Channels Bar & Brasserie in Chelmsford

Lovely place well worth an occasional visit, but make sure you've lots of dosh on you! £19 for a burger, though it was very nice, £6.50 for a Guinness, though that too was pretty good and £3.50 for a small apple juice ...what??!! An occasional treat, not a regular haunt methinks

Lovely atmosphere, great food, with good service and reasonable prices. I would go back

Had a Mother’s Day meal in the barn. Stunning surroundings, great food, reasonably priced and fantastic service. Would love to go there again next year.

😁 Had a supprise 60th birthday gathering here last weekend and it was excellent. As a private function the room we were in was perfect and away from any hussle and bustle of other customers. It was the perfect size for our party of 15 or so people. The staff were excellent, in particular Rudy (I think it was) was particularly attentative and very polite (an excellent quality in a customer facing role). The food was lovely and they catered for all of us carnivores / vegetarians and vegans without any fuss. Overall a lovely experience. Would I reccomend it to others... 100% yes without hesitation. I will return 😁👍

Absolutely perfect venue for my 60th birthday celebrations. Staff were fabulous, venue absolutely spot on. Thank you for making the day special

An overall good experience and would eat here again. Fish dishes seem particularly good - the whitebait starter, and whole sole main dish were superb. The ice-cream and sorbets also tasted homemade, not factory, and were both delicious and with a good variety of flavours. The overall dessert menu though is very, disappointingly even, limited. Atmosphere declined quickly from about 8.30pm as people emptied out. See also gluten free comments elsewhere in this report.

We celebrated my Daughters & my Birthday the weekend with 14 guests ranging from 11 to 80 years old. Everybody said what a fantastic time they had. The organisational skills of Amy, her restaurant & bar staff was second to none. Not forgetting, congratulations to the Chefs & kitchen staff for fantastically presented & tasty meals. Thank you Channels Brasserie for making our evening really special.

Honestly a lovely experience! We stayed at the Channels Hotel and had dinner and drinks here. A lovely pub type place based on just as lovely grounds. Service was great, friendly staff and happy to serve. Oh my G - the menu! We were really spoilt for choice - so much so that we ordered most of the starters and shared a main, as well as ordering some sides. We were really impressed by the flavours, presentation and really felt the price reflected the thought and skill gone into the dishes. We would absolutely recommend the sea bream, maple bacon and parsnip toffee! Thank you so much and we will certainly visit again when we are in the area! 10/10!

AMAZING!! A Must go to!!! Everything about it is simply First class! Michelle the hostess is so friendly and hospitable!! Thank you Michelle and all the staff are very nice and work well as a team. I would fully recommend going here! has a great varied menu, breakfast, lunch and dinner and the 2nd Sunday of each month they have a jazz band playing! The place is really comfortable, clean and stylish! Look forward to our next visit for the Sunday roast, I would book for the roast though to get a space. Thanks again look forward to seeing you soon.

I've been before for a meal and it was delicious

Staff were very helpful and informative on our enquiry.

Great place for all of the family,

The best roast dinner you can get!

Amazing experience, The estate was even nicer than the pictures. The room was incredible, the bedroom itself was even bigger than the pictures, spacious and modern, against an idyllic backdrop. The shower and bathroom one word WOW, spacious, clean and a wonderful experience. The outdoor areas such as the car park, main areas and wedding area, are simply stunning and the new builds that surround the estate really give you a luxurious feeling! The customer service provided by James on front desk was top-notch, very helpful and kind, he walked me to my room, walked my guest to my room when she was lost and helped me to settle in before my 30th birthday party. I would highly recommend and return again.

Up market dining. Lovely friendly service. Upmarket prices ....

Had a fantastic family lunch ....... Food and service was amazing

Amazing food and very good service!

