Bird in Hand in Braintree

Went in for Sunday dinner. And was so disappointed on the food. Peas and carrots where not cooked through the gravy was so lumpy even the second lot. Was so looking forward to a lovely roast but could not eat my food. Never had a problem with the food here.

Kept getting offered to purchase drugs every 10 mins or so from a mixed race gentleman and his entourage. Perfect place to source some devils dandruff, not so perfect when your out with family

Very warm welcome. Staff were very friendly and polite and helpful Will definitely come here again

Great value, the Sunday roasts I saw looked lovely, and 2 for £12.49, can't arge with that. The gammon I had was really good

The sitting manager and bar staff (just 1) were unbelievably busy, yet we received a warm welcome, great personal service and lovely food. We were sat in a quiet area given a reactive dog (ours) and has plenty of check in's to see we were happy, they both deserve a bonus for their incredible handling of a crazy busy day/night between them.

Friendly staff ,meals are very nice and cheap with good size portions ,never had a bad meal there,very impressed ,

Just had Sunday lunch 😋 food, service and staff are all excellent. Great value for money.

Great food at great prices, staff really friendly and dogs were made very welcome

Friendly and welcoming pub with brilliant staff, good selection of food and drink and clean and tidy environment. Wendy and team work so hard and the fruits of their labour show having turned the pub into a really great place. Deffo one to try if you're passing! 😀

Staff very welcoming and attentive . The food served is good for the price. Bar very big and is dog friendly . Definitely worth a visit

Brilliant place to chill and live band's smash tag being one of these

Good service friendly people and is only walking distance from my home ...I sure will go back again.....

Great beer and great servers. Right off base so you can walk there which is super convenient. Haven’t had a chance to try the food yet, but if it’s as good as the beer, then it’s good to go! Cheers! Also, this is not a hotel. It’s a pub.

Good for decent cheap food and beer.

We visited the bird in the hand pub when l served in the military, which was 30 years ago. Had a cracking reputation,well known for catering to the USAF personnel based at Mildenhall and Lakenheath airbases.

Wonderful place next to an air base full of US airmen, but the atmosphere felt local and the food is exceptional. I get the same thing every time. Chicken tenders, chicken skewers, baked potatoes and house salad. Each part is very well made and tasty.

My wife and I are on holiday from the USA and had occasion to visit your establishment. I must say, this is truly a delightful place with wonderful food, great atmosphere, and a very welcoming and friendly staff. We are so very impressed with your place. Thank you kindly for a tremendous dining experience.

We was very disappointed. Was absolutely freezing cold the bar staff wore coats and explained that the heating hadn't come on and the food was terrible. Battered dish and chips was breaded and was watery as though it had been defrosted. My husband had chicken with curry sauce which was horrible, he left most of it . Will definitely not recommend. Even the locals complained about the cold and was told well go home if it's warm there , why come here

Had lunch here, and as usual,found the food very good quality and value ,for money, The staff were their usual friendly welcoming selves, it could do with a disabled toilet, Thankfully the toilets are on the ground floor, but very tight squeeze, and no baby changing facilities

Wow what can I say went for Xmas dinner today and never had a meal when every dish was just horrible we had a table of 8 and none of us enjoyed any of the dishes at all . The turkey dinner was dry and the ones that had this didn't eat it all .. the steak was the worst we have ever had it was the worst cuts 4 of us had steak and we all found it awful and extremely fatty , then waited over 45 mins for deserts to the point we throught they had forgotten us . The dishes was that bad we didn't brother staying for the final dish was pointless . To say how much this cost I would never go out for Christmas Dinner again . I can't even find the right words to say how much not one of us on our table enjoyed anything which they must have known as there was so much waste from our table . To top it off my mother fell coming into the pub down to a very old peice of carpet that has been stuck down over and over again to the point where having it is a hazard my mother is disabled cut her leg and both her knees are like balloons by the end of the evening she also has a metal kneecap on one knee and she is in so much pain now and may have to go hosiptal with this now so taking our mum out for Christmas Dinner ended up being the worst idea and she was less mobile by the end of the day so a absolutely awful day awful food and awful service . Not much care and no one went to mum to make sure she was well just spoke to couple of family memebers ... disgusted and wouldnt recomend this place for anything 😒 I just cant belive how much money was made off just our table for xmas dinner and how much of all of our money was wasted , im not exaggerating when I say it was a total waste of money and we was a family of 8 trying to do something special for our disabled mother and she ended up hating her dinner like the rest of us and leaving hurt after her fall that could have been avoided over a stupid pointless peice of old mat that been restuck several times and all that was done was seeing them stick it back down with spray glue nothing was offered to compasate our mother at all so for us all to have a dinner that no one enjoyed just topped the day off even more as a fail and we all felt bad for the pain our mother was in . No one enjoyed our expensive xmas day , so dissapointed and we all so disheartned 😞 and so unhappy as a family and for our mother as it was surpose to make her feel special 😢 The table was under the name danylak and to be honest something should be done or compensated for the worst xmas day service considering how bad the food was and to how unhappy and hurt our mother ended up . If this place had any compassion something should be returned to my sister for us all as a family having the worst experience on day that was surposed to be special and about family

