Purleigh Bell in Maldon

Shocking food,service and atmosphere.

Comfortable old English pub. Mainly locals but good beer and plenty of food options including specials

Late minute booking which was accommodated with little fuss and then good service and experience throughout or visit.

Really nice pub in a nice village.

First visit food exceptional service a little bit slow

great atmosphere, picturesque village, lots going on there. Excellent food!

Excellent pub with fantastic food.

Fantastic... What a lovely pub. Sat in the garden and had a wonderful Meal. Great friendly service and food was 10/10

A proper village pub serving great food and good beers What more do you want?

Great Pub, great food, great service. Nothing more to say.

Lovely food, lots of it very good value. Staff friendly. Definitely be going there again. Good choice of food.

Gorgeous meal there, last night. Beautiful location and lovely venue

Lovely to be able to sit outside! Beautiful surroundings.

The staff were very welcoming and polite, the food was absolutely excellent very delicious. And great prices for the quality. Would highly recommend this place to eat.

Wonderful two course lunch with friends today. Had the Fishcake and sweet chilli sauce to start (x4) absolutely delicious. Stuffed full with salmon. Followed by pepper and feta quiche ( with accompaniments.(x2) Omg we’ve never had such a lovely light quiche. Best ever. One of us had the chicken Kiev. Loved it! One the Moules Marineres again fab. Too full for desert but thoroughly enjoyed everything. Fat and full. Great service. Owners and staff lovely and attentive. Place was jam packed for a reason.

First Class Sunday roast ! Beautiful traditional pub, stunning setting 👌🏽

Great place food and location fantastic

Great pub, friendly service, delicious food.

Lovely country pub with great outdoor seating. Dog friendly as well. We didn't eat but will be going back as the menu was fantastic with a monthly section that changes every month. Great service in an idyllic location.

We stumbled across this lovely country pub while out for a Sunday summer drive. We were NOT disappointed. Beautiful old building in a nice quiet village. The food we ordered was nicely presented (you could see some love and care had been taken). Most importantly tasted amazing. We later found out that it’s all home made by the French chef and this reflects in parts of the menu. All the food we see coming out looked good, so we will definitely be coming back. The staff were polite and friendly and the pub is dog friendly too.

Lovely spot. Crouch Vale Godiva and Mighty Oak Captain Bob.

The food was excellent and a great place.

Foods ok at a good price. The menu is somewhat limited as was the parking. Nice outdoor terrace with great views.

Visited after a recommendation from a friend. Brilliant pub that serves the most amazing food. Staff are superb,and the atmosphere is everything you want from a country village pub. An absolute hidden gem of Essex. Cannot wait to return.

The beating heart of Purleigh! The food is absolutely delicious - fresh moules mariniere, the absolute best sunday roasts, burgers, sandwiches, and other specials of the day. All cooked fresh by their very talented chefs 🤤 With a fine selection of beers, ales, ciders, and wines to accompany. The service is great, and the landlord and lady are the most kind, welcoming people you will ever meet. Many events are held here such as open mic nights on the 1st Tuesday of every month, board game night on friday evenings, as well as art exhibitions, yoga classes, art classes, history talks, country walks.... So many different things that attract so many different people from far and wide. The Purleigh Bell is really a true community hub full of vibrancy and laughter, set atop the hill of idyllic Purleigh. If you haven't visited yet, you have all this to look forward to!

Very nice publican's. They do a leisurely walk with numerous stops every 1st Sunday of month around purliegh lasting approximately 2 hours and surprisingly ending back at the 🍻 😂. Food was amazing and everything came out all together. Look forward to going back very soon

Lovely place to eat. Food is fantastic

It was my birthday, and I was asked where I wanted to have a meal out. Well, I've tired-out the usual Indian & Chinese restaurants in Maldon, so I decided to try here. I wasn't disappointed - the menu was something to behold, local produce in terms of food & drink. The beer was cold, and the food was fresh and hot. Couldn't fault the meal at all - the service was amazing. I'd definitely recommend coming here for a meal in such a lovely setting.

This is a lovely local spot for dinner, where we come often. The chicken burger was spot on! Would highly recommend the pub. The menu had a lot of great different options, suitable for the whole family. The staff are always friendly and very welcoming!

