he hadn’t tried before and thoroughly enjoyed it. I keep looking at the chilli chips which have had some brilliant reviews so I think next time they will have to be added to the order to try. Thank you ‘Ruby’

Today was only my second visit. (I don't get into Braintree often) but I'll make a point of going to Eatons next time I do. Great food, good value for money and lovely staff. I also took home 4 scones for tomorrow.

Really nice staff. The afternoon tea was lovely. This needs booking ahead of time. The only down side is that the tables where not being cleared. 2 staff members came up brought what we ordered but didn't take what was left by other customers back down to the kitchen. This was literally the only down side.

I wish I had thought to take photos at the time of my visit. We ordered the beef stew and dumplings and a coronation chicken baguette. We had to wait almost an hour before it arrived. My mother's order (beef stew and dumplings) was served with a piece of warm ciabatta bread. The stew was like gravy with minute amounts of meat and a few potatoes. It was more like soup and the server gave her a knife and fork to eat it with.... Of the dumplings, there was no sight, not one. On to the next, was my coronation chicken. It was more raisins/sultanas than chicken. In a very strange sort of thin curried sauce. I couldn't eat it all. None of the creaminess you'd expect from coronation chicken. I may have been wrong but I couldn't detect any mango chutney which is generally an added ingredient in it. On to the positive points. They offered us an extra drink on the house for the very long wait. When it was time to settle the bill we were only charged for half the meal and offered cake as we were dissatisfied with the food. The latte and hot chocolate were fine and the bread was fresh.

Initially, aesthetically pleasing upstairs. On closer inspection the floor and tables needed cleaning. Teaspoon was dirty. Short staffed. Long wait for food. Good presentation of food but the panini was mouldy. Did not stay to eat.

I was popping by for a nice lunch with my father in law and my mother and I straight away noticed an employees extremely loud baby screaming and banging on the table the table we sat down on was very sticky and the chair were extremely creaky! We ordered some food and 3 flat whites and 30 minutes later we got our drinks and they were Americanos instead of flat whites then they bring out the sugar and the spoons and the hygiene was just vile! There was mild on the sugar pot and the spoon had stains on them. Horrible experience. I’m never going again and I don’t recommend that you do too

A hidden Jem. We fancied a breakfast while walking around and found this amazing friendly place. The food is freshly cooked and tastes amazing.the coffee is one of the best around And the people in there are brilliant. We had the big breakfast and it came with everything. What value for money. Don't walk past pop in and relax with friends you haven't met yet. Families welcome

Delightful coffee shop serving a range of hot drinks, cakes and light lunches. Lovely sunny outdoor eating area to comply with current Covid regulations. Service swift, eggs royale delicious - perfectly cooked eggs. My only gripe is having to share my dining area with smokers which rather spoilt the otherwise delightful ambiance.

Went in first time with my friend for dinner, and it tasted good. The staff is great and something what we need. Think will back again for another different menu.

Ordered from here for the first time. Really good, flavourful food. Bit too spicy for me, and the lamb was a little tough, but I would deffo try this place again (dining in) in future. Portion sizes are huge too!

Sohel was a lovely waiter and he was so accommodating - he was so nice and helped us through the menu. He is a hard working man and deserves a pay rise. Over all the food here was great - we came here for our wedding anniversary and they did not dissatisfy - in fact nailed the taste and vibe. Come to Lounge India for the best flavours !!

Attended to and seated straight away. Drinks and poppadom ordered as we sat. Main course ordered and reasonably quickly cooked and at the table. All food was cooked very nicely, tasty and about the right portion sizes. Overall a very nice dinner.

Visited and ate at the Lounge Indian restaurant this evening and wow the food was amazing and so delicious. If it wasn’t a 4 hour drive from my home I would visit every week. Friendly and attentive staff what a treat.

