Eight Bells in Colchester

Excellent pub with fine selection of real ale. We received a warm welcome and were served quickly and professionally with our drinks. On a whim we decided to have lunch which was superb: I enjoyed the home made mince and onion pie in suet pastry with beautifully cooked vegetables, and my husband enjoyed the Vegetable and Quorn curry. The pub had a good crowd of regulars which made for a happy and community atmosphere. The pub is old style- just as we like it; spotlessly clean and traditional in all regards. Highly recommend this pub and look forward to visiting again when next in Bures.

We visited on a week day with a few friends. The pub is a typical county pub, a little bit dated and unloved. There was a good lunch menu of the usual pub grub and we had ploughman’s and lasagne. All hot and fresh but not particularly inspired. Tea and coffee came with UHT milk but I was given fresh when I asked. To be honest we didnt feel that welcomed, wasn’t asked if our food was ok, wasn’t offered more drinks or desert and told they were closing soon. This was surprising for a local family run pub and I expected better.

We have been going to the Eight Bells for some years for a Sunday Lunch ,never bad ,very friendly and excellent value ,cant book but only ever failed to be accommodated once ,pity but understandable ,also very dog friendly . Cant wait to go back

This pub is my favourite and worth travelling to. The specials are amazing and never disappoint, lots of regulars so says something, clean and staff friendly. The pub has got it spot on! Also dog friendly, thank you to lady behind bar... Buddy says thank you for the doggie treats 🥰🐕

The eight bells serves very good pub food in a warm and friendly environment. As well as the main menu there is usually a daily special such as liver and bacon or Shepherd's pie. It offers great value for money and great service.

Business lunch very enjoyable with great ambience staff very friendly and helpful. Food very tasty and definitely recommended as lovely country pub

A really "old fashioned" pub with very friendly landlord and a great atmosphere just like pubs used to be. A little gem.

After traveling from Ipswich to Wormingford for Sunday lunch, only to find the pub closed, and looking grotty. We were advised by a local to try this pub in bures. What a great local pub, lots of nice beers, and the Sunday lunch was great. And the young lady behind the bar could not have been more helpful. Very impressed, after being let down earlier.

We had a great lunch here. It was good, home cooked food, and not expensive. The staff were really friendly. Would definitely recommend.

I first visited this pub in 2013 when I was working in the area and loved it straight away. To me it was a proper pub and I wanted to visit again whenever I got a chance. Well having moved closer to Bures since then I’ve started popping in for Sunday lunch and the occasional mid-week drink and to my delight it hasn’t changed at all. It’s still the proper, non-chain, independent pub I remember. The landlord is a great host and delivered a warm, polite welcome when my wife and I first visited on a Sunday. The locals were open and friendly and ready to offer menus when we were looking around for them. The young lady at the bar was attentive to our requests as well. The beer, Abbott ale, was top notch and the food excellent value and tasty, so well done all round to the staff concerned. The only downside for me is that I live too far away to call this pub my local, but that distance won’t stop us revisiting this little gem of a pub whenever we get the opportunity.

Visited about 5.45pm with ex-wife for dinner. Good selection of drinks. Food is good value. Friendly staff. Lovely old style pub.

Very good value for money,good atmosphere, very helpful friendly staff ,true gentleman the long term landlord, six of us were very happy with the visit, keep up the good work , mr willliam amos , be back for another visit very soon ,SIMON, CLACTON ON SEA

Nice clean pub with inexpensive good food Friendly staff. Covid friendly . Dogs allowed. Outdoor seating. Went there while in area on a Sunday and got a great roast for £7.50. And was good size portions. All the trimmings and sound value for money.

This place has the smell of an old pub! I actually like that about pubs. Quality atmosphere to go with the smell.

Just what I wanted a home cooked roast dinner no fancy piling up of vegetables etc. Was lovely and dog friendly and cheap!!!! Excellent value

14 of us had a great Sunday Roast after a 7.5 mile mornings walk. Didn’t know what to expect but they did us proud. Piping hot food was served promptly (we had ordered previously) and nobody left a bit. Homemade puddings followed and we all agreed that we’d enjoyed our lunch. The walk obviously made us all very hungry. The pub is a typical country inn. Not done up all modern. Not posh but friendly. The roast was £7.50 and puddings £5.

