Playhouse in Colchester

Surreal atmosphere as the place was a theatre turned into a bar, nice food, good service

The vegan curry was amazing. we didnt have to wait that long The atmosphere was quite cosy its an old theatre lots of dark colours, dark wooden tables in booths, you can check the ingredients of any meal you choose on the electronic board on the wall.

Always end up here as you know it's ok

Scampi and fish and chips good quality drinks good and cheap

Great location, fantastic staff, plenty of space.... . I've changed my original review due to the recent changes, the staff are miserable. The food is no longer reasonably priced for what you get. The booze is cheap though but be careful not to drink too much just incase one of your group starts slurring as the rest of you will be refused service even if you're being quiet, respectful and polite. I've been going here for as long as its been open and never experienced such poor service before and certainly never been or seen anyone be refused service because someone was slurring. Bizarre

First time I've been here for breakfast. It was really lovely. Would recommend it.still really nice.

Staff friendly and helpful. Nice interior decor, that was in keeping with the history of the building. Food was ready very fast.

The customer service is amazing along with the atmosphere. Great place to hangout with your friends.

Always use it for a meeting point when in town

Cheap beer, ok food. Decent place for a quick drink or 5. Staff are quite friendly. Have a nice chat with a few who have got to recognise me which is nice to be treated that way

Prices very reasonable, food nice for the price and portions good.

Absolutely amazing pub, staff friendly and cleanliness has improved vastly in the last year maybe under different management

Another Wetherspoon in an interesting setting. A former theatre and cinema in the 1950s by the looks of the posters on the wall. Tables and booths of varying sizes laid out over different levels make it easy to find a nook that suits. We found a booth up on the stage area. Ordered on the app as it works well and is so convenient. Tried the festive pizza (chicken, stuffing, brie, bacon) and Hot and Spicy chicken (half chicken, naga chilli sauce, chips, coleslaw). Better than expected! Chicken half was a very good sizeand juicy. The Naga chilli sauce was separate - good flavour, hot but not crazy hot as we thought it might be. Pizza toppings worked well and dough was good.

Been here a couple times early in the morning for the big breakfast and I can say that it’s not only worth it but it’s tasty and well done for the price. No complaints about the food for me but the tables and chairs aren’t a bit lacking imo.

It's a spoons, and it gets busy. Great for cheap drinks and aggressively average food options! Check the cutlery thoroughly however as I've been served dirty knifes and spoons! Convenient as you can order on your phone and not waste time in lines.

Great atmosphere, service is always quick and the staff make time to chat whilst pouring a beer. Food is as good as most Wetherspoons.

It does what it says on the tin. Lovely old cinema location.

The best weatherspoons I've ever visited. They have done a fantastic job to retain the character of the theatre. Well worth a visit if you are in the area.

Same as any other wetherspoons. Good value, but defo not fine dining. This one's got character because it's a converted theatre

I've given four stars because it's cheap! Had a coffee ☕ which was fine and some toast with marmalade, also good. Recommended you sit on the stage to look back at the bar and upper tier.

Nice food and drinks reasonably priced staff friendly quick service, orthough looking abit tired but overall good.

This is usually our last stop of before we go home. I am absolutely shocked by what we saw. The bar was full with dirty glasses. Sitting at a table in front of the bar i could not beleive my eyes the guy behind the bar white shirt[ now this was obviously a table order for drinks] took a sip of one of the drinks and then placed it on the tray with the other drinks that had been ordered. . The tray sat there for up to 7mins before the I recon the bar leader took them to the table she was all in black with an ear piece. Now we like coming here and with me being a supervisor I was appalled by what happened and how dirty it was. Yes it was busy and end of the month sorry to moan but it was bad.

I brought my Mum here last week for fish and chips, she used to go for fish and chips with my Dad before he passed last year to the Witherspoon's when they lived in Poole. She really enjoyed it here, everything was what she expected, thank you so much. Sorry, no photos though. X

The atmosphere is good but the beer isn't always fresh, hence is cheap.

