Downham Hall Coffee Shop in Chelmsford

Went to their murder mystery night on 17th January 2025, had great hopes for this night out with friends 13 in total, place looks amazing from the outside and so welcoming - unfortunately this stopped once we walked through the door and was taken to our table. We were sat the "North wing"/orangery, while this is indeed a lovely addition to the property, it was cold, on arrival, one tiny little portable heater was there - didn't give out much heat, asked on numerous occasions for the heating to be turned on to be told it on, rads, were freezing. numerous complaints again to staff and finally they realised rad’s had been turned off - surely this is the first thing you check when asked about lack of heating in the room. Food: set menu was awful. now i know they are catering for 70 people but my starter, main and dessert could have fitted on one dinner plate. the portion sizes were small, absolutely no variation for those that don't like any of their menu choices - etc basically told to eat it or don't. My main was lamb served with couscous , well there was hardly any lamb and zero flavoured couscous...and not a vegetable in sight. i will give credit where credit is due - the dessert - Jaffa cake was lovely and was the biggest dish I ate the whole night. Murder Mystery: While i have been to a few of these at various other locations and they have been great, i can't say the same for this one. Firstly the actors had to run between rooms as they could not fit everybody in the one room, secondly the north wing is so noisy due to the marble top tables, and tiled floors that when the actors came in and spoke you could not hear them. so much so that when they came to our table (one long table) if they spoke at one end the other end could not hear a thing. The actor's really needed to come in and get the whole room to be quiet in order you can hear what is being said. the running between rooms is not a way to run a murder mystery night - can i suggest that you only cater for how many you can fit in one room and not two - this spoilt our night as after a while we all checked out as could not understand what is going on as it was just "noise" in the room - great shame seeing you charge £55.00 for the privilege. If you do indeed decide to go – can I suggest 2 things! Go in a small group no more than 4 and secondly make sure you don’t sit in the “north wing” as your evening will be ruined

Murder Mystery at Downham Hall- Lets start with a positive. The venue is beautiful with plenty of parking. A group of 13 of us booked and paid deposit to attend Agatha Christie Murder Mystery evening in January. A limited menu was sent, and enquiries made if an alternative plain starter could be provided for member of the group and was told no as the venue will be catering for 60+ guests and cannot deviate from the set menu. Even the request for bread as starter was denied. Full payment was requested a week before the event which I feared being an indication that the food may not be ‘up to much’. On arrival we along with other guests were seated in the Orangery (conservatory) as the main dining room was full. This room was cold and the radiators off, with only a small warm plug-in radiator. Once informed, the manager turned on all the radiators which warmed quickly. Drink order taken and served. The Orangery was noisy with no soft furnishings to absorb guest’s chatter. Food was served, the starters being met with mixed reviews but generally fine. The main course on the other hand was unacceptable. A small amount of couscous with a couple of tiny bits of lamb on top in the middle of a plate. When asked where the rest of it was, we were informed that is it. Several members of our party sent the food back with requests for more meat, which was granted but of course no vegetables given. The dessert was a delight, and everyone enjoyed their trifle or jaffa cake dessert. During dinner the mystery element of the evening started with two actors entering the room, a male informing us he is the handyman and a very loud female, with a fake foreign accent and a stethoscope around her neck who demanded guests to shake maracas and hold a toy dog in their hand for ‘healing’, all very bizarre and to be honest her voice was so high pitched and cutting, you just hoped she would be the murder victim. Several other actors proceeded to enter the room and talk to various guests but with the acoustics of the room, nothing could clearly be heard. The actors also had the difficult job of performing in both dining areas, which were not even next door to each other. All this resulted in none of our party really knowing what we were meant to do, who the murder victim was and to be honest we just gave up trying. The early exit of another large table of people before the conclusion indicated we were not the only ones who had given up trying. The evening rounded off nicely with the waitress getting verbally annoyed with the group when we requested to pay for our drinks individually. She left the room so the manager had to come to take our payments. Overall, we felt a little ‘ripped off’ with the £55 per person payment and had hoped for a better experience. We will not be returning to any future events.

We had a superb lunch & looked after by the lovely Nicola - great afternoon, will definitely visit this hidden gem again.