Lovely meal, attentive staff and old world charm

Lovely and historic boozer with great views down to the estuary. 3 ales on, of which two were mighty oak. Very good style selection actually, one gold, one bitter (captain bob), one stout. I had a bob and it was very well kept. Seemed a tad above average price for the area at £4.80 a pint but then it relies on passing trade.

Stunning food, great beers, and a warming welcome in winter months with the two log burners.

Excellent evening meal. Lovely little pub full of old world charm. Attentive, friendly and knowledgeable staff - with a real personal touch. Excellent food - couldn’t fault the quality or portions! Will be back!

Can’t beat this place. An old inn, 700 years old, in a lovely location. Food is fantastic. Brilliant service.

Beautiful pub in amazing setting. Thoroughly enjoyed Sunday lunch on several occasions. Highly recommended

Food was excellent, especially the main course. But it went downhill rapidly after we arrived. We were a party of 20 so it might not have been familiar for the staff to cater for that many people in the function room, separate from the main restaurant area. There were not enough chairs around the table for the number of adults when we arrived so we needed to then set the missing places ourselves. We ordered some breads for the table, £4 for a small plain ciabatta and a knob of butter seemed a bit steep! Children's meals did not all arrive at the same time, we were told that some of them were down as "mains" (not sure why, nobody had stipulated this at any point). Menu was sent out by the restaurant so our party could pre-order. Salmon starter arrived to the table completely different to what was on the menu. Some starters missing, we had to come downstairs to ask for the missing starters twice. Waiter (young man in yellow t-shirt) was found in the corridor at least 4 occasions on his phone. We asked the waiter for ketchup for the children's meals, he came back with a single small pot of ketchup between 4! Children had been waiting a long time since having finished their mains by the time the adults received theirs. Asked for the children's desserts to come as soon as they were ready to do so, we chased this once the adults were finishing their mains to be told that desserts would be coming together as requested (this is not what we asked for!). We then asked to have the bill and forego our desserts because time was getting on and the young children were getting irritable. We had been in the function room for 2 hours at this point. Birthday meal somewhat spoilt by the haphazard service. A bottle of low end prosecco was opened and put on the table by means of apology but this was not much of a goodwill gesture given how our booking went and the majority of us were driving. We asked for a reduction in the bill, this was accepted without question. Would we recommend this restaurant for a couples or family meal? Yes. Would we recommend this restaurant for a private party? No, unfortunately not.

I attended this “cosy pub”…..which actually means small, mismatched with a second hand charity shop feel. The atmosphere was not as expected feels like a care home! The member of staff had a toxic personality (name Kirsten?) and waiting for your order….is time you will never get back. What a shame very very disappointing.

Came for a meal with friends for the first time since the pub dog bit out daughter with no apology whatsoever. This time Service slow. One meal forgot to come out. Apparently it’s only one meal from 9 that we forgot about is ok. Staff and kitchen staff arguing. Awkward and embarrassing to say the least. We won’t be going back.

Love the Purleigh Bell. Always a great atmosphere, very cosy and the food was delicious. If you want a great community pub with a cosy ambience, look no further. Only took pictures of the desert but the food was easily as picturesque.

Nice evening and food. Very cosy atmosphere. Lots of history about the pub.

Quality old world village pub on hilltop setting off the beaten track but worth a visit. Good choice of Ales and Lagers. Food was good quality pub grub, with amazing batter on the fish and chicken Kiev. Well worth travelling out into the countryside for.

As always an amazing place to go and eat. Wonderful staff and such an interesting place. Just visited for Christmas Eve lunch, great food and wonderful

This wonderful venue was recommended to me. We live in Leigh so had a little journey but so worth it. I loved the pub, so traditional and the staff were lovely. Not a chain, lovely independent with superb food. I would say amazing, I will definitely return ! Thank you for a lovely lunch and for speaking to me about your pub.

Thank-you. We had a 3 course meal for 4 today for lunch. Staff were so friendly and food was wonderful. Now we have found you we will be back!

Fantastic Sunday lunch, really tasty. Traditional olde worlde British pub. Lovely Sunday roast dinner.

Can't fault the food or service, well worth a visit

Good place, good people, good food. Love Gus x

Always our go to place. Overall the best place in Essex.