Absolutely shocking and disgusting. Will not be returning Came here Christmas Day after to meet up with family I haven’t seen for years. Firstly I’d like to say about the atmosphere. It didn’t look merry and jolly, you could tell a lot of people were getting disappointed with the waiting times and lack of service. Secondly the food was awful , I had the ham hock to start , the toast was stale and hard to the point you would need a JCB to get through it as it was rock hard. The mains I had sirloin steak, it was one of the worst and cheapest cuts of sirloin you could get , yes it was cooked to how I like it but there was so much grissle and sinue running through it , was barely edible , was like cutting and biting through a pair of doctor martins. Some of my family had the turkey , it was absolutely disgusting , roast potatoes were like charcoal , the veg was rock hard not even blanched , more like crudités, had only about one tbsp of gravy on the plate so had to ask for more, it was just an awful meal , wouldn’t even feed to the dogs, after we had all finished , one lady came to check on us and we said that we’re finished and she said she would come back to clear the plates. About an hour later. I put the plates on a different table and went into the kitchen myself to ask for desserts , witch again they were too Rich and the icecream was already melted. Very disappointing , being a restaurant manager I was very annoyed at the lack of customer service and I would be disgusted in myself if I was to ever give that level of service. And also being a chef my self there is no excuse whether the kitchen is understaffed or not , there should be a certain level consistency and quality but none there and considering it was all pre orderd it’s not rocket science , and to top it off my grandma had fallen over a bit of carpet by the main entrance , not once did they check on her to make sure she was alright or even right in the accident report book , witch may I add is a legal requirement if an injury takes place in a public work place. She now has a black hand. She can hardly walk today as both her kneecaps are swollen like balloons , and she’s been resting all day in bed as she now all batters and bruised. It’s not on and frankly I find it disgusting at the level of incompetence the place had. I woke up this morning with an upset stomach not feeling right. Will definitely not eat here again , thank you for ruining what was meant to be a special day.

Had a brilliant Christmas dinner and have had many Sunday meals before. Food was lovely and a huge shout out to Maxine and Wendy who were amazing. It was so so busy and they still made time to look after and make conversation with each and every customer, really making sure everyone was happy and had everything they needed. Nothing seemed too much trouble for them. Thank you to all the staff for working through Christmas day to make ours so special

Excellent 3 course Christmas Dinner. Hot tasty cheap and big portions. Only £15. Excellent helpful polite service!

Wow what an amazing transformation. We stopped coming here because the food was not cooked properly and the pub was always cold. New staff now in place and the complete overhaul is totally amazing. Wendy is a real credit to this place and we do hope the management appreciate her She is clearly the right person to manage this establishment, She is so friendly and helpful and nothing is too much trouble and I cannot recommend this place and the staff enough. Thank you for putting the life back into the Bird In Hand. Good staff , good food and an excellent range of drinks , and a great atmosphere what more could you ask for. Well done.

Much improved! The food is really good, nice and cozy pub with a lovely fire going. Great atmosphere and friendly staff

Nice pub, staff are always friendly and helpful. Kid friendly cosy in places. Never had a bad meal here and reasonable in price too.

Nice pub with a very welcoming staff.

Was not cooking dinner when we got there.on app should have been

Today, I visited the bird in hand with my noisy children. I was spoken to in a very rude manner by a member of public, and the staff at the bird in hand were incredibly while dealing with the man. The lovely bar woman was very kind and came to check on my daughter, who was very upset. Great service, as always. Thank you so much.