Had afternoon tea which was amazing. Nicola gave a a great service. Lovely setting for lunch or dinner. Highly recommend.

Brilliant breakfast 🍳 Highly recommend Definitely coming back! Beautiful setting and friendly staff, always smiling very welcoming 😃

My family went for an afternoon tea to celebrate a 90th Birthday. We were very disappointed with the sandwich fillings which were very cheap, no prawn or smoked salmon just egg, tuna, sundried tomato and ham & cheese. Very expensive for the amount of money we paid. Also we were giving one pot of tea each which wasn’t re filled until we eventually see someone and had to ask. This was the worst experience of an afternoon tea. Waste of money and we should have gone somewhere else.

We visited here last month for afternoon tea which was absolutely lovely. We couldn’t fault it except that there was no one there to show us where to go on arrival so we were stood there like part of the furniture. Well this time we booked afternoon lunch but yet again there was no one there to show us or even guide us to a table. After some faffing around we were eventually guided to a table. Granted it was a really hot day but it wasn’t busy. Eventually after 40 mins we were served a drink and nearly an hour later we finally got our food. The food was a let down to be honest. We both chose chicken shish but the chicken was thigh (the cheapest cut you can get) full of fat when it should really have been fillet. Overall not a great experience but we’ll give it one more try. It could be such a top notch venue if only they got it right. It’s all small things that need attention but those things will make the difference between average and really good. Tables not cleared, chairs strewn all over the place. Areas cordoned off that were clearly done with and a messy sofa that looked like it had just had a party on it from the night before not to mention litter all around it. Hopefully it’ll be better when we go next time, I pray that it is.

Fantastic food in a fantastic setting. Each course was amazing and the team in the North Wing are exceptional. I particularly loved the main course and desserts

I've been to Downham Hall a few times now and every time it's fantastic. The service is always really great but it's the amazing food and wonderful location that really make the experience Highly recommended!

We were celebrating our Wedding Anniversary by having an afternoon cream tea at Downham Hall. We were warmly greeted by Christina. The service was attentive but not intrusive the food was well presented and of high quality. The decor was pleasing and there was a relaxing atmosphere. The garden has been tastefully landscaped with new patio areas, it was a shame that the weather wasn’t kind to us during our visit. I would highly recommend this venue.

We had a lovely afternoon tea, along with children's menu for my disabled grandson. The food was delightful. The staff were all lovely making us feel very welcome, nothing was too much trouble. I had my small dog with me who was also made to feel welcome. The property and gardens both look amazing set in the peaceful countryside. Highly recommend

Offering a beautiful setting inside and out, this really is a local gem. We enjoyed a fabulous dinner, the food is the best I have experienced locally, a warm welcome and great service. It is well worth a visit and competitive with other gourmet type restaurants and pubs in the area but with a far more special feel. We enjoyed a drink in the spectacular garden, which we also visit regularly in the summer months to enjoy a drink or coffee on the terrace. Lunch and breakfast are great here too. We enjoy cycling to the hall for an end of ride treat. Plenty of parking for bikes and cars. They will even take you home midweek after your meal! So lucky to have this fantastic restaurant. It’s a must visit you won’t be disappointed.

I took my wife out to dinner here a few weeks ago. The food was delightful and the service was perfect. I particularly enjoyed their wings and sea bass. Their best dessert was the lemon tart. Scrumptious. 10/10 would go again

We hired the use of this restaurant within Downham Hall for my 70th birthday party. It was the best decision. Not only a beautiful place with gorgeous grounds, but fantastic food, tastefully and sympathetically decorated and so clean. Our event organiser Ben and the staff, went above and beyond to ensure I had everything I wanted for my evening. Nothing was too much trouble, and they were so friendly but not intrusive. The service was 5 🌟. I cannot rate this lovely place highly enough. Extremely good value for money too. My friend stayed in one of the hotel rooms and she was also incredibly impressed with the comfort and vfm. I urge you to try this wonderful place. It will from now, be our whole family’s go-to place for all occasions and maybe just for a Sunday roast! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

We're regulars at Downham Hall, but this is our first Sunday roast. The beef/roast potatoes were excellent, but the "seasonal vegetables" simply weren't season, let along local ! (mange tout, string beans in winter) Service is great (as always). We feel that at just over £95 for 2 courses (plus 3 small drinks, 2 coffees, and service) they are starting to get expensive. (But I understand the cost pressures on restaurants). (It's really hard to give it other than 5 stars, but there are small issues that make it "very good" not "excellent").