A party of 20 booked an evening meal on 13th December. We had starters which were generous and well prsented followed by a traditional turkey roast. I counted 9 different items on my plate:_ turkey, stuffing, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes, parsnips, broccoli, peas,yorkshire pudding and gravy with cranberry sauce (What no sprouts?) It was delicious and cost just £15 per head. I don\t know how they did it and it was all hot. Well done and we will be back

Called in for a drink just to get an idea of what it's like. We will definitely be back for a meal - good menu, open all hours, and value-for-money prices by the looks of it. When we've eaten I hope to upgrade it to 5 stars!

Called into the Eight Bells after a canoe paddle down the Stour. The beer was great! Several to choose from and all in good condition. The food was lovely as well - good basic homemade British Grub served in generous portions and really good value. Friendly locals, and fun staff. Lots of pub games and dog friendly. Will definitely be returning.

We called in for a pint and light lunch after a morning's country walk. This is an unpretentious pub that is all the better for it, that also offers meals. There was a good choice of real ales including one we had not seen before. Our choice, Branch Line Bitter from Humpty Dumpty Brewery, suited our palettes and was delicious. The server is to be congratulated because, unusually these days, our pint glasses were filled to the brim, unasked, so there was no short measure some other establishments try to serve. Well done. We each chose a sandwich - one cheese and onion, the other beef and both came very well filled with a plentiful side salad. The food was delicious and favourably priced. The pub was quite busy despite our arrival at opening time at 12 noon. It was clearly well patronised by local people. The pub has an interesting and varied menu and most people ate - as the plated food was carried past our table the food looked hot, inviting and substantial. Service was cheerful and efficient. This was a great experience, in a pub of the old style and I am confident we will return because of our very good experience.

Staff coped with a large party efficiently and pleasantly, offered helpful suggestions, and the food was excellent

Visited this no frills public house again yesterday. If you like home cooking its well worth a visit. A weekly special board gives 1 different great value meal (largish portions) a day of a main and a sweet. Also a menu with typical pub meals also available. A wide choice of beers is also available.

We have been several times for Sunday Lunch and it has been warm friendly and very good value . Our three dogs have been welcomed and kept by us under the table on their leads but they were fine as were the other dogs there .The roast lunches were good plain food and the meats always tender . We will go there as often as we can because of the service and the value for money and in winter the open fire !

Yeah it might be a little dated but it is homely, friendly and excellent value, proper food and good portions, well worth a visit.

Friendly village pub. Dated though and could do will a face lift. Average to be fair but the toilets are poor and reminiscent of Trainspotting - that needs attention!

Booked in with a largish group of walking friends. We sample a lot of Sunday Roasts after our monthly walks and this one was surely the best value for money. The Roast Beef with trimmings I had was as good as any I've tasted in a pub, but considerably cheaper. The dessert was equally good. A reasonable selection of beers were available and the Woodfordes 'Once Bittern' I had was well kept. All the staff from serving to waiting to bar were polite, friendly and easy going. I will certainly be back and will recommend to my friends.

Half way point on the 'Dragons Country' walk from Wissington.

The village of bures is located roughly half way between Colchester and Sudbury, and is a great place from which to start a walk or cycle ride.The Eight Bells is situated on the main road just on the Essex side of river.

My husband and myself are on a visit from Spain to visit our daughter and son in law who live in Bures. Stopped by the other day for a drink, not the warmest welcome from some woman behind the bar, I asked about the bitters for my husband, she wasn't very helpful! Called in for Sunday lunch with the family, 7 of us seated around 3 octagonal tables each 2 foot in diameter! Over an hours wait for our main course and 20-30 mins wait for dessert, considering its the only place to eat in Bures, unless you're born in Bures don't expect to be treated well in my opinion!! Not impressed!!

Fantástico bar donde se puede disfrutar de buena comida básica abundante sin problema a buenos precios. Utilizamos todo el tiempo, personal y clientes y el núcleo de la comunidad en aldea bures

Llamado en conseguir como parecía muy ocupado, nos llevaron a una mesa por un personal amable que pedimos cordero asado que se servía bien caliente y muy sabroso. Sin duda nos llame de nuevo cuando en la zona

Tuvimos la suerte de tomar un bocado después de dar un paseo por él sólo bures, pub que sirve comida en cabañas, así que es una ventaja. Los precios son muy razonables para buena comida.