Very noisy unable to hold a conversation properly the so called rustic chips came out like burnt potato wedges menus to expensive for food served would not recommend it on this showing

1st and last time of going there unless I really have to, not impressed at all, bar service was very slow, food when it came out was very disorganized, pre-order but waiting staff didn't have a clue, main course was cold n rather greasy, dessert was a crumble which was also cold, there were 19 of us including 6 children, all in all just over £700 and was not worth the money, would have complained but it was my parents party, so didn't want to upset them, just made out it was lovely 🤢

Food was lovely (I had the pork schnitzel) however menu items are bit pricey. For somewhere that charges £20 per main and £6 per side dish I would expect more than satchets of ketchup and mayonnaise. I would at least expect a generous serving in a condiment ramekin. Beers are London prices, the fact you have to order at the bar and food being served prior to cutlery being given to us whilst sat outside isn't ideal.

Went on a busy night, staff were very nice but there were quite a few items sold out

Lovely and friendly atmosphere and staff. I would definitely come back.

Went for first time here tonight for their 2 for 1 Thursday deal. Limited menu but that was fine. We were hopeful as we found all the items on their main menu as well. Had kids menu too. I opted for the pie of the day. Don't get me wrong it tasted very nice but was no more than a large starter. The pie was tiny under which they hid a miniscule amount of mashed potato and about 6 small unpeeled carrots with the tops left on. It was at best a larger starter. Paying £19 for that if it was off their main menu I would have felt robbed. At half price? Just about acceptable. Husband had the house burger with chips. The burger was nice. But there was no salad or coleslaw. Literally the not overly big burger and a handful of tiny fries. Again for £19 on main menu ridiculously overpriced. Child's burger was a muffin with a burger in it. Young son was left hungry. Desert was sold to us as set peach custard which was part of the 2 for 1 deal. There was nothing peach about it. It was a tiny creme brulee type desert with a cornel of unseasoned whipped double cream and dry biscuit crumbs. A minute amount of some compote which looked like apple but had no taste. For half price ok but it has not convinced me to come back to try the full menu or even to return I was not full up. It felt I had a starter and a desert but was missing the main course. This restaurant is trying to be too poncy with fancy names for their overpriced tiny dishes. No love put into the child's burger. Way too small for him. The adult burger would have been the right size for a child. Son hated the desert. He was hoping for custard that tasted of peach as this is what was sold to us.

Great food lovely staff. But £6.25 a pint.

Went for food, but ended up only being drinks as noone came to serve after waiting 40 minutes

Outrageous wine prices. No plans to return

2for1 Thursdays are excellent, family friendly.

How do you get any bookings when you NEVER answer the phone or return calls???!!!??? Terrible customer service I am appalled

Turning down locals and key workers for a wedding party. Should be able to cater for more than just one event. Disappointing

Everything was good. Server was attentative and food was delicious.

Excellent service gave the waitress some instructions around delivery of foods and this was carried out to the letter. Food was was also excellent and plentiful

Loved it .. what a find ! Close to a weekend holiday let we had so gave it a try .. tapas/starter dishes were absolutely delicious and felt really modern and seasonal. Mains were just as good. Friendly staff .. live band and a great selection of decent wines and beers!

Absolutely beautiful room. Stayed in Hornbeam and the attention to detail was second to none. Would've been a 5 star review if it wasn't for the lunch. We had rustic fries each and they were just awful. They were pre-cooked and re-heated and they tasted like it too. The Channels breakfast the next morning more than made up for it though and I would highly recommend it. Overall a lovely stay. The room really was brilliant

Great food and friendly staff...

Excellent Experience x lovely food and staff and extra gravy xx

We went for thai night and the food was nice. Good selection of drinks. It is such a shame they are building so many houses around the venue, the road leading up to the restaurant is full of pot holes and quite narrow in places.

Lovely place in a great area. Easy parking. Very nice food. Had the pulled beef sandwich, which was great. Plenty of it too. Toilets are clean. Staff was friendly. Would come again

What a lovely place to spend a Friday morning. Breakfast was cooked perfectly and served beautifully. Coffee was hot and strong, and the staff were very friendly and welcoming.

Very nice and comfortable surroundings for dinner or coffee. Very friendly and well presented staff .

Only popped in for coffee. But they was busy and the second order took a while to arrive, they apologized for the wait.

It's really nice place to spend time with your family.

My all time favourite breakfast. Beats some high end hotels I've been to. Been a few times now and will continue to go!