Love breakfasts and saw this venue served them. Arrivedvto find I was the only customer, though to be fair a B&B customer came in later. The full English was good if not that exciting. Good quality sausages, slightly hard bacon. Good eggs and beans. Tomato needed a little seasoning. Orange juice ok Needed just a couple of small tweaks to make it perfect. Slight crease residue on plate

After spending a lovely night at Downham Hall in November, my husband and I immediately thought of their North Wing restaurant when choosing somewhere to take his parents, and one of our sons, for his father's 85th birthday lunch. As we remembered from our previous visit, the food was delicious, well cooked and presented and served by excellent front of house staff, who are at all times friendly yet professional. Between our party, we had delicious starters of soup, chicken liver parfait, and tiger prawns, which the kitchen kindly de-shelled for me (much appreciated). We had all 3 roast meats plus the vegetarian haggis roast, all accompanied by vegetables and the best duck fat roast potatoes I think I've ever had! Desserts of honey cream and sticky toffee pudding rounded off a wonderful meal in an elegant and peaceful dining room. Would thoroughly recommend this place for a celebration meal or just a quiet treat for two.

Beautiful location and lovely peaceful ambiance in the Restaurant. Limited menu but the food was beautifully cooked, well seasoned and well presented. Excellent service. A lovely evening and will certainly be back.

Fabulous Sunday lunch! Delicious food and wine, fantastic service and beautiful setting. Highly recommend! We will definitely be back.

What a lovely place this is. A gem of a find. Lovely welcoming staff. Had breakfast in the orangery yesterday, and what a treat. Lovely food, looking out over the countryside. Very relaxing. Back again tomorrow with a friend for another breakfast. And have booked an afternoon tea and the tasting menu next week, which we're looking forward to immensely.

Really nice breakfast - good selection, freshly cooked, quality ingredients. Nice location overlooking beautiful countryside. “Newish” hotel/restaurant that provides a much needed quality restaurant in the local area, with a wide rand of “normal” and special” menus. Friendly/very helpful owner/staff.

Downham Hall restaurant turned out to be a wonderful occasion. My wife and I went with two friends for Sunday Lunch. The food was excellent and there was a good choice. We had three courses, with plenty of wines. We finished off with coffees. A very pleasant experience. The staff were excellent - nothing was rushed and we had a very enjoyable afternoon. Definitely going to return.

Wonderful afternoon out to a charming restaurant set within lovely rural hotel. Sunday lunch was amazing. We managed to work up a hunger by walking through some muddy fields (our choice). I can't thank Christina enough for lending me her husband's socks, as mine were soaking wet. Definitely need a new pair of wellies!...oh and thank you Andrew for dropping us back :-) Looking forward to visiting again

A great welcome as we arrived for lunch today. The staff were engaging, polite, well presented & well briefed. The only down side was our early arrival, it would’ve been nice if there had been an interior area offered rather than straight to the table.

Another wonderful meal. Excellent food and such friendly service. All at a reasonable price. There was a great atmosphere too. Can't wait to return!

Went for breakfast as a treat, unfortunately the bacon was inedible as it was beyond burnt. They seemed to be very short staffed and staff appeared a little stressed. When you pay these prices this is not what you expect especially during a cost of living crisis. They seem more interested in promoting which Eastenders characters have been to visit and PR exercises than looking after their smaller customers. This is the second disappointing visit so we won’t be wasting any more money here.

