The Cricketers in Colchester

Visited the Cricketers for a Sunday roast with a group of six. The food was fine, but nothing particularly memorable – just your standard roast. The atmosphere was lacking, and the place felt a bit flat. Unfortunately, the staff didn't seem too engaged or enthusiastic, which didn’t add much to the experience. All in all, if you're looking for a basic Sunday lunch, it’s adequate, but don’t expect anything out of the ordinary.

Has the chef changed? I had Salmon with rice and Thai sauce. Salmon was lovely, but I'm sure the sauce was out of a jar! Not great unfortunately. Usually it's lovely food, not posh but still nice. £16.99 for the Salmon which would be fine if it was a good dish, but for sauce out of a jar, nothing like Thai curry. Disappointed.

Great pub. Is one of my favourites in the area. Will always come back. The only negative I would mention is the menu selection. There are no healthy meals i.e. salads, pastas, jacket potatoes, omelettes. They seem to just be on the lunch menu.

Delicious food, well priced, helpful staff. What more could you want.

Lovely food, good service and good prices

Nice place, only had a Sunday breakfast,looked after, nothing to dislike 👍

Loved our experience here today. Helpful staff and very nice deserts.

A lovely experience as always. Thank you.

Loved this place! Dog Friendly, food fabulous, staff lovely! Clean! Fire! Can't fault it!

I am thoroughly disappointed with this pub. Although having a fairly decent night doing the Wednesday pub quiz, I went to pay my bill. However when trying to use my friends and family discount greene king, I was refused as apparently it is not a greene king pub. HOWEVER, all over the pubs signs, beer matts and coasters there was the words “green king” written all over them. This is incredibly misleading and I am thoroughly disappointed that the company does not make this clearer. Poor performance and it has ruined my experience. Do better.

We keep coming back here. The food is good traditional cooking done well. The staff are good and friendly.

Visited on a Sunday afternoon, service was awful and food was terrible. Didn’t have lots of things on the menu but also we weren’t offered roast dinners! Food eventually came and was cold. After telling someone it was cold, they stuck it in the microwave. Then started clearing the plates but never came back for the rest. Took ages to get a second round of drinks.

Oh my God, there is a new manager there. He is so so rude if I was you I wouldn’t even go in there. He is the worst manager ever he needs to get some manners

Had lunch here the omelette was good , quite slow service had to ask where drinks & food were & cancelled the coffee as took too long but they had a few bigger tables in so were busy .

This was our first time eating in this pub, i was apprehensive as i have a serious fish allergy but all the staff were understanding and the food was tasty, hot and huge, we also indulged in a dessert and will not hesitate in dining here again. Clean, friendly, lovely location. From Diane & Keith in Copford, Colchester.

A regular meeting place for me and our friends good food and good service getting expensive for pub grub and seating was broken and uncomfortable

Would definitely go there again

Went for a family get together with 2 kids and 5 adults. Food all delivery together and perfect.

Food is bland. Didnt check for allergies, and didnt serve what was stated on the menu. No flavour at all and the staff do not check at any point how the food is. Even when taking payment. Certainly not service with a smile! Also a bit cold

Lovely food, great atmosphere. The service was excellent.

We had delicious meals with generous portions. They consisted of steak and chips with enormous onion rings and peppercorn sauce. Also from the special board the Barnsley lamp chop with mash and vegetables. Both meals were freshly cooked and piping hot. The service was spot on. Well done. Will be back again soon.

Lovely selection on menu and specials board. Attentive staff and prompt service. Everything clean and shiny. Great tasting food. Looking forward to going back soon.

Had a lovely family meal thank you

My family have been coming here for years. The pub has a great atmosphere, and the food was well-presented and tasted excellent as always!

top Sunday roast, could be more of a selection however overall good

Food was lovely, but they seem to forget about you we had to ask for the desert menu they gave it to us then never came back so we left, shame nices place

Took my wife for her 60th birthday surpize ,waited 1 hour for our meal which didn't come,the bar staff said the order went threw, and didnt realize we hadnt eaten .the chefs said they did not see the tab and went on there break.,so when you go to the cricketers just check what time the chefs are going on there breaks so you don't get caught out like we did. I will not be returning.

Excellent food, great atmosphere, a great place to meet friends.

Lovely friendly atmosphere and good food. The Open Mic night is great!!

Great pub with delicious food. Good to see liver and bacon on the menu, with a very generous amount of scrummy gravy. And good choice of specials. Didn't try the pies but they looked tempting, so will just have to go again!

Absolutely amazing place. The cleanliness is above and beyond what I normally see in these establishments. Then there’s the food, wow just wow so delicious and that is matched by the service from the lovely staff. Nice to know there are a few great places out there still

Nice pub with friendly staff. Enough vegetarian food.. including battered banana blossom.