Excellent Restaurant, several visit at Lounge Indian the food is amazing service was excellent too, amazing decor and a heaving atmosphere. 10/10 Try their lamb so juicy and tender also nan breads the best in Essex

Never had a bad word to say but tonight has been no good called up at 7:20 and ordered was rushed of the phone before I got asked if I wanted to pay cans or card as I what’s pay iver the phone tired to ring straight back and couldn’t get through to anyone as I was told it would be 1:15 minutes no more than that he assured me after 45 minutes of calling to try pay I had to go out my way with my kids to get cash it’s now been 2:15 since my order I have called over 20 times no answer what’s joke !!!

After coming a few times to take away a portion of chips, we came here to eat in. The guy who served us was so polite and friendly, really helped us make our experience comfortable (we had a baby with us as well) and the food was incredible. For the price I really wasn’t expecting how good it was. The kebab meat was delicious and the cod was battered beautifully. Wait times weren’t too bad either, enough for us to get comfortable but not too long to complain about. Will be coming back.

I fancied fish and chips and placed an online order with oysters. Myself and my family were very disappointed. The chips were OK, however, we had also ordered 3 portions of cod. The batter was a very dark colour and not very tasty. I could not eat it. The fish was flat and not flaky and obviously frozen. When my son told me the meal cost just shy of £60 I was in shock. I expect a lot better for that kind of money. I won't be ordering again from this shop.

Service was great super quick and staff were polite. That's where the good ends. The food was probably the worst chip shop food I've ever had. The fish was super dry, the ribs were way overcooked and rock hard and the sausage was like mush. Then the thing they should get right being the chips was a sloppy/soggy oily mess. These are not the fresh piping hot super fluffy chips you might expect from a decent chippy they are the complete opposite.

After my boy tasted their chips with the scouts we had to try. He was right. Food is fantastic and large and the staff are excellent. Def recommend.

I'm working in the area and found this place. So far, I've had rock and chips ,and the ribs with barbecue sauce and chips, I highly recommend giving them a try, all the staff are very welcoming and friendly, the food was delicious and freshly cooked, the restaurant is very clean and tidy, from what I could see nothing is to bigger deal for them, 10/10 to all the staff for all the hard work they put in to such a lovely restaurant/ takeaway.

Amazing food, have to wait on some days but worth it 👌

This Fish & Chip Shop is wonderful. When I am in the area, I can't resist calling in. Even when I am abroad, I dream about the taste!

This is really worth a visit. It's not a huge site but the barns are really interesting with lots of information of their history,they are well presented and cared for. The walled garden is pretty and well managed. The tea room is modern and busy, very popular. We only had coffees but the food looked good.

We have been to the Helen Rollason Vintage Day twice. Good display of vintage cars, some of them are for sale. There is a tea room on site (NOT dog friendly inside although the grounds and walled garden are) and plenty of parking on the field for events. They do artisanal shopping fairs here in the autumn as well.

Great archeology event today! This free family event was thoroughly enjoyed by my 6 year old. The scavenger hunt and hands-on activities were appreciated in keeping her engaged. Many of the stalls had people who engaged with the children and shared fun facts with them which my daughter enjoyed. The talks in the craft barn aimed towards children were fantastic. The author was enthusiastic and wonderful at keeping the children interested and involved throughout especially with the interactive elements. Well done Cressing Temple Barns!! We will be back as she said everything was great today despite the weather!

Great place and free to visit, cafeteria and toilets on site. Great way to spend a relaxing few hours.

We had a lovely visit with my parents. The grounds, walled gardens and barns are beautiful with lots of interesting information to read. We were lucky to stumble across a camera club taking photos of an owl in flight which an additional bonus. Had a coffee in the cafe and bought some Tiptree jam. A lovely day all round.

Donation Based Visit. 26.09.2023 This place is steeped in history the barns are very interesting especially the roof construction and the walled garden is beautiful. The cream tea in the restaurant was so tasty. The loos are clean and tidy. Well worth a visit if you're in the area.

We went for a home education day then afterwards we went round to look at everything It's beautiful and highly recommend a visit

Fantastic store! I went in searching for a raincoat for my travels, and the staff went above and beyond to help me find the perfect one. Their advice was incredibly helpful, making it feel like a true personal shopping experience. Everyone was so friendly and attentive, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The store itself was well-organised and inviting. I’ll definitely be returning!