North Wing is a wonderful surprise, a very elegant dining room with orchids, white linen , candles and a lovely ambiance, it was a warm evening and the french doors were open to a pretty garden. the menu is not long but is varied with some interesting twists, we had the crab sable and the cornish mackerel to start and they were a perfect blend of flavours and you could taste each ingredient. we had the beef as a main and it didn't disappoint, it was perfectly pink and very tender and I think it was from a local farm, the brisket accompaniment on the roscoff onion was a well judged addition, this is fine dining and the chefs here are very good at giving you the dish you order with an inspired twist to the overall dish. We had the peach, blackcurrant and prosecco trifle, this was a very generous portion served in a stylish glass ,it was fruity, sharp ,tangy and again you could taste every flavour in the dish. A lot of thought and care has gone into the menu and all the dishes we ate had really been thought through as to what would work, we enjoyed it all very much Service was excellent and friendly , Christina was rightly proud of her establishment and her staff and our junior waitress Scarlett was charming. North Wing is a real find, and we hope they do very well , we will certainly return

The lunch time food, service and ambience were outstanding and exceeded our expectations. We had some idea about Downham Hall as we had our 50 th wedding anniversary there in October 2022 and it was exceptional. We stayed the night then with some friends and the rooms were excellent. Would recommend for a function , meals and accommodation,

The staff were friendly and helpful, the setting was pretty, the food was nice enough, however—even though it wasn’t busy—it took two hours to have two courses. I find slow service unprofessional, and it’s something that always deters me from revisiting.

Downham Hall is not far out of Chelmsford - just far enough to out in the countryside. We went there for afternoon tea. Service was very friendly and the afternoon tea great - all you would expect and great qwuality.

We had an amazing three course meal. The chef accommodated one of us who's vegetarian - there was choice but they wanted slight change. The food was exquisite. Flavours were exciting and presentation remarkable. We were very impressed by the quality of the whole dining...

Stayed at the hotel for 3 nights on business, and to be fair has been a stay that currently i couldnt rival. The food and service is absolutely impeccable. Every dish from the breakfast, to the chicken, beef, scallops etc is absolutely divine. Could not...

Was struggling to find a venue for Sunday Lunch. Lovely setting, fantastic atmosphere and food. We were looked after by Nic, service was excellent. We will be back.

Went here for lunch today, and absolutely loved it. Food was delicious, service was great,lovely place, will definitely return

I have been waiting to visit here for so long - it didn’t disappoint. It is beautiful both inside and out, and an ample afternoon tea. Will definitely be back soon

This was our second visit staying at Downham Hall and because our first experience of the restaurant was so good, we decided to eat in again. We weren’t disappointed and were treated to an excellent meal which was reasonably priced considering the excellence in standards...

Wonderful lunch with excellent service for my friends and family at a reasonable price. Service prompt and 28 covers served together. Well done Karen, Deborah and Adrian. Wonderful afternoon with our Frank Sinatra tribute singer.

We went for a birthday lunch. Food was well presented. Poor selection for GF. I ordered a roast dinner. I got 2 slices of beef, 3 roast potatoes and some green veg. There was no substitute for the cauliflower cheese or Yorkshire puddings which contained...

What more can you say - it's was a really, really nice breakfast. On a nice day it's in a perfect location, and the food/service match the location in ever way. Friendly/helpful owner/staff, with a range of special events/testing menus coming up, which I'm sure...

What a lovely morning we had a Downham Hall with our children. This was such a lovely event which was held into Christmassy marquee. Tables were set up with biscuit decorating, Christmas quiz and other activities like making reindeer food. There were tasty home made...

WOW! What can I say from start to finish absolutely amazing. The dates I wanted weren't available on the website so a quick email and a phone call later, a table for 11 was booked. I turned up with a cake and balloons for the...

My wife went with our daughters and daughter in laws to Downham Hall for afternoon tea and loved every minute. The sandwich’s were very tasty with superb cakes and amazing choice of teas. The service was excellent with really friendly and professional staff. Would definitely...

My husband, our 2 year old & I went for Sunday lunch today. The staff were so lovely, welcoming & friendly and the food was absolutely delicious. We had 3 courses even though we were stuffed as it was so tasty, you just wanted more....

Had yet another lovely Sunday lunch today, the food was delicious and the service brilliant as always. The salmon mousse was light and had plenty of chunks of salmon. The beef was perfectly cooked and had a Yorkshire pudding stuffed with braised beef shin… delicious...

I've been promising to take my wife here for ages so finally (post-covid and heatwave). To be honest we haven't been out socially as a family since Feb 2020 because of the above! I finally booked us and her parents in for afternoon/cream tea here...

