Gardeners Arms in Epping Forest

Great local pub, lively, warm, good Sunday roasts, good value, and great service. Really enjoyed our visit.

Food was ok. Choice on the menu is limited compared to other places. Staff were working hard and friendly. This is a nice pub.

Great little pub with amazing views of London. Quite nice food and treatment, we will be making this our local pub :)

Had my engagement party at this pub. Originally was told we had a certain part of the area which we paid a £100 deposit for and was told this twice. When we got there on the day of, we were then told very rudely that we do not get that large table and section of pub. Very disappointing start to the party. Other than that, great service and lovely looking pub. Be cautious when booking and make sure to confirm which section you get if you are looking to hire our section for party.

Excellent service and excellent food

What a great pub, I’m part of LDN Riders, a cycling club in London, we regularly stop at the Gardens on our rides and they team couldn’t be more accommodating. We let them know in advance and they put sausage rolls and astride on for us. We came for the view, but we keep coming for the hospitality.

Great Sunday roast and atmosphere- highly recommended pub, british classic!

Cute little village pub with spectacular views of the city which can be seen in the distance. Good selection of beers available on tap

Amazing food, the roast was fantastic. Especially the cauliflower cheese! Certainly worth sharing it between two though, we did and we were so full! 😂 Lovely local atmosphere and good service

We are visiting friends in Loughton and went for an evening stroll and aimed for this pub. As a Swedish person who loves the pub culture I really enjoyed it. Beautiful view towards the City and a really cute spot to stop for a drink on a summer’s evening.

Started well. Very friendly welcome and drinks brought to our table. Great roast. Five women arrived for lunch and sat behind us and kept screeching with no consideration for others diners. Guy took our plates and we asked to takeaway our leftovers. I actually said that I had a small appetite and that would be two meals for me. He later denied we had asked and once retrieved it was obvious the two meals had been mixed. It was thrown away as cross contaminated and not safe to eat which was a complete waste. Parking is difficult.

Very nice pub. Good service. Great views of London.

Very nice and cozy, superb fireplace, I love the bar design , nice terrace... Space is fairly small, but feel like home... Staff are nice and friendly... You can stop for a drink or stop for food, with friends or family, but if you pass by you should stop and check it out... Our favourite local pub...

Beautiful couple of pints and a packed of crisps in the sun on a quiet, Monday midday. 10 out of 10, would come back again!

Ask for Daniel he’s a special kind! Ask for Holly she’s a special kind!

Superb wee pub with very friendly staff and decent lunch

Cute pub, stunning indoor and outdoor space with skyline views of London with lovely atmosphere and delicious food, perfect after a walk and swim in Epping forest.

Lovely pub right next to the forest. On top of the hill so great views all around if the weather is nice. Friendly staff too. Best pub in Loughton

Lovely Barstaff & a warm friendly atmosphere

A beautiful little pub with excellent food just underneath Epping Forest. Hunting for a while to find a pub for lunch we stumbled upon the Gardeners Arms. A quaint Frieda Carlo themed pub with a great atmosphere, friendly staff and excellent food.

Very unwelcoming good I way to overpriced chips are more oily then the managers nit infested hair manager is very loud and obnoxious and is usually sat in the corner more pissed then a wife beater

Very over rated over priced! Not welcoming to anyone with disabilities

Nice outdoor terrace to enjoy the view. Excellent service! They have made my morning~

The usual Christmas drinks gathering amongst some old friends. No better place.

Lovely pub for a drink at the end of a walk!

Came here for the first time today. Bar staff were very friendly, open fire keeping us warm and dogs are very welcome. It’s a really nice vibe in this pub. Oh and the view of London’s skyline is not to the missed. Great afternoon!

A lovely pub in a great location.

Very young staff but they are friendly and efficient and the food delicious

Iconic historical pub in a great location

Very friendly staff, enjoyed the chicken and squid starters as a light lunch.

Wonderful place in a slightly out of the way location, which makes it feel special. Outside seating area with lots of room.