What an amazing store! The staff are incredibly friendly and ready to provide assistance at any moment. Never seen a store provide such good customer service before. I purchased a coat and a pair of shoes, the coat is absolutely amazing keeps me very warm and definitely worth every single penny as well as the shoes. The staff had such good manners and were very polite. Will definitely be returning to make more purchases soon!

Went to visit the area and popped into the store for some fleeces. A worker named Emma gave great customer service and helped me choose a fleece that would best suit my needs! A really good experience for my first time visiting the area.

I had a very disappointing experience at this Columbia store. I bought a jacket just 10 days ago, and despite the product description claiming it was “Omni-Heat” and ideal for warmth, it left me feeling as cold as ever. I contacted the store before visiting, and they assured me over the phone that I could exchange it. However, when I arrived, the staff refused to honor that commitment. Not only did they refuse the exchange despite having my original receipt, but the staff was also rude and unprofessional, making inappropriate comments that left me feeling uncomfortable. Given Columbia’s reputation, I expected a much higher standard of customer service and product knowledge. It’s clear this store needs better training in customer service and product expertise. Unfortunately, this experience has greatly affected my view of the brand. I would caution others to be wary of this location, as my experience felt both misleading and disrespectful. NO MORE COLUMBIA JACKETS IN FUTURE!!!!!!!!!!! DISAPPOINTED

Nothing but positive things to say. I found every member of staff friendly, helpful and keen to chat to find out what I was looking for. I've gone back many times and always had a great experience. One of my favourite clothing brands because of high quality and fair prices.

CRIKEY! It’s no wonder the retail industry is on its knees! 3 members of staff on mobile phones. Tried on 3 jackets, a fleece, was waving a pair of boots around for a couple of minutes (these are called buying signals). Nothing! Two girls fixated on phones and a blonde guy who was just kind of there making noise for some reason?! Anyway, awful staff, zero service, the result….. £240 spent in Timberland, £440 spent in Barbour……zero spent in Columbia. So disappointing.

Brilliant customer service, I brought a coat with the 'omni heat technology' and it hasnt failed to impress. Ive had many coats before which havent been half a good. Its so warm and windproof, nice colour and very good quality. I also like the fact you can zip in one of the fleeces to make it even more toasty. First time I have shopped in Columbia and I will be using again.

Subject: Staff Members Smoking Outside the Gym Premises On several occasions, I have noticed members smoking directly outside the gym premises, particularly near the entrance. This situation is not only unpleasant but also contradictory to the healthy environment that your gym promotes. As a fitness center that encourages well-being, having individuals smoke near the entrance creates a negative experience for members, especially children. Many families, including myself, bring children to the facility to enjoy swimming and fitness activities. However, it is distressing to have children exposed to cigarette / vape smoke while entering or exiting the gym. Secondhand smoke poses serious health risks, particularly for young children, and it undermines the family-friendly atmosphere your gym aims to provide.

Very disappointed. I came today (29/05/2025) as a carer with a 7 year old child. She has severe learning disabilities and mobility issues and uses a wheelchair for safety. We came to play in one of your small pool fun sessions and I was disgusted at the state of your ONLY accessible changing room. Mud all over the floor, spare parts, tools, rubbish all over the shower floor and it was generally disgusting. You have ZERO accessible changing beds and only ONE family change space which wasn't any cleaner and in this case occupied , we waited over 5 minutes. I had to resort to changing a stressed and confused 7 year old girl in an accessable toilet. Trying to change her nappy and get dressed after a swim session with no surfaces to put our stuff, no where for her or I to sit and we had to fit the wheelchair in as well. We will NOT be coming back.

Not good really. It’s filthy. The outside of the centre is grubby but it gets worse when you enter. The changing rooms smell terribly!!! The toilets are disgusting. And today the pool was freezing! The life guards seem happy enough so no criticism there but it’s just filthy. I have been a lot and I have to say I always see the cleaner cleaning the glass etc but never seen the changing rooms being cleaned and let me tell you… they are disgusting.