Lovely setting but unfortunately food was very poor. The next week I went to a pub restaurant in Stapleford Abbots which knocked this chef's efforts into a cocked hat! My starter of a Scotch Egg was poorly made with more meat on one side than...

A lovely lunch time dining experience- a family gift to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary. Wonderful tapas and a good choice from the lunchtime main menu. The service was first class with very polite waitresses. Food was delicious. A lovely setting in the conservatory. We...

Having booked for Sunday lunch which was first class with very nice staff. We then asked to view the rooms which were exceptional, I have never seen such clean and pleasant rooms. A well worth visit First Class enjoyable Sunday

We had a great family roast lunch yesterday - the beef, chicken and pork were all excellent. One of the best roasts ever! Plus brilliant service!

Amazing food …………service was amazing nothink was to much, not over the top coming to the table…… The duck was perfect…..

We booked a table on a recommendation from a friend. Unfortunately the experience was a total nightmare. After wsiting 20 minutes which is fine the first order came out wrong. Second order was wrong. Third order then came out wrong again How difficult can it...

Had a lovely 51st anniversary Sunday lunch. Very good food and service but unfortunately was rushed with our desert as a large party had arrived early to prepare the room for a birthday party. Very embarrassing with balloons and place names etc being organised while...

Lovely Sunday lunch with my family, pleasant staff, nice surroundings and a saxophonist to boot, all in all a lovely lunch

Pretty setting for a lovely afternoon tea. The room is beautifully decorated with french navy & grey walls and realistic looking white orchids. The staff were very friendly with the management giving mum a glass of fizz and a birthday card too. Tracy the waitress...

So helpful and friendly from when we first walked through the door. Relaxed, comfortable with a good choice for breakfast.

Came here for my birthday lunch with my 2 daughters and mum. Amazing service and food!! Can not recommend enough. Xx

I booked a surprise afternoon tea in the private hire room for my mums 50th Birthday party, we had over 20 guests and the service was amazing throughout the day. The food was great and our drinks were continually topped up throughout the day. Everyone...

Booked afternoon tea and was not disappointed, selection of teas, finger sandwiches, scones, plain and fruit, and cakes, all delicious, and service second to none. Overnight accommodation is available and they also cater for weddings, set in beautiful countryside, highly recommend.

Quite unique and unexpected pleasure. Good value and experience. Thank you. Not hurried and was a Sunday afternoon lunch.

We brought our friends here for Sunday lunch before Christmas. The fixed price two and three course menus had a good and varied selection of dishes. We chose the roast beef as our main course, cooked rare and the meat was cooked to perfection! Well...

My husband and I had dinner at this lovely restaurant last night. The meal was very good. I had the smoked duck to start which was excellent and my husband had the Cromer crab which he also enjoyed very much. We both had the beef...

Our first visit but not our last. Went here for afternoon tea with my friend. Lovely welcome on entering. Shown to our table which was by the window, nice view. Waitress was attentive but not too much. Our sandwiches were fresh and tasty, scones one...

We've had a couple of meals at Downham Hall, and they have been very good (breakfast, afternoon tea), so we wanted to try an evening meal. They have a “Festive menu” at the moment, but don't think of turkey and mince pies, it's much more...

We visited Downham Hall for breakfast and had a brilliant start to our day. The breakfast was everything you want a breakfast to be and the setting was exactly right. Felt like a real treat and will definitely be returning.

The tasting menu is incredible Michelin quality and a unique experience We have had the Sunday lunch also the braised beef in the Yorkshire’s is so yummy We will definitely be back

We like going out for dinner, a lot and have recently been doing the Sunday lunch thing. Friends had recommended Downham Hall so we went along today with 2 other couples...also foodies to try it out. As my title implies I am torn writing this...

The food here is absolutely amazing, we had a lovely meal for two, a rare occasion away from children! Whether you’re a regular or are just treating yourself to something nice, the staff all seemed so attentive and the service was great. The food really...

I had the most amazing evening at Downham Hall restaurant last week. Friends had recommended this little gem of a venue and it didn't disappoint! Firstly you have to take in the beautiful setting and landscaped grounds. I can't wait to return in the warmer...

I went to Downham Hall with a small group of friends midweek. We booked ahead and were glad we did. Although we took a later table, the ambience was relaxed and warm. We started with cocktails which were very different from the usual offerings. I...