Quite possibly the best pub in loughton. This place is picturesque with a friendly community that makes newcomers feel welcome. Situated at the top of a hill that brushes the trees of epping forest makes this place very special.

Nice views.but very expensive.Not much atmosphere.

Great pub with viewpoint of london.

One of my favourite pubs in loughton tuck away but in such a nice quiet area with a great outdoor seating area too

Very pleasant, friendly staff and punters.

Noisy music loud to talk. Checked menu but didn't stay to eat

Ordered Espresso Martini on draft few days ago, very disappointed. Not even taste alcohol nor coffee. Half of ice in the glass which never been served before. I'm sorry but never go back again 🙏

Great Sunday roast to have here

Run, do not walk here... unless it's up the hill then take the walk at a brisk pace. They have recently redecorated but that's not the only reason why. They are now serving Chuck & Brisket, a small menu filled with the absolute best burgers I have tasted. Forget Dead Hippies from Meat Liquor, or Shake Shack. The cheeseburgers here are juicy, mouth-watering and the most delicious brioche meat sandwiches I'vehad in a very long time. The patties taste incredible and are so moist. I couldn't fault it and I was a little sad when it was over. Their skin-on fries transported me to my grandmother's kitchen, for me, a comfort food. I would absolutely come back here, and implore any newcomers and regulars to try their delightful menu, otherwise you would be doing yourself a disservice. You will not regret it.

Couldn't fault it. Cocktails amazing (espresso Martini) , food delicious (skate), relaxed and friendly. A hidden gem

Smashing beef and mustard sandwich. Cosy vibe pub, roaring fires, and loads of lovely dogs with their happy owners.

A great cosy pub. Good selection of beers and the burger was great!

A proper pub! Plonked on top of a hill with a stunning view across London. Lovely cosy atmosphere, freindly, helpful staff as are the regulars. Treat yourself and take a visit. Go for lunch and get the view.

Great little pub, fantastic views over London. Food could be better

Great pub great skyline view of central London

Lovely little pub near Blackweir Pond. Very popular with the locals, but always welcoming.

Lovely place and amazing service.

Great views over London at night with sky line of the capital easy to see. It has nice decor to give it character with two open fireplaces to give you the warm cosy feel.

Really nice pub. Friendly service

The Gardener's arms is a lovely community pub with friendly staff from the moment you walk in

Interesting little pub in beautiful area. Nice meal. Really nice helpful barmaids n manager did his best to keep food coming n clearing tables. A little bit too expensive £22.50 4 roast dinner but glad I eventually paid it a visit.

Nice pub, great selection of drinks. Friendly staff. We sat outside and admired the lofty views across London. We will be back. Thanks

Really, lovely hidden gem! I was in the area visiting a friend with my children and we had an incredible lunch. They offer a good range of kids meals which kept the little ones happy! The soft shell crab was to die for and my friend loved the salt beef. The staff were super helpful with recommendations for food and drink, we had a lovely table with an amazing view. Definitely worth the journey from gidea park!

Had a great day there, Surrounded by nice people and great food, have a great environment the perfect location, for a quiet drink.

We had a lovely late lunch last weekend with our dog, the food was amazing, we had the squid, prawns and salt beef sandwich and the staff were super friendly. Even had dog biscuits on offer! Amazing views over London, a real hidden gem!

Ok. Busy times. Warm day during covid re open and pre booking neccersary But I can only assume the owner is seriously lacking in class or ability to select suitable greeting. Arrogant lumps talking to pensioners and family people like they're in a queue to a 2 Bob club.Shame. Beautiful building and location. Sell up and buy yourself a tacky wine bar.

We lucked out today with sunshine and specials. Always a pleasure to come here. Staff are very friendly

I’ve been drinking at the Gardeners for years as has my family and friends. I was surprised to read comments on social distancing, when I feel the pub followed the rules spot on. Wherever it’s a family Sunday lunch or social drink with friends I’ve always had a fantastic experience due to the friendly atmosphere, bar staff and landlord’s.