Lovely food in a lovely old country pub.

Welcomed by one of the owners he lit the log burner and was so polite. Took our order. Arrived mine was ok but my friend ordered the burger it came out half cooked she took one bite and said it doesn’t taste right. So we called the inexperience lad over and said it’s not cooked and tastes funny came back said it’s been reheated. I explained to replace but friend sat there saying she can’t eat it as it’s not right the meat was off and undercooked. I ate my meal awkwardly. The other owner came over said it’s been removed from bill. No apology my friend hadn’t eaten anything and said it’s your palate you didn’t like it we provide fresh food and it wasn’t to your palate. Friend explained she is aware of how a burger should taste. RUDE OWNER KRISTEN paid bill and left. Won’t return. Have been many times and what a shame for a local pub!! CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT. RUDE OWNER! Shame!

Sarcastic service, a man working the bar seemed to have a comment for everything, you can’t even ask for a side and when I did i was made to feel like it was a stupid comment, the lady also behind the bar had a sarcastic comment to my sister in law with child, she had hair half up in ponytail. was a regular customer and recommended to family for a birthday meal but won’t be going back due to service, such a shame as the food was amazing, the only helpful/ happy person was the young waitress I think they rely being the food being so good that they don’t care about general customer service

Really good food and a nice, somewhat quirky but homely atmosphere. Offers something unique and a place we will probably make our regular. Great location.

Lovely pub, great food and fantastic service. Nice chilled atmosphere to enjoy a tasty meal. Well worth a visit.

Best pub food in the area. Great service and atmosphere everytime we go.

Top notch!! Best lunch of the year.

Lovely old world pub great food very welcoming

Love this place. Staff always friendly and helpful

One of the best pubs in the area, hands down

Although a little of the beaten track by the church in Purleigh village, the Bell is certainly worth a visit. A friendly welcome followed by excellent food and drinks with first class service makes this a place that is better than many. Advisable to call and book to get a seat along side the locals. Enjoy every time we visit.

Fantastic totally Fantastic friendly staff very chatty they were so busy and squeezed us in, our 2nd time there the steak was fantastic best Rachel had in a long time, the beef and Stilton pie 🥧 was also fantastic, value for money wise very impressive, beautiful pub restaurant 2nd to none thanks for a fantastic experience

Had a lovely Roast dinner with Friends

Lovely pub and area nice people would defo go again

Had loverly walk and welcomed back with lovely Sunday roast. Smashing

Absolutely amazing food the chef is spot on please give it a try and the service is spot on and what a beautiful little village,

Had Sunday lunch which was excellent good welcoming staff and a great atmosphere and a real ale as well

Great pub, fantastic foood and friendly host

Lovely old fashioned pub with great owner & staff. Plus views to die for!

Great food, service and a wonderful location. Would 100% return.

Absolutely great service and amazing food definitely recommend the Eaton mess for desert and enjoyed a lovely mix grill for main. Thanks for everything

We visited to celebrate a 50th & 80th birthday and had a fantastic time. The service was fantastic with our waitress saying she still had her "L plates" on and she could not have been any more polite, friendly and attentive - despite my mother in law's best efforts to be as difficult as possible. Most of us opted for the Sunday Roast with the three meat combo proving to be very popular - the roast pork belly was cooked to absolute perfection. The tempura sea bass was terrific and my daughter's double burger was also just as impressive. As always the Purleigh Bell came up trumps for us and it won't be long until our next visit. Keep up the great work guys, you're doing a brilliant job!!!

First visit today and had a great time. The Bell has such a lovely relaxed atmosphere and staff all super lovely. Good car park with an overflow parking just over the road and ample outdoor seating. The staff were amazing, my husband wanted to change his order after discovering he has chosen the wrong dish and there was no quibble. Only small thing that let it down was the Creme Brulee which sadly didn't taste of anything. But will definitely go back.

Nice pub! Friendly, helpful and great food. Thanks.

Friendly, relaxing older pub, great food and beers !

Excellent food. Friendly service

First visit on recommendation and well it certainly did not disappoint. Very attentive staff, even new table staff learning was spot on. Food was superb and the Chicken Kiev is mind blowing standard, with beautiful chunky fries, salad and an amazing coleslaw. All topped of with an extra pot of the garlic butter, all melted to the side. A side of cheesy garlic bread to top the garlic off! Wow, brilliant. Well done to all staff.