Had Sunday lunch with group of friends, not impressed, not much veg, meat OK, 1 soggy Yorkshire, should be a lot better in this day and age, at £7 don't think it is of good valueand won't be back for dinner.

Found this pub by accident looking for lunch. On walking in, the bar staff were welcoming and attentive. A wide range of real ales were on offer and an equally wide range of pub food on the menu. The special was sausage pie with fresh veg. The portions were very generous, fresh and home cooked. The log fire gave out ample warmth and added an atmosphere to the surroundings.As I have family moving into the area, I am definitely calling in again.

Had lunch here with a group of friends on a cold winter day. The pub was very cosy with an open fire burning in the main room. (Very warm but did have to dodge the flying sparks). I ordered the fish and chips - chips and side salad were fine but I was a little disappointed with the fish which, whilst plentiful, appeared to be something they'd got straight out of the freezer rather than freshly battered fish. Friends I was with had sandwiches which appeared to be nice.

I have passed this pub a few times and thought we would pop in at lunchtime, I have to say I will not be doing this again. The welcome we got was not very friendly and we walked out after five minutes as we did not feel we liked the atmosphere.

Perfect local for a pie and a pint. Good selection of local ales. The pub decor is traditional - lots of beams, low ceilings, patterned carpets, open fire, brasses etc. Traditional pub food - nothing pretentious, just simple and hot. The landlord is a master at his trade and knows his customers. Visitors may expect to be drawn into village talk. The side room is used for cards and darts, as well as extra table for customers. Well behaved dogs are welcome. There are tables outside too. A real local, as it should be...

We had a really lovely meal , would thoroughly recommend. Lovely traditional pub. Very friendly staff ,excellent menu choice

If you are looking for a good value home cooked lunch try the Eight Bells. Ok only 1 special daily, which changes every week day, and a basic menu but value for money. A good selection of real ales, friendly staff, and a log fire in the bar area.

Friendly bar crew, great choice of real ales and traditional pub grub at very reasonable prices. Close to Bures railway station and on main Colchester to Sudbury bus route.

A warm welcome for both of us and our dog. Good honest pub grub (thick slice of ham off the bone with fried egg and freshly cooked crispy chips)which was reasonably priced, plus traditional puds on offer. Decor a little tired.

The staff were friendly and helpful. A good selection of drinks and a menu that provided for most tastes. The meals them selves were good quality products, well cooked and reasonable priced. In other words good pub grub. A little slow getting to the table but we were a group of 16 people, so no real complaint.

As the only pub in Bures that do food we had no choice but to eat here.First impressions were terrible. The lady behind the bar totally lacked any interpersonal skills, to the point of being rude.The choice of food was limited, but the quality was reasonable.Shame that such a lovely village does not cater for people wanting a quick bite to eat.Would not go back or recommend to anyone.

We called into the Eight Bells for lunch today, but would certainly not make that mistake again. The female working behind the bar was abrupt and unfriendly to say the least - not a hint of a smile to be seen. Food was just okay, but quite a limited menu. My advice would be to drive straight past!

We loved this pub, welcomed our dogs which is a great help. Food is sensibly priced and totally yummy.

We stopped here for lunch on our way back from Sudbury. This is a good local pub for a pint, not fancy but welcoming and friendly. Food was average but not over priced and the fire was a nice touch.So all in all worth a visit if you are passing.

The 8 Bells is really the only option for a pub meal (or any meal really) in Bures. It is centrally located near to the station and High Street.There is a nice large beer garden and outdoor seating area, and plenty of seating in and around the bar too.The service was dreadful! The woman behind the bar was plain rude and had no idea of the manner in which to deal with customers, nor, it seemed, how to tend a bar! The waitress who served our meals was, however, much better.There is a good selection of drinks and they, along with the food, are reasonably priced. The quality of the food however, let it down. I chose the "curry", no indication as to what this may be, but the bar woman told me it was chicken. The rice was fine, and the sauce while unique was palatable. The chicken however was appaling- stringy, tasteless and didn't resemble chicken in the slightest!My friend had saussage, egg and chips which he said was good, although the saussages looked like "Walls" ones or similar.The desserts were OK, although the chocolate sponge was not great, the ice cream was nice.Maybe this is a place for a drink not a meal, and if you do have a meal, please don't have the curry!