The small children’s activity pool is good. My 2 year old loves the slide. The place if filthy throughout, the outside is grim as is the entrance hall, the changing rooms, locker areas, showers and poolside. Rubbish and dirt everywhere we cannot wait until Sudbury reopens. Only reason for 2 stars is the little pool was a good temp for toddlers and it wasn’t too busy.

I love the water aerobics. Good workout without pressure of exercising on a hard floor. I have been going twice weekly but now that I have my over 60s membership I'll be going more often. Going to sample other activities that the centre offers.

Not visited here for a while and wish I hadn't wasted my money. Staff couldn't be bothered, leaking ceiling in reception, dirty changing rooms and showers, many lockers broken, small pool shut as freezing cold, main pool ok but overall a poor swim for my kids. Won't be going back

Too cold for an indoor swimming pool. The showers were cold, the place is delapidated and in urgent need of some repairs. It was an odd atmosphere from staff as if they didn't want to be there. The pool was genuinely quite dirty with plenty of debris foating around on the bottom. Not so bad when swimming on the surface but when your daughter makes you swim down and fetch her sinky, it wasn't pleasant. The local council needs to invest some money or apply for a grant from the National Lottery or something. I can honestly say I wouldn't set foot in there again unless a major refurbishment takes place.

Lovely breakfast with my 5 year old who wasn’t exactly very quiet but didn’t feel like we had to be silent. Lovely food, my son ate everything so must have been good. Jaqs was lovely friendly waitress

First time in bill’s at Braintree today for my boyfriend’s 40th birthday. We were served by Lily who was lovely. Nothing was too much bother! Food was amazing. We will definitely be back. Thank you

Had lunch at bills today as I was meeting my family while I was at work. We sat outside in the sun as the sun was shining which was amazing. Service was really quick and the food was very tasty, It did not disappoint. Our waitress was very lovely. Dogs can eat here too. They get their own dog bowl and we could pick from the dog menu! Also walked out with some pancakes to take back to my store team which they were very happy about :) 100% recommend.

We went to Bill’s Braintree for a catch up and dinner before the cinema and had a lovely time, we both really enjoyed our experience here. The décor of the restaurant was really nice and felt slightly classy, they permit dogs in the venue so if you’re a dog lover this is an ideal place to see some four-legged friends. One diner had their small dog in a forward facing baby carrier which was really sweet. The service was really good as well, we had three different waiting staff throughout our meal who were all quite attentive. The menu is nice and has some good options on it. I went for the Truffle Chicken Two Ways, and my friend the Classic Burger which came with fries. The staff were accommodating to swap my friend’s rosemary salted fries for regular salted fries at her request. My friend’s burger looked lovely and consisted of a beef patty, linseed bun, tomato, lettuce, house pickles, secret sauce and red onion. I really enjoyed my chicken, this was served chargrilled with truffle red wine jus and creamed potatoes alongside buttermilk crispy fried chicken and truffle mayonnaise. It was served with an extra pot of the jus, a lemon wedge and watercress which were all nice touches. The main was hot and a nice temperature to eat, though the Caesar Loaded Fries could have been warmer. These were still enjoyable to eat though. I chose a Golden Latte to drink, which was very fragrant and spiced. This consisted of turmeric, agave, ginger root, cinnamon, black pepper and coconut milk with edible flowers on top. It was very nice and something different to coffees that I’ve had previously. The restaurant also gives the option to swap to dairy-free milks (soya, oat or coconut) for no extra charge. For dessert we treated ourselves to buttermilk Bottomless Pancakes for a very reasonable price of £9.50, which are £5 on a Friday. This gave two options of Lotus Biscoff or Fresh Fruit and Syrup. I tried both and they were delicious, each plate came with three thick pancakes. The staff were really accommodating at our requests for an extra scoop of vanilla ice cream and extra syrup. The bathroom was suitably clean and serviced when I used it at the end of the meal. Overall we really enjoyed our experience here and wouldn’t hesitate to return 😊

First time here a few days ago, was greeted by a friendly face and taken to our seats. We were given plenty of time to decide and once we had our options. Our order was taken. Food arrived in less than 10 minutes so was a good amount of wait time. I had the BBQ Bourbon burger and it was a must have, glad I chose this out of anything. We then had a mini dessert brownie. The service was great and Savannah kept checking up to make sure we were doing okay. She was very friendly and approachable. Will definitely be back!!