Great venue, nice garden and atmosphere. Very limited veggie/vegan options available or in stock

Fantastic Restaurant / Pub. It's my local now and I live 2 villages away! It's a restaurant first and foremost, but you are very welcome at the bar and there's a nice beer garden in the summer if a beer is all you seek. So many pubs serve mediocre food at high prices so this is where this place delivers. A decent menu with great specials......I had the lamb rump with red wine gravy the other day (pic attached). £18.95.....not cheap, lamb isn't.....but it was huge,no need for a first course or a dessert and I'm greedy! Give it a whirl, you won't be disappointed.

This was my second visit and again not disappointed. Food was lovely, place was immaculate as was the bathroom and we weren't rushed to vacate our table. My only criticism is that on both visits I was ignored when I arrived and no-one was there or willing to show me to my table. You would expect that there would be a meet and greet

Absolute delight! Had a lovely lunch in the garden, very relaxing atmosphere (which is what you want at 39 weeks pregnant) will definitely come again. 🙂

Highly recommended The lasagne was brilliant best I have tasted

Took my parents here and we all enjoyed our meals.

We had a big family meal for my 65th birthday ranging from 4 to 92 and everyone enjoyed their respective meals. The service was good, all the meals where well cooked and presented and it was good value for money.

6 of us shared Birthdays.Nothing was too much trouble even though they were very busy.Well recommended June 23 at lunchtime.Exceptional.

Came for lunch. The welcome could have been warmer we were greeted by a girl more interested in cutlery. Once seated didn’t look further than the special of Crab with salad and side. Very nice service was good, wasn’t too busy or noisy and the setting is very nice opposite the green and cricket field .

Monkfish cheeks on the specials board for a starter, for me the best item ive had on the menus in this pub, then battered king pawns and rice. Lovely feel in the pub, not too busy this lunchtime.

Staying locally so we had an evening meal and then breakfast the next morning. Typical pub grub menu and the evening meal was really nice and the portions were big. Breakfast the next day was fantastic, great value for money and was cooked really well. Nice big pub garden and a good feel to the place. I would highly recommended 👌

Very nice place but we sat near the door on a cold night so got a blast every time someone came in.

In the last few years this has been our local choice ,never had a bad meal and all ways a good choice of ale. Friendly staff and great service

John hosting meal for Martin's 60th birthday!

Cannot fault this pub in any way. Good value for money, friendly staff, lovely atmosphere and very well presented and tasty food.

The food was excellent the service was a bit slow after our meal it took a long time before someone cleared the plates and brought a sweet menu. The only thing that spoilt it was that we were next to the entrance door and every time someone went in or out the door banged . It had a damper attached but this didn't do anything to stop it slamming . Would still eat there again try not to sit near the door .

Popped in for quick drink. Chips was delicious. Friendly helpful staff and lovely clean toilets. Young man called Jamie was particularly good.

Nice pub, very friendly. Great stop over.

Funeral party well organised and lovely quiet location away from public area to celebrate. Worth considering for your needs.

People must be easily pleased, the food is shocking in this pub

A most excellent English Pub. We stayed overnight in their parking lot, in our Expedition Vehicle - thanks Cricketers! Great food, staff and the owners are very friendly and accommodating! We will be back someday!

Had a great Sunday lunch, food and service fantastic. We have made the cricketers our go to place.

Classic pub food. Was nice with good size portion. Staff were friendly and attentive. The building is in dire need of refurbishment and a really good deep clean. Everything felt just a bit ‘grubby’ and uncared for. We were made to sit on a sofa rather than a table. The sofa had a gaping hole in it. Such a shame as it has the potential to be a lovely, family pub.

We sat inside. My friend had a prawn jacket potato, which she thoroughly enjoyed. I opted for ham eggs and chips. The ham was good quality, as were the eggs, unfortunately the chips weren't cooked through. I also asked for a glass of water, it came straight from the tap, no offer of ice and or lemon. I did go to the bar and the young man was happy to supply both. The floor has slightly different levels as you pass from room to room so may be difficult for anyone with mobility or sight issues.

Havent been in over 10 years and stopped by today for some drinks and nibbles. Changed a lot but for the better. Food wise: Onion rings- huge portion, not greasy, very tasty Garlic bread- slightly overdone but still very tasty Chips- very tasty Wonderful atmosphere, helpful staff and Dog friendly. Lovely place to spend a Sunday.

The food was fantastic! Staff were very attentive and polite. Well done Eve, Annabelle, kalie. Also to the chefs! Lovely atmosphere and very clean.

Bad management, poor service, maybe you should get your trained better.

The two mains we had were like child size meals, my side salad contained lettuce and a slither of tomato. Whats gone wrong? it was always great food in the past.