Beware! No social distancing measures apparent in this pub except entrance and exit doors(although the staff serving food is ignore these signs and walk in and out freely against the flow of customers). NO details are taken from customers in the event of a Test and Trace situation. This pub is NOT COVID Compliant by any stretch of the imagination.

Good pint of Youngs's Special. Today's special lamb hotpot was worth trying, good mix of lamb, pearl barley, lentils and herbs. Can recommend it. Good views from the beer garden.

We had such an amazing meal at this pub and only wish I had known earlier how lovely it is. The food was hot and made to perfection and the service was attentive and to be honest perfect.Nolan was brilliant, happy, helpful and I felt like I had been there lots of times even though this was our first visit for a meal, my mum was treated with so much respect and care and she felt so welcome.Well done to everyone working there as you really deserve Excellent as you make people feel truly wecome.

This lovely pub has gone down hill. I used this pub regularly until a couple of years ago and went back there recently. How it has spiralled down hill. I will still go in there but it is not the same atmosphere. Very disappointed.

We used to love this pub and the Sunday roasts were something to write home about (literally.)I'm not sure if the pub has undergone a change of ownership in the last few months but looking at other reviews of poor recent scoring and our experience last Sunday I can only assume so.The food was awful. Barely edible in fact.The starter of deep fried camembert, was burnt on the outside and rubber on the inside, not melted.The main roast dinner was pitiful. A few measly frozen vegetables, some processed lumps of 'meat?' And a couple of good ol' aunt bessies frozen roast potatoes (seriously, anyone who's working class as I am knows an aunt bessies roast potato when they see one.) For a 'bargain' £15.95 per roast.The waiting staff however, I did feel sorry for as the pub was absolutely packed and the staff were clearly rushed and didn't even remember to bring us cutlery when placing down both the starters and then the mains and did not ask us what drinks we would like throughout the whole meal. The waitress seemed embarrassed to bring us the bill and told us despite it adding up to £70odd she would only charge us £30. (I felt sorry for her)I really hope the owners realise that this pub needs to quickly go back to the quality it used to be otherwise I feel their short term shift to maximise profit will leave them wondering as I, "what the hell happened?"Avoid.

When visiting our family in Loughton, we always look forward to visiting The Gardeners Arms both Winter and Summer it is a great pub , the food is very good and the welcome always friendly. Cosy and warm in the Winter especially after a long walk through Epping Forest , during the Summer the Gardeners have spectacular views of London.Also another big attraction is the selection of Gins , The Gardeners is everything a pub should be and we are looking forward to our next visit

The food was excellent, the staff great and the view from the top of the hill is breath taking. Only down sides were that the wine wasn’t great but the staff were excellent in no quibble at swapping it. My choice of beers was very generous. My starter with the tempura was fantastic, my main of lambs liver, bacon and bubble &squeak gave my wife mass food envy despite her lamb shank being very tasty. My wife and I both opted for excellent sticky toffee pudding dessert. The bar maid explained the restaurant had stopped using the Gourmet Society and Meerkat Movies because people had used them as intended and they wanted to put their regulars first when they were busy on Sundays, but they did honour it as the offer hadn’t been removed, so we enjoyed our 2-4-1 on all courses. The only negative, if you aren’t a dog person, then they do allow dogs, if you are a dog person then it’s somewhere you can enjoy your meal with man’s best friend.

A great visit to a terrific little pub set up off the main high street away from all the bustle with great views and some great home cooked food - a definite must try

First visit to this location. Excellent service and food. The steak and ale pie is to die for, served just the right amount of mash and veg. Highly recommended. Will visit again when in the area.

First rate food reasonably priced, best stake and ale pie I have ever had, meaty melt in your mouth beef and plenty of it,nice crust ,adequate vegetables and creamy mash. I also had apple crumble with ice cream, once again delicious, friendly helpful staff .