Great to have a breakfast seated on the stage looking up at all the cut outs.

Normally it is u get what u pay for, which was average usually. Today had a large mixed grill and gourmet steak and both were spot on. Presume they have a new chef? More of a 4* food today than ur usual wetherspoons. Well done chef and staff and presumably new meat suppliers?

Great place to visit. Staff friendly and helpful. Nice food, but could be warmer. Relaxed atmosphere and great setting.

Wanted to pop in as to see what was long ago a theatre,posters on walls interesting,But I just felt like the place was a little "dirty",many drinks half drunk hanging around the ledges on the perifery.. probably from the night before!!seemed it needed a refresh🤔

Cheap and cheerful. Plenty of choice and plenty of different options. Choose the food first because some options come with a drink as part of the deal, so no point in buying another drink as well. We like the cardboard cutout figures watching the diners from the balcony level!

Great value food and drink with friendly service.

Interesting building, nice atmosphere

Always cheap and cheery, food plain but great place

Very good lovely meal . Brilliant service

Good pub food is good good service

Ordered a drink 11:11 and it got brought over a full quarter of an hour later - must have been poured reasonably quickly as the either the head had settled or someone took a few mouthfuls because this is what I had put in front of me - terrible service. So if you want a warmer, flatter possibly second hand drink - the playhouse is the place to go.

Popped in on way home, great prices on beer, service excellent, I worked for a brewery delivering to spoons all over london and southeast they do not get/sell out of date beer they get the same has your local pub, they just buy a lot more £2.77for a pint of carlsbergs today it was lovely .

Probably the worst wetherspoons we have been to, dark dingy and very dated, however, the food and service was great. 2 breakfasts, drinks (including refillable coffee) for £13

We were travelling and needed a break. We were pleased to find this interesting place to eat.

Came in to spoons this evening, I was served by a young man called Luke. Brilliant service with a smile!

Service was ok but clearing table's and hygiene was descusting need to be sorted or won't drink in there again not a witherspoon standard

Roxy is the best she literally made the night so much better ♥️

A bizarre but brilliant pub with a great selection of drinks, good atmosphere, comfy seating and good service.

Classic Spoons. Not the first time we've come here, and definitely not the last. As with any Spoons restaurant, the food is either perfect or "not your day", as is the atmosphere and service. It's exactly what you'd expect for the price and location, and like the rest of us, we're there for the socializing and the fairly cheap food, so as usual, everything is within the norm.

We had a lovely meal on a Saturday. Even though it was busy, we were promptly served and the service was excellent. The app wasn't working, but we had no trouble being served at the bar. Food was piping hot and delicious. The prices were so reasonable. We enjoyed it so much, that we went back the following day, for a cooked breakfast. The staff remembered us from the evening before and we had a joke about us returning. I would definitely recommend this pub. Such a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

Good value food and drinks. Could do with a bit of a clean as on most of my visits tables have been dirty or in need of clearing.

If a portion of chips means 6 pieces then I'm delighted 👀👀🤣🤣

Don't bother disgusting place with vulgar customers

Another great Whetherspoons, WiFi was a bit patchy in some parts of the venue and 4g/5g is pretty much nonexistent, but the food and drink was great 👍

Absolutely stunning place, the history behind this building was fantastic I love anything historic, the barstaff was fabulous and very friendly, unfortunately I can't really rate the food because I didn't dine there but I'm sure it was excellent food, I'm a long distance lorry driver and where ever I park up for the evening I always Google a weatherspoons, the playhouse by far in my opinion was my best experience yet just by the lay out and the history, looking forward to my next visit. 👍❤️

Nice to sit with many different people

Worth a quick visit for the interior, cheap, but cider wasn't great.