Very delicious pancakes, server was Jaqs and she was very nice. Will definitely be telling friends and family about here.

We had Jaqs serve me for my birthday and I must say she went above and beyond about making it a special occasion! Ordered chocolate pancakes and they came out extra special with a sparkler and singing happy birthday, had Jaqs serve me for many years and service has always been the same. If I could give 10 stars I would. Thank you Jaqs 🩷

Extremely good and rapid service. Immediate service. As soon we walked in those doors we got our table. We then waited for 2 minutes and we were asked what drinks and food we wanted. The drinks came a minute (or so) later. The pizza came in quick succession. It was delicious. 5* Visited on 17/02/2025.

We stopped here for lunch a few days ago on our first trip back to this village for several years. It was definitely a good decision! The food was superb and the service fast, and excellent. We were served by Lucy who made sure we were well looked after, and provided extra plates so that we could share the two different meals we had ordered between us both. Wonderful food and drinks, great friendly service and hardly any waiting at all. We both felt completely stuffed afterwards, but very satisfied! Definitely worth more than five stars and we'd go back next time we visit.

This place is outstanding. The food is lovely and the staff that worked last night 3/10/2025 were amazing. they were incredibly friendly and attentive. I would like to highlight Issy for special praise. my son is 18 years old and has autism. he has a learning delay and sometimes going out for a meal is not always a happy experience for us. we are often made to feel unwelcome by other customers and, indeed, by staff. Issy was truly fantastic with him. she made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived, nothing was too much trouble for her and she made the evening even more enjoyable. my son was not in a very sociable mood when we arrived I was expecting the evening to be a challenge. However, he was fine all evening and this was in no small part to Issy. I think she is an amazing asset to you. I am a member of several Facebook groups for autistic families and I will be posting on them all later telling people what an amazing time we had at your restaurant. please lass on my thanks to Issy and the amazing team you had there last night.

This is a great place to visit for a choice of breakfast items. The staff are amazing, helpful and efficient. My only issue is that although they do decaf coffee, there is no decaf black tea. (They do offer fruit teas). However, as I carry decaf teabags in case of emergencies, the staff were very happy to provide me with hot water and milk. This meant our family group could all enjoy the excellent breakfast together

The experience was decent...after young and inexperienced waiters (but that's not a huge problem) you had to keep looking after them and calling them if you wanted something. The food was good but not great, but I really liked the soup. For the dessert I would only give 1 star out of 5 for two reasons: 1 - All the dessert is prepared in a different location and it is most likely delivered in the morning every day. 2 - No one bothers to make at least 1 dessert out of the 5-6 on the menu, and the tiramisu had no eggs, for example, and I didn't like the unmistakable "factory" taste.

I enjoyed food in this branch of wildwood, place is quite spacious, we were being served well as well. We as group had ordered mixed olives, foccacia, primavera pizza, baked aubergine, Margherita pizza , grilled courgette & goats cheese pizza with salad, vegan lasagne, torta della nonna I really enjoyed baked aubergine, found it quite flavourful & so was my vegan lasagne. Even foccacia was quite fresh & warm Dessert was the only thing that I didn’t enjoy much. I would recommend this place if one is around braintree.

Cannot recommend the Braintree venue more highly. The staff are friendly and extremely well trained. They are a very happy team with excellent management. Nothing is too much trouble. We are regular customers and are treated like friends. The menu is great as well.