Recent reviews of this pub sum up exactly how I feel!Excellent location and outlook, yet average,overpriced food and staff that do not seem to care?Visited on a Tuesday afternoon and young girl serving( or not! )Was more interested in her phone and talking to another member of staff than actually serving!Either this pub needs to change hands or the current owners need to have a total re-think!Either way food needs improving, staff need training and the place needs a complete makeover!Pity because although out of the way it could be a real money spinner in the right hands!!!

This could be the best pub for miles around but the owners have no idea! Decor is poor, the pub is dirty. toilets are disgusting and used by drug addicts (three men came out of the same cubicle at the same time). Went there on a Thursday and there was a disco going on with hardly anyone in the pub - not the sort of thing you would expect from a pub in this location.

I’ve been visiting this pub since I was a teenager and that was a long time ago! The pub used to serve good food and was generally looked after and has always been more on the old fashioned side but this was part of its charm... now however it is positively run down. The tables & chairs outside the pub are so broken and rickety they should be thrown in the bin as are quite dangerous. It all needs a bit of TLC. When I asked if the function room had been done up yet I was told no & they no longer held a licence to rent it out for functions. All in all very disappointing as it has great views across London & should be a far nicer looking establishment than it currently is.

This pub is in a beautiful setting and the staff were very friendly when we went for lunch with our toddler grandson. Sadly, the mixed reviews this pub gets are well deserved. I ordered a fish finger sandwich for myself and for my grandson. They were truly dreadful. At £6 each, it was pricey for one sandwich and a bit of salad, however, the fish fingers were the cheapest, nastiest available with a hard, bright orange, almost impenetrable crust and a thin grey streak of ‘fish’ running through. Terrible. Chips were £5 extra and were ok. It’s such a shame, and a rip off.

This pub looks like it should and could be a goldmine!

Came here on a Sunday evening. Lovely pub. Good selection of beers. Friendly staff. But freezing cold. Very uncomfortable....

It's the most 'rural' feeling pub in Loughton. Most others are run down or too contemporary. Right next to the forest, with beautiful views. A must.

Was recommended this place by the visitor centre at Epping Forest when coming for a bike ride. The beer garden and view is excellent but the food took ages to arrive, they seemed to forget our order and when it eventually came it was very average indeed with very few chips and clearly a frozen fish for 13.50!!!!

Very average pub. Average food. Average beer. Average Staff. However, go there on a spring or summer day or evening, order your average beer from your average server and go outside and get a great view over Loughton all the way to Canary Wharf and even the QE Bridge in Dartford.

El personal del bar aquí son normalmente muy amable y la comida "casera" es un estándar decente.

Fuimos allí para comer con mi marido y el perro. Mientras que un pub muy agradable en una ubicación bastante los sándwiches muy pedimos eran muy decepcionante! ! No es difícil hacer un buen sándwich - en primer lugar empezar con pan fresco crujiente uncut no una rebanada de pan sunblest! ! ! Y PAGAR 5 libras. 90 para el Privilage de queso y pickle bocata rápido hecho con un pan en rodajas con margarina de tamaño es un poco descarado! !

Enjoy your drink looking at the spectacular view . One not to miss when you are in the area . Beautiful scenery .

Este fue el peor servicio que he experimentado en mi vida. Sirvieron un trozo de carne que estaba obviamente empezando a pudrirse y sin duda era ido (trabajó en la industria de la carne). Sin embargo, cuando nos dijeron que el personal de una señora mayor salió en vez de pedir perdón, nos dijo que para quejarnos y era extremadamente grosero hasta el punto de que otros huéspedes estomacal. No vayas, es un peligro para la salud. Estoy preocupado por nadie más que pueda comer mientras que te harán muy enferma. Esta no es la primera vez que he oído cosas malas sobre esta mujer. Cuando la última vez que estuvimos allí fue gritando en la cocina y pudimos escuchar sus platos aplastando.

A menudo me visita este pub cuando mi familia y amigos vienen a ver yo y mi esposa. Es un pub con un ambiente fantástico. Una cerveza con una amplia selección de cervezas! Sophie y Roxy son geniales y siempre nos hacen sentir tan bienvenidos...