It's Witherspoons cheap and cheerful 😊

We love a spoons and this one did not disappoint. Beautiful building and the theme of the playhouse is carried out throughout the pub. We just popped in for tea and toast while visiting the local area we would happily drop in again when visiting Colchester

Nice atmosphere in there tonight and very relaxing 😌

Can’t go wrong for price but the food can be hit and miss. Does often have that weatherspoons smell to it and if you go down the back it’s very dark and dingy. Lighting needs to be improved.

Service was shocking, was told not serving this side of bar so went to other side, 1 member of staff pouring table service drinks, 1 taking orders to table & 1 actually serving behind bar. Lots of people that had ordered on app were going to bar to collect drinks as been waiting for 20+ minutes. We ordered 2 puddings & had to wait 45 minutes for them

Its an unushal layout for a pub, its an old theatre and you can have your pint right on the stage with all these cardboard cutouts looking at you, but i love it, its cool and its nice that it was converted rather than being left abandoned or knocked down

Toliets let this venue down, badly need upgrading

The Playhouse in Colchester, part of the Wetherspoons chain, is a true gem in the heart of the town. The moment you step inside, you’re greeted by the unique charm of this former theatre, which has been beautifully preserved. The architecture is stunning, with the original stage and balcony still intact, giving the place a grand and historic feel. It’s not just a pub; it’s an experience. The atmosphere is lively yet relaxed, making it perfect for both a casual lunch and an evening out. The menu offers a wide range of affordable options, from classic British pub food to more contemporary dishes. The quality of the food is consistently good, and the portion sizes are generous. They also have an extensive selection of drinks, including real ales and craft beers, all at great prices. What sets The Playhouse apart is the attentive and friendly staff. They are always ready to help, making sure your visit is enjoyable from start to finish. Despite being a busy venue, the service is efficient, and the place is kept clean and tidy. Whether you're a local or just visiting Colchester, The Playhouse is a must-visit. It’s a unique venue that combines history, great food, and a welcoming atmosphere, all at very reasonable prices. Highly recommended!

The place needs updating. Everything looks tired

It was ok but the food had no salad or chips which was suppose be with sandwiches

Good witherspoons with good service

It's what you would expect from Wetherspoons, half decent food though sometimes it's a bit hit and miss on the portion sizes. On a quieter day it's fairly pleasant to go and relax in a quiet corner.

Keep this place open and as it is at all costs. Great work guys <3

A great pub, the top tier full of film stars and the main stage in the middle. Loved it a very different pub.

Came here with my young son today (15/08/2024), the staff were very helpful helping get the buggy down the stairs, I didn't even need to ask, someone came and offered assistance straight away. Another chap that helped clean the highchair was also very polite and courteous, which is always appreciated. Manners and kind actions cost nothing and make all the difference, because of the way the staff treated us, we'll no doubt be back next time we're in the area. Thank you for genuinely good service - a level that most expensive restaurants don't offer.

Went on Saturday lunchtime, it was very busy which you’d expect and meal came fairly quickly and was nice. The paninis just aren’t as good as a couple of years ago though. Table hadn’t been cleared from previous customers

An ordinary Wetherspoons.. Nothing too fancy as you’d expect, reasonably big pub with lots of food and drinks to offer. Service is average, nothing to complain about other than the odd ‘riff raff’ which is out of the staffs control. Wait times can be long depending on the time. Other than that, never had an issue in here and a nice addition to Colchester.

I make sure to pass by Wetherspoons when in town coz first off, their drinks are at a good price and they serve good amount of food and it’s just a different kind of place. Used to be a theatre before so the setup is quite interesting. From their various food options I always enjoy their chicken wings and they also have a great variety of drinks.

Slightly slow service (waited an hour for 3 meals) but very friendly staff and great atmosphere

It's a spoons. Low quality and standards .

Nice place, staff very friendly and a great selection of drinks.

Typical spoons, good food, good beer, staff all over it, cracking place actually, big round bar, plenty of seats, good service. Good job guys!