We’ve eaten here once and the food was great. We’ve tried twice since then to eat here, the kitchen apparently closes at different times so make sure you call ahead. First time it was closed before 7:30 and the second time was closed before 7. Super inconvenient.

Lovely food, great atmosphere and attentive staff.

Great pub to get a bite and have a few. The owner is an absolute sweetheart, and the bartenders are a great group of ladies.

Had a large group which was easily accommodated. Pub food was yummy, 😋 served quickly, and was flavorful. Staff were friendly and attentive. Had a wonderful time! Parking lot was flooded as it had just rained heavily.

Lovely old pub, attentive and friendly staff, excellent English fare. If you drink alcohol they have a fun drink menu.

went to the bird in hand today for Sunday lunch with our friends, from the moment we walked up to the bar we was greeted with a friendly smiling face, we ordered our Sunday lunches 2 Turkey and 2 beef, the food took 10 to 15 minutes to arrive and when it did it was piping hot and absolutely delicious, finished our meal was an absolutely stunning apple pie and custard, we had the pleasure of having a chat with Wendy the manager who's a very friendly and kind person the same as all the staff are, can't wait for our next visit thank you very much 100% keep up the good work

Mildred, Matilda, Miranda and NMcFA were amazing. The food portions were great, it tasted amazing and the prices were adequate. Recommend, 10/10.

A staple anytime visiting the area. Good food portions for the price. Bartenders are always friendly, providing prompt service. Matilda is da bomb.

Matilda is amazing. Took care of us and made sure everyone had a good time.

Such a lovely hidden pub! I took my niece and mum to Mildenhall today to view the planes, and visited the bird in hand for lunch. Absolutely fabulous kind staff, and the food is amazing! Portions are great sizes and the prices are too good to be true! I definitely recommend the chicken katsu curry! We will be visiting again!

An amazing atmosphere with delicious beverages and food. Service was top notch, 10/10 definitely recommend visiting.

This has been our local for ages for several reasons, but in the past month, sadly, things have started slipping backwards again. 1 Saturday evening, we walked in to a queue that was almost to the kitchen with only 1 person working behind the bar so we left. The 2nd time we went in, there was a sign up saying that the kitchen was closed, so left again. The 3rd time, they had run out of food. The 4th time, the head chef had had a bad accident in the kitchen, (hope he's OK now), so they could only do limited food and when I called last Saturday evening at 6:50pm, I was told that they were stopping serving food at 7pm with no reason why and yet the website says that the kitchen closes at 9pm?!?

Wonderful bartender and service

This pub is one of our favorites for a couple of reasons. Adam and Maxine are just delightful, accommodating, friendly, and truly make you feel welcomed. They always greet you and have a smile on their face. My husband and I love Adam and Maxine. Adam has made this pub a perfect place for a nice dinner and drinks with friends. He cares about you when you are there and goes out of his way to make sure you are happy. Thank you Adam and thank you Maxine for always being so kind and welcoming when we come in. It's definitely our go to pub. The Best!

Decent pub food in exceptional airbase locale. RAF WW2 and post war USAF resonances. ( Inc my own father who drank here with his crew when flying Lancasters on XV squadron.)

Conveniently located within walking distance outside the base gate. Service was good, staff was nice. They didn't have items we initially tried to order. Good place to eat and have a few drinks.

Went for a meal with my family. Food was reasonable, service was poor. No physical children’s menu and not easy to view full children’s menu online. Staff suggested we order online which we did. The drinks were not brought out until we had been presented with our meals and asked about them. When the meals were brought out, they had forgotten various things such as an extra burger and when asked, didn’t respond or acknowledge just went back to the kitchen to find out then came back and told us they’d forgotten to add it so they took the plate back to add the extra burger. When drinks were finally presented, one of the children’s drinks was forgotten and we had to ask about it. Food was alright but nothing special. Would be nice if smaller portions were available cause despite sharing half my meal out with my family, I still had too much.

Nice place to relax and have a few drinks after work.

Nice place to visit. Friendly atmosphere

Would highly recommend coming here the staff are amazing and so kind and helpful definitely will come back

A great pub with fantastic staff who go above and beyond to make you feel welcome. Great food and welcoming atmosphere.

Popped in for lunch at the restaurant. Very friendly welcome, good choice of tasty dishes at good prices.