Lovely meal, good service, delicious food. Private room hire definitely helped the afternoon go well too. Thanks!

great environment and greasy food

Excellent 3 course meal. Each serving as good as the next. Surroundings and resturant is warm, clean and welcoming. Staff and service is spot on. Food is delicious. Would advise to book well in advance as gets very busy and booked up to guarantee a table. Very popular! Great finish to our visit with family. Highly recommend!! You won't be disappointed.

For now, an out of the way hotel, bar and brasserie soon to be surrounded by new housing developments who will make this venue even more popular than it already is. Not to be confused with Little Channels close by. The bar & brasserie is smart and modern offering several different menus and even one for well behaved dogs (water bowl. Cooked Sausage and dog biscuits) who are made most welcome. Going back there soon 😁

Excellent breakfast with very attentive staff. Lovely location.

Great food. Great service. Very friendly staff. Dog friendly too!! Highly recommended 🙂👍

Great breakfast with Santa. Really good experience. Great food, great service and lots of time with Santa. Great value for money.

Love Channels, will always come back but please, can you have sufficient Guinness and a couple more decent draught beers (not lagers) Thanks!

Very friendly and great breakfast!

Food great. Service good until we were served dessert. No one seemed interested in taking a payment. When you want to leave there is nothing worse tham being ignored.

Lovely place, great food and very nice staff.

Love this place. Cosy and welcoming, dog friendly and a great menu. Nice for lunch with friends in summer and great for cosy snack in winter.

We dropped in by chance yesterday hoping looking for a drink and possibly some bar snacks and ended up sitting under some glowing patio heaters enjoying the most fantastic Sunday roast. 9 of us and a dog out for a Sunday walk not expecting to be greeted and served so well. The staff at Channels Bar & Brasserie were superb, could have not done more to make us feel so welcome. Whilst we chose to sit outside with the dog, we watched the waiting staff work their socks off serving customers inside and us out. We can't thank them enough for making our fleeting visit such a nice one. Boris permitting, we will be back soon.

Lovely setting, very clean, food and ambience were excellent.

Great breakfast very happy staff. Spacious surroundings. No complaints.

Popped up for some food and drinks with family, lovely food, lovely place. Will definitely be coming back.

Beauitful place, gawjuss atmosphere & didnt wanna leave, so will b back soon

Excellent service, friendly staff, good food and ale.

Meal was fine portions small had ordered dessert only one arrived so had to wait for the other whilst my dinner companion ate theirs.

Quality customer service 👌. I loved the food. I will definitely go back

The food was out of this world and amazing service, would highly recommend going.

Had a really lovely meal here. The service was excellent! Food great! Really nice vibe to the place. Will definitely be back!

My nieces wedding venue very good would recommend

As usual the food was wonderful I love the roast it's amazing

It is simple, drinks should be served before food! otherwise by the time drinks served food is cold!

only had breakfast here bacon, beans, sausage, tomato, mushrooms, scrambled egg, toast, fruit juice, tea or coffee nice venue with large outdoor space, sign on road bit small easily missed.

Lovely food top quality service and would definitely come back. Garden peas dessert so yummy.

Excellent place, had a lovely meal with lovely company, served by lovely staff

Amazing food ..amazing hotel especially Fred and the team all so welcoming to the girls from North east xx

Went for a wedding. The venue has *everything* you would need to enjoy a intimate day with family and friends. If I wasn't already married, I would seriously be inquiring for availability! Top venue.

Great place for eating or for a quick drink

A very relaxed eating experience. We sat outside and the children had a safe grassed area to play on while waiting for food. The main courses were slightly unusual in a very nice way. Menu was quite small but attention to detail was delicious.

A very good restaurant where I had a cool starter and great vegetarian main course. Very attentive staff made is very welcome

Lovely location. Attentive and polite staff. Nice choice throughout the menu.

Nice place but they do need to staff it appropriately. Over ten minutes to get a drink.