The food here is really good for the price and the drinks and service. Wish the toilets were more accessible. Otherwise great

My regular local but since the football the place stinks of sour beer where the carpets have been soaked if Wetherspoons are going to allow this behaviour they should at least make the place presentable after

Friendly staff and clean toilets. The surroundings was interesting as are most wetherspoons as it was a theatre and cinema in its past life. Food and drink was nice too. I kept my meal simple on this occasion and I decided to have the Radem noodles bowl with chicken and egg. Very filling and something I would have again.

The Playhouse pub located at the heart of Colchester Town is housed in a former theatre, retaining many of its original features. NOT the best Wetherspoons I have visited. Could improve on keeping the tables clean. It has a unique and stunning interior, which includes a stage area and gallery seating. Reasonable prices, and a wide selection of beers. The atmosphere is lively yet cozy. Overall, it is an okay types place to hang out with friends for a meal or drink.

I ordered a really nice quinoa and tuna salad, I have a lot of allergies and can't have fatty food as well currently, so finding something suitable is a nightmare! I was resigned to a jacket potato. But the salad was amazing! Not coated in oily dressing too, it was optional and really tasty. I found the ordering really easy too, but a few of my friends struggled with signal. It's a beautiful old building, there should be WiFi. All the allergens are clearly labelled on the website, with full ingredients lists. The clientele, well, not really the friendliest, but I encountered no trouble and the booths are nice and private.

Drinks at the right price great 2 pints for less then £5 can't be bad.

Great venue cheap but good food.

If you are a fan of wetherspoons this is a must visit site as it is housed in the old theatre 🎭 with the stage and balcony still intact. The food is the basic wetherspoons fayre. Service was good and staff very friendly.

Had a large breakfast and coffee refill... very fast and friendly service..highly recommend Playhouse Colchester!!

Pint of Leffe and a curry for £10. Pretty amazing value. Cannot fault. Nowhere can beat for bang for buck. Used the app to order and to avoid losing my table. Professional service

I dislike the company and how they treated my cousin when they worked there but its still good food, still a good pub, just a shame its a wetherspoons

Nice large weatherspoons in a great location

Absolutely superb from start to finish, very quick to bring drinks & food arrived soon after. I had the fish and chips and my good lady had the scampi and chips, everything was great. Prices you just can't knock.

Food is basic but good value for money. Drinks are extremely reasonable. Great starting point.

Whenever you're in Colchester always worth a visit to wetherspoons sensible prices sensible food

A cosy place with a nice decoration👌🏻I tried fish and chips. That was good.

Came to Spoons, no spoons in sight. Outrageous, very disappointed. Please ensure there are spoons available upon next visitation

Great place to eat and drink on a budget. Good food and drink and good service.

(update) 2024: Their vegan lunch is to die for. 2022: Quick service and friendly staff, will definitely be visiting here again.

Excellent ambience. A wonderful and harmonious gathering and a pint only costs £3.20.

Been going to this place for a long time only because the drinks are cheap. Not enough staff at times with tables not cleaned quick enough and waiting ages for staff to serve you. Went for a drink and something to eat recently and was shocked at what I got for fish chips and mushy peas. Tiny piece of fish a spoonful of mushy peas and what looked like a dozen chips. I wanted to complain but wife did not want me to.

A fine example of the genre. This one is set in an old theatre, hence the name. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town .

Clean,friendly service, reasonable priced Beers

Very slow bar service 20 minute wait uninterested staff completely ignored a good place for a cheap drink though always busy

Best spoons I have ever been in Food for the price was excellent and the beer didn’t actually taste like it was going out of date

This place is AMAZING!! A pub-theatre tasting as a pub but make ppl feeling as a star!

What an experience! You're sitting in a one-time theatre. You can even sit on the stage. This is something very different and a great value meal from Wethspoons . Spots the 'stars' looking down from the gallery.