Excellent staff especially the lady behind the bar. Food excellent. Will visit again

Great food ,much better under the new management 👌

What a hidden gem! My friends and I visited today in the hunt for some lunch. Parking was easily available. We found a table inside with ease & looked over the menu. We all settled on a Build Your Own Burger. The staff were very helpful & friendly. The food was so reasonably priced, we managed to get 3x burgers & 3x pints of soft drink for £10-a-head! The food arrived efficiently & was lovely & hot. Full of flavour, cooked to perfection and honestly some of the best pub food I have ever had!! I will definitely be returning soon!

Lovely staff, food better and cheaper than macy,D,s. Plus the abbot ale was good..... Great watching the planes landing.

Decent cheap beer. Food is ok- burger is decent.

Had my boyfriends birthday party here was absolutely fantastic service.

Good price, right near base. Can't miss

The ladies did incredible with such a busy trade very helpful very friendly even well under pressure to serve behind the bar and taking food out they both did fantastic

Nice local pub just outside the base.

My partner and I ate the Sunday roast special today at the bird in hand, I had beef he had turkey, we were very impressed with the service, and friendly atmosphere, the food was gorgeous, can't praise them enough, would def eat there again and again and again, my partner uses a walking stick and she helped him with his drink to our table with out asking, wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to family and friends, my only complaint was my trousers were so tight after so much delicious food I needed to undo several buttons. can't wait to go there again.

Great experience! Affordable food cooked well, with great service from the people working. We had the Chicken Katsu which we would recommend, Lasagne which came with a lovely fresh salad (no wilty lettuce here) with a tasty dressing, a build your own burger kept simple for my son (the grown-ups pinched the onion rings etc he wouldn't have eaten), and the smothered chicken from the kids menu for my daughter (we had un-smothered it before the pictures). All this cost us less than £25! All very tasty and portion sizes were very good, we all left feeling very full!

Although I don't live far from the pub, recently I visited and both times I was disappointed to find out they had ran out of key items. First visit was cheese and tomato soup and the second visit was fish on a Friday afternoon, not evening. In the past, this was never an issue but recently very disappointing!!I will not return

Tried to eat here several times, but kitchen often closed. Saturday lunchtime we finally ate there. Out of 4 meals ordered, only 2 were available. Friendly service but won't bother again.

This is a great place to meet your Airman when you are first getting to the UK, or your last night you'll spend with them. They are accustomed to Americans and will answer any questions you may have.

Sirloin was “awful! I hate it!” Best sirloin ever!!! 10-stars!!!

Good atmosphere. No gluten free options on menu. Some vegetarian friendly. Affordable. Edit: I specifically asked the server regarding GF options and she said 2-3 items she could alter to be gluten free, such as a burger no bun. nothing substantial

Closing time incorrect. Cook said they were open for drinks but bartender said they were closed whilst she was serving 4 others at the bar. Got scoffed at by the c*** at the bar too.

Ci sono stato diverse volte negli anni. Si mangia davvero bene. Per degli stranieri come noi si respira un atmosfera tra Top Gun e Un Lupo Mannaro Americano A Londra. Consigliatissimo

Didn't stay at the hotel but the food at the pub was great!

What a difference a new owner makes! It used to be hit and miss, not anymore. Friendly service and fabulous food. The atmosphere inside and out on the terrace has improved a lot. Highly recommend to give it a try.

Four of us had a lovely meal good value plesent staff decently come again

Went the other day (Monday) and was the best food we had eaten it a long time quality and quantity congrats to the chef

Luv me pints. Luv me 2 for £11.99 deal. Simple as.