Went for Brother in law's birthday.18 of us we had different meals some had starters. We all had desserts..food was lovely perfectly sized portions. Service and staff very pleasant. Toilets were spotless. A really lovely afternoon.

Booked for a Sunday lunch for 4. Done easily over the phone. Loverly friendly staff. shown to table once ready. The Sunday roast was very nice. It did take a while to arrive but I put this down to how busy they were. I would think during the week the service would be quicker. The vegetables were nice and soft how I like them. The roast potatoes were very nice but I prefer mine a little crisper on the outside. Would I go again? Absolutely far better than the big chains. Will have to try another time and have a different meal.

Lovely pub, nice food and drink. You can see why it's always busy!

My friends and I have been here several times now and we have never been disappointed. The staff are always fun and seem to be happy working at the Cricketers. Love the menu, and it updates quite regulary. One of my friends is on a Gluten free diet and she has a good choice here. Some places we have tried made her choice very complicated.

Excellent lunch today. Booked for 9 people and everyone said how good the food and service was. Would definitely recommend. Staff were very patient with us!

Always a lovely place to go, I have been for breakfast, Sunday lunch and evening meals and it has been lovely. Definitely worth a visit!

Popular countryside pub location. Ordered the steak and chips minus tomato. Service was good and food okay, although could have been more generous with the servings for the price.

Really good lunch Skate for my wife and liver and bacon for me excellent!!!

Brilliant service, fabulous food and all at a good price.

Great service from friendly staff, lovely food and drink. Really lovely place.

Wonderful place for food, they do small meals and normal size, lovey atmosphere,kind staff and excellent food, you won't regret eating there,always best to book a table, as it gets busy

A party of 23 of us had lunch at the Cricketers recently, it was excellent, both the food and the service were great... super pub and very pleasant staff, would highly recommend

Have a fantastic Sunday roast beef 😋 😀 would highly recommend this lovely pub great atmosphere great service and really nice staff 😀 👍

Good food, good service. Unfortunately not everything on the menu was available That includes main, side dish and sweet! If dining in a Smokey atmosphere is your thing then this will not disappoint. I found that it was too much, our clothes stank of smoke when we got home. Much more needs to be done to venting your wood burner correctly.

Solo breakfast trip, and very happy to report I enjoyed it very much. Good selection of breakfast items, with meat and veggie options. Tea included with my traditional breakfast. Love the bacon, not overdone. Pub was nice and quiet before the lunchtime busier periods. Staff were very polite and helpful. Will be going again.

We went for a relaxing mid week supper. Lovely 'pub grub'. The food and service were excellent and we thought it was great value for money. I came a few weeks ago with friends on a weekend lunch time and again, great food, great value for money and great service. Thank you.

We went for dinner here and I have to say that when we first arrived I was a little put off when I saw the plaque outside stating it was part of a chain, but we decided to give it a go anyway. When we entered the bar was very busy, it is clearly a popular pub, we were given a table with a sofa and chairs, very comfortable. WE sat and relaxed and the serving team were really nice very friendly and attentive, we ordered drinks and looked at the menu. The menu is not too large but still had a good selection. We ordered and then chatted, our expectations were not high given I don’t tend to like cains, but when the food came it was very nice, the fish and chips that my partner had was tasty and well cooked, only downside was that it could have been drained a little longer, same with the onion rings as they were a little greasy. But they tasted lovely. I ordered the skate wing and it was very large, not at all what I expected, well cooked and tasty, I really enjoyed it. We shared a dessert as were both toom full to have one each and enjoyed it. On reflection I should not have judged it for being a chain bar as the team were great, the food lovely, the decor is nice and they are dog friendly, what more can you ask for! We would definitely return

We had 2 lovely mains couldn't fault them my partners starter susposed to be Brie Wedges. 3 tiny pieces and a small pile of yesterday's salad the server ask was the starter alright I replied salad was older than me

The Cricketers has always had a great reputation and we have enjoyed eating there from time to time. We went for dinner on Saturday evening and expected the usual standards however it appears that the management has changed hands. The young lad serving us was very nice and handed us the menus after we were seated, he said he would be back to take our orders. Within 30 seconds somebody wondered round the corner and asked if we were ready to order! We hadn’t even opened the menu. The food was average at best, overcooked starter, the vegetable lasagne was obviously left under the heat lamp for too long and the Chocolate Brownie turned to dust when you cut into it. To be fair the cod loin was very nice but that is about as far as I would go. After the main course things went down hill, nobody came to clear plates and we couldn’t find anyone for a drink. I resorted to going to the bar and asking for desert menus and ordering drinks (twice). The only person that seemed embarrassed (and cared) was the chap behind the bar, who was very apologetic. Roll on to “shall we have another drink or just go?” and the decision was not that easy. How do you leave a restaurant if you can’t get the bill? Back to the bar to ask for the bill, I waited whilst one of the bar staff served another customer. Just as they were finished, the chap served somebody else who wandered up to the bar. Turns out, this was the Manager, the penny drops! Asked the nice bar chap for the bill and he said he would bring it over. Back at the table, ten minutes later the so called manager turns up holding a bill and card machine. He asked if we were paying together, I said yes. He then stood there and looked at us, I suggested he might want to share the big secret in his hand……….the bill and how much i owed. He said, well someone just told me to come over to get the bill paid! I raised my concerns about the service and he said, they don’t give me enough training, I am struggling. No apology. So sad that this place has gone down hill, suffice to say we won’t be returning.