I am fairly local to here so when friends visit from abroad or other parts of the UK I like to have lunch here with them.To start with it is a 'proper' pub, has atmosphere, decent beer and good food. On a clear day, the view from the terrace across London is stupendous.The menu is surprisingly large with some interesting dishes as well as pub classics. Service is friendly and reasonably quick, depending on selection. Reasonable selection of wines and some good beers. Nice fire to warm you up in the winter. A proper Pub, I would say and I don't need visitors to entice me come here.There was a complaint about the toilets which must have been actioned because I have never experienced this problem during my visits.

We visited the pub for a drink. No complaints about the beer and the service. Prices are expensive but it is a nice quaint pub. However the toilets were very dirty. Floor soaked in urine. Also two or more young men using the same cubicle. You can guess what for. Overall this pub has a lot going for it but other things let it down.

Really good Christmas dinner and we were dining en masse, over 20 of us. Always lovely service and a nice feel to the place.

Great pub. Food good and plenty od beers on tap. Service as you would expect from a pub - friendly but don't expect fast service

This used to be very good pub but has gone downhill now. The staff behind the bar were young and inexperienced, my husbands Adnams bitter was cloudy, a publican with experience would not have served it. The menu is extensive and looks inviting but I am assured by a friend that it is not as good as it used to be considering the hike in the prices. We had sandwiches on white bread the bread was fresh but was like doorsteps so had to remove the crusts. Very expensive sandwiches. Shame as it is a lovely location, nothing is forever.

This pub looks " quaint " and in a great location and setting but its dirty and need attention inside, especially the toilets! Disgusting , couldn't even wash my hands! As no tap working! Food isn't great here either. Had mid week lunch here previously which was horrible like packet food and Sunday roast which was bad! Fatty meat and microwaved " sloppy " cauliflower cheese. Nice in the summer for a drink to sit outside

Saturday social drink with Friends we have invited out for the evening. So embarrassed. Walked in and the place and a strong smell of a urine hit you. Went to the ladies and not surprisingly it was worse. It's the most expensive pub in Loughton. Offers not much but a lovely view of an evening, but you could stand outside and get that for free. The saying you get what you pay for doesn't work in this establishment.

This pub is the best pub hideaway in Loughton, surrounded by rural untouched buildings and winding country roads, it's perfect in the summer time with the breathtaking views that look across London. The staff are really friendly and helpful and go out of their way to do whatever they can. The food is of great value and very delicious. Best pub in the area :)

I have had a few meals here, Sunday Lunch, Saturday Brunch and have never been disappointed! The Roast dinners are fantastic and they even offer a takeaway service plus the staff are a real friendly bunch.I met with the owners to discuss the function room hire for a birthday party and they couldn't have been nicer. Jay

Location is awesome. Drinks range is good enuff. Service is not as warm as other reviewers have cited - maybe I had the wrong fragrance on ;-) The massive negative is that the beer garden is a mess as its furniture needs TLC.

This pub is quite near to home, but dont get many chances to visit. Recently went on two visits for family birthday drinks. Its a joy to sit outside on the terrace and enjoy the amazing views across to East London and beyond. Service is very friendly, and plenty of different beers and wines to choose from. Food served most of the day.

This is a WONDERFUL example of a British pub at its best. Quaint traditional surroundings, cheerful friendly staff, lots of choice on Menu to suit all tastes / appetites. We had the Liver & Crispy bacon, served with Bubble and squeak and delicious gravy. Faultless to us born and bred Londoners. Plenty of options on offer, I highly recommend a visit, it is top of the hill so motorized transport suggested unless super fit.We will be back with the rest of our family soon. .