Nestled just outside the gates of RAF Mildenhall, Bird in Hand is a charming culinary retreat that offers a warm and inviting atmosphere, coupled with mouthwatering dishes that will leave you craving for more. Whether you're looking for a hearty pub meal or a delightful Sunday roast, this hidden gem has something to satisfy every palate. In this review, we'll explore the highlights of Bird in Hand, capturing its unique blend of comforting flavors and cozy ambiance. As you step into Bird in Hand, you'll be embraced by a cozy and inviting atmosphere. With its rustic decor and friendly staff, this charming pub exudes a welcoming charm that instantly puts you at ease. Whether you choose to dine in the traditional interior or enjoy the fresh air in their beautiful garden area, the ambiance at Bird in Hand sets the stage for a memorable dining experience. Bird in Hand prides itself on serving up classic pub favorites that never disappoint. From juicy burgers to fish and chips, their menu boasts a variety of dishes that cater to all tastes. One standout option is their signature burger, featuring a succulent beef patty topped with melted cheese, crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and tangy pickles. Served alongside perfectly seasoned fries, this burger is a crowd-pleaser that satisfies even the heartiest of appetites. The staff at Bird in Hand goes above and beyond to ensure a memorable dining experience. With their warm and attentive service, they create a welcoming environment where you feel like part of the family. From recommending menu items to accommodating special requests, the staff's friendly demeanor and willingness to go the extra mile contribute to the overall charm of Bird in Hand. Bird in Hand, situated just outside RAF Mildenhall, offers a delightful escape where you can indulge in classic pub favorites and savor the warmth of traditional British hospitality. Each visit to Bird in Hand is a culinary adventure filled with flavors that leave a lasting impression. With its cozy ambiance and friendly service, this quaint pub is a must-visit for those seeking a memorable dining experience near RAF Mildenhall.

My wife and I have always driven by leaving RAF Mildenhall saying ohh maybe we should check that place out. We finally did. We checked online only to confirm kitchen close time which said 9 pm. Upon arrival we ordered a drink only to see the manager speaking to her staff in a rude and unprofessional manner in front of customers. We then sat in line to order our food around 8 pm to be informed that the kitchen closed at 8. The level of unprofessionalism from the manger and the mis information online is the reason we will not try again.

Really nice pub with good food. The kitchen closes fairly early though and was a limited menu when I was there. Great location for walking from Mildenhall.

I had a medium rare rump and it was so delicious, will definitely return. Paula x

A decent, excellent value meal for two. Pleasant staff and prompt service

Amazing roast dinner with thick perfectly cooked slices of roast beef, tasty veg and some of the best roast potatoes I've ever had. Staff and very friendly and kind.

Called in for a pint and a meal. Beer was 1st class, but kitchen is closed for a few weeks. All good otherwise.

Under new management..they have a lot to do...but its a fabulous building with history,space,parking.The staff hold it together..food has improved ...could do such a lot with this pub.. tge motel side is not operational..but should be..GKing are losing revenue there!!

Saturday night and they can't do anymore food because of a large order...This place never seems to be able to do food for one reason or another, just silly.

I can 100% rate the new management. The bird in hand has improved loads since I last come around a year and a half ago. The food was lovely. Will be coming back!!

We came here for lunch today. I was a bit dubious as I’d ate here before (about 1 year ago , possibly longer ) and the food was awful. I knew there was new management, so thought I’d see if there was a difference . Well it was like day and night. The food was so fresh , piping hot and looked well presented. Just overall a much nicer experience and the value was second to none. We had 2 meals , loaded roasts and 2 drinks and it was less than £20. Will definitely be coming back again. My meal was delicious .

Food, drinks and fun. An American folk band was staying there and it became a John Denver and Jameson night. Management was awesome and things went well into the morning.

Love the food at this amazingly located pub, from the quality to the value for money. Really enjoy coming to RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath for some plane spotting, and this pub is a must for sustenance!

Great little place right next to the base!

Great food at a great price. All sports available to watch, pool table and games room was good and a great team to serve you. Great pub / restaurant and great staff

Visited Bar and restaurant. Good food and friendly staff

Took the lad for dinner and pool. Food was great, really good. Service was fantastic, friendly and they have a sense of humour.

Good pub food, nice atmosphere and decent prices. This has become our go to local pub for an occasional dinner and drink.

Food is alright, we always had a good experience except once when they were very busy and the waitress (blond lady, didn't catch her name) was very rude and clueless. Cheap food and drink, nice atmosphere, enough space (don't feel crowded), large carpark.

Worth a 20% tip! “proper food, proper drinks, proper good time” is an understatement. Fantastic value, quality, and service.

Awful dinner, didn't realise a cow could be killed and killed again...roasties were anaemic their gravy was just bisto and water no meat juices basically pond water, wouldn't rate it atal

Very pleasant and helpful staff and very nice food👍

Very nice pub for quick meal. I had a double burger topped with beef burnt ends (i should of only had a single with the topping but i finished it anyways). My wife had the Grilled Halloumi Kebaba with sweet chili sauce. She loved every bite and the portion was large. Very satisfied and would highly recommend. The service was just as outstanding and their food!!

Great food, great service and friendly.

Decent food, great service and nice location.

Cold heating not workinh again