Been under the same management since 2009 and always full

Brilliant pub Very shocked stumbled across it. Food staff an people very good 👍 Was not from area ,normally they always have sone issue. After an hour or so had the best evening there Owners just do not want trouble. They operate on making you happy. Fantastic

Very busy even though mid week. Lunch took a long time to arrive. Was our first visit & wasn't impressed by my over cooked Chicken Kiev. The actual pub is delightful really oldy worldy. Will probably give it another go before making my mind up.

Great food. Lovely old pub. Outside space has beautiful views across Maldon and the Blackwater. Recommended

Friendly, helpful staff served ua very well with delicious home cooked food. Would degonitelt recommend this great little pub.

Great pub great food. Tried Tomahawk Pork chop this time. Very nice. Pub serves local ales to top off nice lunch 😋

Lovely pub. .great food,lots of history . Scenery up on hill is lovely on sunny days. Log fire on cold days...had dinner there couple days ago. Homemade pies very nice

Amazing historic cozy pub with nice food.

Lovely food & attentive service, lacking some atmosphere more of a drinking Pub lots of locals drinking at the bar only a couple of tables with people eating ...no room in the car park

Jacksons Coaches Christmas party food was define well worth a visit, prince Harry has had lunch in the Bell too come along and enjoy

One word excellent! Thanks Chris DHWC

Popular local country style pub with a nice feel about it. Good tasty food and helpful staff.

Friendly greeting from behind the bar making me feel very welcome. Excellent pint of real ale and the food was top quality and sensibly priced. Service was prompt even though the pub was very busy. I recommend this for good beer and food. Well worth a visit. Our visit was enhanced by the live folk music which I’m told happens once a month. Thoroughly recommmended.

Wonderful local pub, superb food, friendly service great local beer and wine. Beautiful old pub with lovely atmosphere.

Brilliant country pub with local ales and scrumptious pub food. Always busy for a reason.

Very nice pub, Sunday roast is delicious.

Fantastic & extremly polite and friendly staff also an amazingly warm open fire xx

Amazing food, especially the main course. Very busy though, make sure to book well ahead if you want a table.

We have lived in the Maldon area for over 10 years now and can't believe we have never visited The Purleigh Bell before yesterday. The pub is set in a beautiful little village and is a thing of beauty from the outside - inside the first thing that hit us was the amazing aroma of good, honest home cooking and from then on I was hooked. My wife and I ordered the pie of the day - chicken and gammon - while my daughter and her friend had the burgers - they were all clearly home made and very generous in their portion size. The tastes were amazing and we couldn't help looking at everyone else's tables to see the amazing array of dishes that were being delivered elsewhere to very appreciative diners. Although the pie was very filling I just had to try the Eton Mess which did not disappoint - the idea of serving it with lemon sorbet on top was absolute genius - it cut through the sweetness brilliantly. The service was second to none with the waitresses attending to everyone with smiles on their faces on what was a busy lunchtime. I will be back there as soon as I can, and my wife has even spoken about the possibility of hosting her 50th birthday party there. Don't just take my word for it - visit this gem as soon as you can, you will not be disappointed.

Lovely traditional pub in picturesque village. Very busy on a Saturday lunchtime, but we found a table in front of a log burner - very cosy. Extremely interesting menu, but we only wanted something small, so went for a fishfinger sandwich in ciabatta, which was served with chips and salad. The fish goujons were perfectly cooked and delicious and the chips were so crispy. Staff were friendly and efficient. Recommended.

Good food, was busy on a Sunday atmosphere and service was also good.

We had our wedding reception at the Bell . and Kristen and her team put so much effort into making the day perfect for us. . The Food was delicious and special and no one wanted to leave And of course the setting and ambience are lovely

Lovely traditional country pub near Chelmsford. We were greeted by friendly staff on arrival. The food was of a very high standard and very good value, highly recommended

Moved to the area recently. This is our new local. Absolutely love it. The Landlord and Landlady are really friendly as are all the staff. Always feel welcome. The food is fabulous too!

Great pub, superb location. Haven't eaten there recently.