What a fabulous place. First of all the venue is stunning, hidden away with amazing views. We had a very attentive waitress who went out of her way to make sure we had a memorable visit. The food was definately a cut above the rest,...

I’ve just had the most wonderful evening meal at Downham Hall with friends. The building is beautiful: nestled in rolling hills with picturesque views. It is beautifully decorated inside too - a perfect setting for a lovely meal. I met with friends here for an...

I have been to a fair number of afternoon teas,and this was 'average' Sandwiches were not topped up,vegetarian offering was dire-ciabatta bread slices with cream cheese served on a plate! Home made traditional cake would have been nice to accompany the tea.And a 10% service...

A wonderful setting for a special meal. Beautiful location, fantastic atmosphere, amazing staff and a brand new menu to die for!!! already booked our next visit!

We live nearby and have had breakfast at the hotel (much enjoyed, see my previous review under the hotel itself). Afternoon tea is only served on certain days of the week, thereby ensuring a full resturant and a nice atmosphere. The food was excellent, plus...

The best Sunday lunch I have ever had in a restaurant. You can tell the chefs put a lot of love and care into the food - everything we ate was packed full of flavour and beautifully cooked. We shared the Jerusalem artichoke soup which...

Amazing food and great service! OMG the grilled prawns… (thought I was in heaven). We had a very lovely time. Thank you all at the Downham Hall 🙏🏼

Great food, terrific service and wonderful restaurant ambience - thank you to all the staff for a great evening !

Amazing Evening Meal with live singers… food was delicious especially the Tempura Vegetables and the service by Kate was spot on

Amazing Sunday lunch in the most beautiful setting. Service was perfect and the food lovely. Coffee on the terrace with the most amazing view. Highly recommended.

Went for afternoon tea - which is pricey at £25.00 per head plus 10% service charge. Tasty food but disappointing quantity. Some things that I couldn't eat (allergies) but they refused to substitute with something else. So I still had to pay full price even...

Beautifully situated in the Essex countryside with stunning views. First visit, which at the moment only alfresco for lunch but will certainly come again.

Food was brilliant, good price and venue is nice and welcoming. Staff helpful and polite. Highly recommend

I can’t recommend this place enough. The service, the food, the location - just perfect. Highly recommend.

Took two mums to experience the splendour that is Downham Hall and were not disappointed. A splendid, afternoon tea in lovely surroundings, with ample to eat and drink, served by friendly and efficient staff. Would go back, and soon!

Although they have a reduced menu, the staff were really friendly and on the ball, the food was excellent and really nice sized portions. I really recommend this to anyone.

My mum attended afternoon tea with her 2 friends recently. She said the food was well presented and the staff were attentive and helpful. My mum and her 2 friends thoroughly enjoyed their afternoon. As a good gesture my mum and her friends were given...

Absolutely delicious food in particular the strawberry tart, it was the best I’ve ever had... and I’ve eaten few 😁 I will be returning with friends and family as soon as we can. You can see the owners and staff care about their business and...

great service - lovely staff - good food - nice setting - will definitely go back again and maybe try the evening menu next time

We had a lovely saturday evening sat outside enjoying the most amazing pizza in the beautiful grounds of Downham Hall. When my children got a bit restless (as young children do) we were able to take a walk round the grounds to view the fish...

Looking to view their Function Marquee we took advantage and experienced the Afternoon Tea. Very Efficient service with a selection of Teas. About 12 in total. Mixture of sandwiches, all acceptable, Scones and cakes. Seems to be a recommended local choice after speaking to other...

Upon the recommendation of friends we joined them for Luncheon. At the time of our visit the Luncheon menu was a bit sparse, but we were assured that from December their new chef had more extensive plans. Very pleasant staff and cosy dining room. A...

After seeing great reviews on Facebook we decided to go for afternoon tea. There was another event going on in their main room but the coffee shop was not busy. The staff were not very helpful the cafetiere coffee was not as described in fact...

Simply wonderful. A perfect afternoon tea with a lovely selection of sandwich fingers, home made cakes and plain & fruit scones with clotted cream & Tiptree jam. Served with a selection of teas and a complimentary glass of prosecco. Really good service in a really...