Channels Bar & Brasserie in Chelmsford

We have our annual Christmas drinks here. This year we had a spot of food too. Not a good time to eat for me personally, but I took a soup of the day, the tomato chilli soup and it was very good. They also welcome dogs on leads here, although I didn't have my dog with me on this occasion he has plenty of space to lay down and have a bowl of water.

Pre-ordered the set menu for a family gathering for my 30th birthday. Amy was so helpful and patient as we gathered details and asked questions in regards to the set menu. The roast dinner was excellent quality and portions for 16 of us, everybody left very happy with their meal and the staff were so attentive and helpful with separate drinks payments throughout the meal. Definitely now a local go-to for roast dinner!

The food here was delicious, and the service was friendly and attentive. The starter was tasty and just the right size, while the burger main was very good, though a bit heavy on the sauce for my liking. The dessert wasn’t quite what I expected, but it was still enjoyable. Overall, I’d recommend giving this place a try.

Lovely meal, lovely ambience, great service, tasty food. we went to celebrate my 30th birthday. was just what I wanted for my day.

The venue is very good great atmosphere, staff was excellent however had better Sunday roast and when it arrived had no gravy so we asked for some and it arrived. On our I’ll there was an additional charge of £1.00 for the extra gravy. It made us smile. We will not go back for a Sunday roast but will for other foods they serve.

Four of us went and three chose from the Thursday '2 for 1 'menu. This was lovely and all in all was very good value for money. The food was hot, the service was prompt and very friendly . The venue is lovely although a little remote down a long virtual single lane road. The only thing worth noting though with the two for one offer is that that is exactly what it is, and as we had three meals from that menu, we were charged full price for one of the meals, so beware that the 2 for 1 does not mean 50 % off if you have an odd number. All in all though would highly recommend.

Always great food and service - that's why we keep going back to meet friends as there is ample parking and its always a success!

I came here for a birthday lunch with a couple of friends and despite it being very busy due to an event on at the adjacent barn the service was great and the food was just delicious. My friend was so fussy but the staff were incredibly patient and professional dealing with her!

Nice food pleasant atmosphere staff friendly

Just had breakfast at Channels. Feel sick. Very greasy food. Won’t be going again.

We had a drink there whilst on a cycle ride. Found a bar stool and was fine

Live band was nice but a little bit loud, was hard to have a conversation. Great athstetics in a beautiful setting, very clean and friendly staff. Food was great, I loved the haddock and fries 😋 not a big fan of the benches or seats they were uncomfortable.

Always service with a smile. The food is superb and I always look forward to staying here

We turned up scruffy after a local judo event and late too, we were very underdressed lol The staff were amazing and the food was fantastic too. I wish I had have taken some pictures, as the food wasn't just brilliant flavours but really well presented. Thanks again to all the super attentive staff, you were amazing.

Apart from the live music being really loud. Fantastic menu, fantastic restaurant. Fantastic staff

As a resident of channels, I really want to love Channels Bar & Brasserie, but unfortunately, after a series of bad experiences, we won't be back to eat there. From serving ham in a vegetarian pie, to pasta swimming in so much oil that it had to be drained, to everytime we go, being refused to use our residents card, it just feels like one thing after another. It's also very expensive and in my opinion, overpriced for the quality and quantity of food you receive. Like I said, such a shame as they have a captive audience with all the new houses being built in Channels, but the food is just not up to scratch for the amount of money charged.

Really lovely place for a wedding. The day was magical and the on site hotel is great with breakfast for all in our party together. Of course good weather also helps!!

Lovely food and if you visit on a Thursday you get 2 for 1 meal.. Very nice it was.

Super venue, and what a wedding venue it is!

Stopped here for a drink in the garden area. Nice to have music in the background. Lots of benches and umbrellas and dog friendly area. Didn't eat, but the food that we saw coming out looked great!

Another hidden gem. Very classy pub

Breakfast was hot and enjoyable ,but no cereal unless it was chosen by the bride and groom .

Wow what a lovely place. We got recommended to come here by a friend so stopped off. Lovely place. We sat outside as it was a nice day, lots of seating and overlooking nicely kept field. Inside the pub looks great too. Staff very friendly too. Will definitely be back and be staying for longer when we can.

Great place with great food and service.

Excellent food and outstanding service

Great place for a drink and food, lovely outdoor space as well.

Fabulous quality breakfast. Service so friendly and efficient. To top that our dog was allowed in with us inside. Lovely, outside area which we enjoyed the sunshine whilst the children played on the green. Wonderful place.

A reliable spot for a fresh, well portioned meal. Staff very helpful and lots of great options for seating inside and out. Nice to have background noise if the live band too. Made for another great experience. Will be back! Shame cruz campo ran out!

We was book for a very special 95th birthday left in the bar area after being told we would be in the garden room 3 separate tables with people and dogs walking through yhe middle table and other end of the bar felt they wasn't part of the celebration.. the waitresses where very young and yelling out who ordered even though we pre ordered All chips over cooked chicken under cooked and cheese board looked more like a left over plate with not attractive cheese matched with 6 grapes seen better days ... I replied to a email on the 14th April and still no response half the party had left as we waited 40mins on our cake to be put on a plate ? There was 2 candles a 9 and a 5 we was told they are having trouble with the candles and then offered a pile of dirty plates to serve obviously picked up wrong end of the pot wash 🙃 so very sad on such a important celebration 🍾 failed... the table nearest the door had a dog literally at the table

We won’t be coming back, after having a few lovely dinners here, today’s experience was awful, the waitess spilt half the leftover food down me and complained that the plate was too heavy! I cleaned myself up and saying anything, this was a birthday and I didn’t want to make a fuss. It was also too loud, like a match day and who thought it would be a good idea to bring Cruft’s in! I love dogs and we have three ourselves but not for an afternoon out for dinner!

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

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

Amazing food and very good service!

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.

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

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

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