Never had a bad meal here. Cannot go wrong with Nando’s This branch always seems to taste nicer than other local Nando’s

A lot of messy tables and floors but ours was cleaned before being seated . We had chicken thighs and 1/4 of chicken both very small hardly any meat on the 1/4 and thighs were tiny . Mash wasn't hot or creamy! While eating I was disgusted at the behaviour of 4 male members of staff that were all cooking- they were chucking food at each other and play fighting , putting lettuce down one's back and swearing . Hygiene wasn't good as while preparing food this was going on and on their phones at the same time . One of their hats were thrown which landed on the packet of open wraps . This behaviour put me of my food and the behaviour went on for the hr we were there ! The young girl in charge had obviously spoken to them but they were not taking any notice of her even after informing her manager by her phone . She dealt with our complaint professionally and couldn't apologise enough and offered us a refund. A plate of food was returned to them and after them all prodding it and more salt put on the chips it was taken back . Hygiene and behaviour appalling especially to see in a kitchen were food being prepped

Had lunch at nando’s today with my friends, all the food arrived promptly with no issues and was delicious. However, service without a smile was a bit of a shock. Probably would’ve enjoyed it more if at least one of the workers weren’t as miserable as they all presented. While eating our meal, there was a family waiting for a table, after people arriving after them being seated first they asked how much longer to which they were told “we’re doing our best” before the guy (dressed like a manager) quickly ran off. After watching whilst eating, I noticed there wasn’t much being done by any team member and being a manager myself, seeing a paying customer treated this way ruined my experience. Will return to nando’s but definatly not the braintree one.

Staff are very friendly and helpful, seems to cope very well when it's busy. No complaints at all about the service or the food. The screaming toddler next to us gave us an ear bashing but that's nothing to do with the restaurant XD

1st time here for myself. 3 of us went. Nice, very helpful staff members even though they were really busy. Food was served hot, well cooked and tasted delicious. All out at the same time. Will return.

Very friendly staff lots of smiles….! Had to wait for about 20 mins for a table, message come through on the phone saying table is ready Food is normal like any other Nando’s….but the staff is sure a 5 stars rating. 2nd visit, help yourself plates are oily, not clean, disappointed. Needed to down the eating from 5 stars to 4 stars.

All good. Not too busy when we went early Sunday evening. Plenty of staff, all keeping busy and speedy service, follow-up etc. Food was regular Nando's standard. Decent layout and decor.

This place is NOT Il Salice! Rather confusingly the lovely Italian restaurant that was here before still has their website up. I called the number from the website to make a booking thinking I was going for an Italian that evening. Upon arrival it became apparent that the venue is now an Indian restaurant trading in its place. The old Il Salice website should be removed and I do find it disingenuous that this google profile has reviews from the previous restaurant which was a completely different cuisine and management. Start fresh with your own reviews and remove all references to the previous restaurant and trade off your own merits guys. Anyway, it was a Wednesday evening and apart from my friend and I there was just one other couple dining in. Bit of a slow night for the restaurant it seemed. However, service was generally good with the waiters being friendly and the food was very tasty. We shared a bottle of red, 2 mains, 2 rice, 1 nan and 2 sides for £95. Now I know it is an Indian restaurant, would I come back here? Probably not, but that's not because of a bad experience. Its a decent Indian, and if you're local to it, go for it, but because I live in Witham I'd head to Ifraaz as its walking distance. I only made the journey here this time thinking it was an authentic Italian restaurant.

⚠️ Honest Review & Caution: I recommend being very cautious when visiting this place. Based on my experience and what I’ve learned, I have serious concerns about how customer information may be handled. For your safety, I suggest avoiding using your bank card here. There also seem to be questions about the owner’s background and how the business operates, including concerns related to staff treatment and the authenticity of some documents connected to the restaurant. Communication can also be difficult, which raises further doubts about professionalism and transparency.

Terrible experience. The staff were uninterested and more focused on chatting than serving. Drinks came late (and the mango lassi was salty), mains were served in the wrong order, and naan arrived last. Promised courtesy chocolates never came. Completely unprofessional—I couldn’t wait to leave. Would not recommend.