Not good!My friend and I went to this pub for lunch. We both had breaded mushrooms for our starter. This was ok. My friend had cottage pie which was good. I had steak and kidney pudding which was very stodgy and dry. I ate a small amount and gave up. I was offered more gravy but declined as the steak and kidney pudding was not good.I ordered fruit crumble and ice cream for dessert. It must have been heated in the microwave and was definitely no longer a crumble. It was heavy, stodgy and inedible. When the main course plates were taken away I was asked if it was ok. My plate was still almost full. I told the lady it was not good and it was dry. She said that it was a shame. I did not receive an apology and it was not taken off the bill. I ordered a glass of wine at the bar. I sat down with it and took a sip. I was not wearing makeup. I then noticed the glass was dirty covered in someone else's lipstick. I went back to the bar and explained. The barmaid took my drink and tipped it into another wine glass out of the glass with someone else's lipstick on it. I told her I wanted a fresh glass of wine. She walked into the kitchen area off the bar and I saw her lift and look at at least four more wine glasses from the drainer before she found one she could use. She then poured some wine into it and handed it to me. I told her it wasn't full so she topped it up to the correct measure. Not a smile or apology to be seen! She then walked back into the doorway of the kitchen and had a moan about my complaint to another barmaid.My whole experience was awful. I know meals can be disappointing and accept you can just be unlucky occasionally. However the staff here were unprofessional, unfriendly and did not seem to care. A smile and apology would have gone a long way. There was not recompense for the inedible main course and inedible desert.The fact she had a problem finding a clean wine glass says a lot.I would not recommend this pub to anyone and will not be returning.

This quaint pub is always full of friendly faces and a great atmosphere. Great beers on tap and I had a wonderful homemade cake that was on the bar. Food once again great pub grub - all home made. Great views and staff are lovely. Recommend highly.

This traditional and photogenic country pub is at the top of York Hill and offers stunning views across the Thames Valley. It is a good place to stop for a drink if you are walking in the forest, on the negative side it is perhaps a little pricey. The menu looks good, but I have never eaten there. It can be a little stuffy and airless inside, so you may prefer to choose an outside table overlooking the little green with its traditional water pump.

On Sunday we decided to go to the Gardeners Arms for lunch. They have two sittings at 1:00 and at 3:00 so we booked for the 3:00. We arrived about 2:00 for a drink beforehand and told the barmaid we were here. We have been to the Gardeners many times and it always has such a lovely atmosphere and everybody is really friendly. It reminds us of a pub we frequent in Cornwall. We managed to get a couple of seats in the bar and enjoyed our drinks. We went into the restaurant at the back of the pub at 3:00 and had a nice corner table. The menu was all roasts but did include a nut loaf for a vegetarian option. My husband and I both had the lamb shanks with all the trimmings. It was very tasty with lashings of gravy but I am more used to the meat falling off the bone when I cook them myself. There were plenty of roast potatoes and veg.For afters we both had the organic fruit crumble which was delicious. We had two jugs of custard with it and enjoyed every mouthful. We had a couple of glasses of red - hubby, white - me and our bill was £60 including a tip. Well worth it.Highly recommendedFoxyfox10

I've been going to the gardeners arms for years now, it's always been a cosy country pub with nice food. Well how my opinion has changed! I booked Mother's Day for 6 of us well in advance, all I was told over the phone was that there were two sittings so I chose the later time. We arrived on time and had to wait (not a problem) whilst they cleaned the table. We ordered some prosecco and our mains, but in all honesty there wasn't a great deal of choice (no fish dishes or chicken). The roast dinners were okay and some of us had puddings, which again were nice but nothing special. The bill came and we were all shell shocked. £184 for 6 dinners, 4 desserts & 1 beer! I had already paid for the prosecco separately. My uncle who was treating us all quietly paid the bill with no fuss but decided to call them a day or so later to query why it was so expensive. The lady he spoke to completely disregarded what he said & responded with 'well it's Mother's Day, that's just how it is' then going on to explain that they in fact charged us £16 per roast dinner and £24 service charge. My uncle already gave the waitress a £10 tip so actually ended up forking out £35 on service! He is 70 years old so didn't realise this at the time. What I am most angry about is that we were never once told that we would be charged extra because it was Mother's Day, nor were there any prices what so ever in the pub on the day. The menu was written on a chalk board so we had no idea what we were spending. I feel very let down by this pub as I have spent many Sunday's here with family, but feel it's time we go elsewhere.