Perfect for a Wedding reception

Really well thought out venue. Staff really friendly and good selection of drinks and food to choose from. 👍

Beautiful location, fantastic wedding or event venue. Unfortunately, after fifty minutes and three times of reminding the friendly staff that we had not been served, we gave up and left. Shame because it really was in a lovely setting

Lovely setting and interior. Very attentive and courteous staff. Food of restaurant quality and reasonable value for money

5 stargreat meal and atmosphere

Came with a crowd for 2 for 1 Tuesday set menu. Great selections and super food. Generous portions too. Nice relaxed vibe and friendly staff.

Excellent venue. Great new covered outside area. Really need to book at popular times. Food is good.

Gluten free was easily found food was delicious. Spacing was well managed and masks where appropriate Would most certainly go again

Upmarket restaurant, dogs allowed great food although pricey

Very good food. Nice staff and lots of ventilation.

Love the refurbishment and staff were very friendly, attentive and helpful. Great food too.

A hidden Gem! Came for lunch outside in the sun with my children, great lunch menu & attentive staff. Great surroundings, very picturesque! Most certainly would recommend. (Don't forget to book in advance, we only just managed to get in.)

Have been to Channels Brasserie today and don’t think we’ll be returning. Very very poor service. Drinks came after 30 min after ordering them on their app as no one came around to ask if we wanted anything. Asked twice to order food but no one came to take our order not even an hour later so we left after having one drink. Very nice location but you can hardly have any drinks or food as no one is interested in serving you. If you can’t cope with clients get more staff then or get rid of some of the tables. Worst service ever!

Beautiful building, great service. Loved it.

My initial thoughts on Channels were who on earth came up with the wording on the menu? It's truly awful, utterly pompous and you're left wondering what some of the dishes actually are. Then there are things such as the description of the burger and describing the lettuce within it as 'gem' but then the next word is simply tomato... dear oh dear. Anyway, my first visit was this evening and I was left wanting. Once I'd asked what one of the starters actually was, I quite enjoyed it but then came the massively overpriced and underwhelming main course. I opted for the pie of the day and whilst the waitress (very professional) had told me that it was quite small, in my mind I pictured small, but deep filled. Nope, it was small and shallow like the sort of pie you'd see in a pie and mash shop. At first I thought they'd forgotten the mash or 'whipped rooster' as they call it (rolls eyes) but it was just hidden underneath said tiny pie. The beer selection was also somewhat tame with the usual lager found everywhere else plus one IPA. I've had the IPA is question before and it was nothing to write home about. I often find us beer lovers are left out when compared to a wine selection, and tonights visit only strengthened that thought. All in all, I can't help but feel that Channels is trying to be something it isn't. Simplify the menu so the customers know what the dishes actually are (the starter was Coronation Pigs Head - what on earth?) lower the prices or increase the meal size and diversify a little with the beers. For now at least, I'll stick to the likes of the Fox & Raven at one end of the scale and the Pig & Whistle at the other. At least they know what they are and I know what I'm getting without the need to ask, 'what is that exactly?'

Lunched in newly opened area today. Waitress nice, helpful and friendly but descriptions of foods on menu were crazy! Had to ask waitress to explain it and even she had to go and find a print out. Have never seen anything like it! Food was good but service was slow. Won't return while same type of menu is offered

The grounds and outer houses are beautiful but sadly service was extremely slow and a friend being allergic to dairy and wheat there wasn't much she could eat on a Sunday! Unfortunately we wouldn't be visiting here again.

10 Stars more like it. Staff are always absolutely brilliant, food is always delicious. Lovely atmosphere as well ❤️

What a fantastic, pretty location and venue. Staff really accommodating, polite and friendly and the breakfast was lovely.

Had fish amd chips which was good. But the dessert wasn't impressive at all. Regret that I had it, which was cream caramel. ☹️

First visit ever and what a lovely welcome so friendly but professional service incredible 2 4 1 deal wasa hit food was outstanding thank you so much I will be back

Highly impressed with the venue with the sun shinning wonderful spot to have a drink and light brunch (scene is for those that want a more chilled catch up without having young lively teenagers making a scene of themselves) will definitely revisit, only reason it missed out on a 5th star, was menu had to many pork options and limited chicken options.

Fantastic refurb, not quite getting it right closing early on Sundays including Bank Holidays. Service is a little bit hit and miss also. Overall though, fantastic venue, good food.