I ordered a takeaway and received UNDERCOOKED chicken. The chicken was hard and not edible. Unsure how a restaurant is unable to properly cook chicken, maybe the food was previously frozen? At least the spaghetti was ok.

First time there today for a celebratory lunch and wow best pasta I've ever had, authentic Italian as it should be. Amazing little restaurant, staff are super friendly and helpful and the food is just fantastic. So lucky to have this place local to us. Will be back.

We attempted to place a £130 order through the restaurant’s website, but the system wouldn’t accept our address, claiming it was outside the delivery area. When we called to clarify, we were told that our address is indeed covered, but that orders can only be placed online — which clearly isn’t working. Unfortunately, the staff were unhelpful and offered no solution. Disappointing experience and a very poor online ordering system. We’ve decided to take our business elsewhere.

Hidden gem!!! Lovely food, great service and lovely atmosphere! Would highly recommend! Everything was clearly cooked fresh and delicious! If you haven’t been you MUST!

Just got home from the music festival in the gardens excellent day with excellent bands and lots of food stalls of all varieties and lots to do for the kids a really great day

This park is small but intentional with benches scattered around allowing people to choose what scenery they prefer. There is a park for kids, a tennis court and a pond. The pond in August has lovely lilies a fountain and a picturesque little bridge. The sound from the fountain and weir are calming.

A beautiful and peaceful spot right in the heart of Braintree. The gardens are well-kept, full of lovely flowers, and perfect for a relaxing stroll. It’s not just a great place for families and picnics, but also has a really romantic feel – an ideal setting for a quiet walk with someone special. A hidden gem that’s definitely worth visiting!

I didn't know what to expect from this park. The coffee shop was lovely, but the park itself was super busy for a small play area. It did have a trampoline, which the kids loved. The real jewel of this park is the wooded area at the back. It's obviously looked after by a skilled team of gardeners. The pond is lovely and the trees and plants are very well kept and thought out. My kids loved running around the whole area for far longer than they played in the play area. A real hidden gem.

Stunning little known oasis in the middle of Braintree. Lots of events throughout the year and an idyllic setting for a stroll round the gardens. Tennis courts, insect hotel, wildlife pond, and a myriad of plants and shrubs for the gardeners.

Absolutely Delightful! We went to the Annual Car Show which was really good but the real beauty was actually the gardens! We had no idea they were so lovely and definately recommend a visit. They are so tranquil and the variety of trees amazing. We intend to visit at different times of the year I'm sure Autumn will be splendid with all the colours of the leaves. So glad we went!

Fantastic place to take the kids or just to stroll and enjoy life! quiet, peaceful and beautiful! an abundance of benches and areas to sit!

In the summer all the teens gather here and think it's ok to set small fires to the grass and trees. And don't care if you day anything to them. To many dogs off thier leads it's a public area not a dog park. Be careful of the two Dobermans they are not as friendly as they look. Apart from this it's a nice, clean, quite park.

Skate board area. No other amenities. Just a nice park to sit in and relax.

Nice park in the town centre ...love the additional benches

Very pleasant place to sit and relax

It's ok

Lovely open space

Peaceful

A brilliant tour of the windmill today, our Son enjoyed it so much climbing the ladders inside to reach the top and seeing all the cogs. A really lovely experience, the tour guides were very friendly and informative.

Great visit to Bocking Windmill and friendly helpful staff to answer questions about the history and workings of the windmill. Fantastic place for kids and adults alike.

Enjoyed the visit. Very knowledgeable guides.

Beautiful old windmill, with much of the original equipment still inside; when open, staffed by volunteers who enthusiastically show you around and allow you to climb up inside to view the original machinery. Further restoration would be required to get it to a working standard. I'd award it five stars as a building of beauty, staffed by enthusiastic volunteers. As a visitor attraction, it's not a working mill, hence I've given it four. (Families with children may find it a bit boring, as it's essentially static) It is well worth visiting for an hour or two.

Lovely people, interesting place. The only downside is that if you have mobility issues, the stairway may be too difficult...but that's how it was built, so can't complain

What an amazing example of engineering from the 18th century. The windmill is beautifully kept by a wonderful group of volunteers. Great educational lace to visit for all ages. Mind your head though.

Interesting

We ordered takeaway from China Dynasty and it was amazing! The food was really fresh, full of flavour and not oily (as we often find with other takeaways). The customer service from this family run restaurant was a lovely touch that you don’t find in most places these days - they really care that you enjoy their food. Our new favourite!

It was our first time in this restaurant celebrating my son's 17th. He actually made sure that I'll leave this positive feedback. Amazing aesthetic place, service just exceptional !!! We've been served by a very kind young guy and an amazing lady, who made our visit really pleasant. The food was brilliant , service amazing, atmosphere very calm and relaxing , toilets clean. We all highly recommend this place !!! Thank you guys 🙏

Following the advice on the website we rang to book in advance. Our call wasn't answered, however we had a fast call back and the booking was taken for a Saturday evening. The person that answered the phone was very polite and informative telling us about the banquet was unavailable on a Saturday. When we arrived early we were greeted by a friendly member of staff and asked to wait in the seating area near the bar, sat down shortly after. This is a family run business with mother and son being front of house and were polite and courteous throughout. The food was excellent, kept warm with tealight candle trays. Good prices. Thank you for an enjoyable evening. Highly recommend.

5 of us for a birthday meal.what can i say.excellent service and food.we had such a laugh.the staff were so helpful in suggesting how much to order and even played a special happy birthday song when they bought the cake out.would deffinately go back and am considering the take away service in a couple of weeks time

Wow. Just Wow. I don't know Braintree food places well and really fancied a Chinese. My girlfriend said she thought there was one near the sainsburys so had a Google and saw this place. Reviews looked good so off we went . From the start the staff were Fantastic. We love our seafood so opted for a set meal with duck pancakes to start then lobster with ginger and garlic followed by prawn kung po, rice, noodles and a seafood sizzler dish. Everything was cooked perfect, presented well and tasted amazing . I could not fault the place and was a very enjoyable evening. Highly recommended.

This is our preferred take away for Chinese . The food is a cut above similar establishments and the owners are lovely, friendly people

Okay food. Service not so great. There is parking in the Sainsbury opposite and its free at night, after 7pm.

Been here 2 times since moving in area, food good portion sizes were good and a little cheaper than others in town. But today (18th April) food had a fairly long wait to discover that chip portion sizes have dramatically dropped by at least 25% and saveloy had hard bits in, and seemed to be a bit more expensive than others. Staff behind counter drinking red bull in the preparation area which seems a bit weird considering they got 5* rating.

What lovely friendly polite happy staff they chips are amazing cooked just right and crispy with fluffy inside definitely worth a try A++++

Freshly cooked cod to order. Lovely chunky chips. Big portions. Best chippy in Braintree

Chicken was nasty, really nasty. Staff are polite but not very switched on and I've been in a few times just to be sure. Ordered a large battered sausage and small chips, got a small unbattered sausage large chips. When I mentioned this to the staff member they told me I hadn't ordered what I had but changed the order anyway without charge so pleased about that.

Lovely service, delicious batter, and easily the best fish in Braintree!

Portion sizes are OK. Chips are always very oily. Burgers neat and chicken are OK, but there is always something missing from the order. Eg. Mayo on burger instead of the ordered burger sauce. Onions added when I said I can't them. Curry sauce is missing from order. We have been back to see if the van food was a one-off, but nope, it's covered in oil. We don't use it anymore.

Over priced just below average, fish is never consistently cooked, customers forced to stand outside in all weathers to wait when busy, me my choice is oysters or the quay bar by notley Tesco's. To be avoided, people convince themselves yeah I paid a small fortune so they must be nice, they are rank. Be honest with yourself I mean I live 2 mins from this place, but would rather drive 3 miles, they are average at best.