Had a lovely meal with a friend last night it's fantastic great pub would highly recommend it food was great 👍 👌 😋

Great menu with an excellent chef. Go there all the time

I couldn't decide what to choose from the relatively extent menu, but I finally settled for 'Beef in a Red Wine and Cranberry sauce '. Oh boy, I was blown away with it! It was, I think, the best meal I have ever had. So much so, I already know what I'll be ordering next time that I eat here. Yep, that'll be Beef in a Red Wine and Cranberry Sauce. Every time!!! Superb chef!

Excellent food and atmosphere. Very friendly staff

Lunch ok but could have been served with a smile! Lager served in a dirty glass when returned told it was marks from the dishwasher, but replaced Ice cream served in a chipped glass, not acceptable More care needed in cleaning glasses and not serving food in chipped receptacles.

Always a nice atmosphere and were very nice to let us bring the dog through to the Beer garden. Had a lovely family catch at this pub as it's only a short walk from us.

As usual, it's a place for food & drink 🍸 😋

Always one of our favourites when we're home from New Zealand. I had the braised beef which was 5* quality and husband had the liver and bacon which he said was lovely. Back soon.

Great place for good, wholesome pub grub.

Attended the pub for a 70th birthday lunch with around 40 others on Sunday 4th Feb. The young lads gave a great service taking drinks during the party. Unfortunately one of the young girls that served our party was quite abrupt on a couple of occasions which I was quite taken aback by. The food come out in stages which is understandable given the party size, but when one of the young girls was asked if they could provide us with condiments we were told “I’ll bring them when I’m ready, I’m busy serving food”. I was appalled to be honest as not only had we been spoken to in such a poor manner, but we waited nearly 15 minutes more before she actually bothered to bring us some which meant half of the table that were having a roast dinner had already finished eating before we could even start. The children’s food that was provided was awful, a thin dry burger served in a bun with a few fries on the side without any form of garnish, salad, peas or beans whatsoever. As for the children’s pizza, again this appeared to be not much more than a pitta bread which cheese a tomato puree on. The roast dinners appeared to have 2 potatoes, some receiving all vegetables whilst others were missing some. The meat was tasty, but the rest of the dinner was completely substandard. The fish and chip meal was also very disappointing, frozen chips served with a piece of cod on top which was dripping in fat (yes I am aware that it was a fried piece of cod in batter). The pub has a lot of potential, but when serving a poor standard of food, I sadly wouldn’t arrange another party here nor would I recommend it for service either. My comparison would be against the Donkey & Buskins in Layer where the service is outstanding and all their food is home cooked to a very high standard. Their cod is served in a light beer batter, whilst offering triple cooked homemade chips and a portion of crushed minted peas to accompany it, sadly yours felt extremely short of this being very greasy and also frozen cheap chips. Overall a very disappointing first visit to a local pub. Sorry for the lengthy negative review, but sadly I feel the owners need to be aware of what the service and food is being provided compared to your competitors in the area. Hopefully some good will come out the review and the service and food standards will improve.

Best lamb roast I've had since 2020.

One of our favourite eating places but you are best booking. Lovely setting over looking a green. The food is excellent so is the service. We had steak and ale pie and fish and chips. Menu to suit all tastes and good beer and lager. I shall attach a picture

Took my mum for a meal and honestly I’ve never been so impressed the food we had was amazing and beef just fell apart. We had Braised beef with cranberry and red wine with horseradish mashed potato, honey glazed carrots & parsnips and a side of duck Bon Bon’s it was amazing 100% recommend will definitely be back there again soon

What a lovely atmosphere, a warm friendly restaurant. Service was great food fantastic. Definitely recommend..looking forward to going back soon.

Beautiful pub, lovely food, excellent service, thank you.

Went there today for lunch and was disappointed. The staff are lovely, attentive and caring, so five stars for them! But had the Tuna Mayonnaise sandwich which I have had on many occasions and I like this pub, but was hard to find the Tuna at £ 8.50 a sandwich . Overall disappointing. Will go elsewhere as need value for money. No, I did not comment on the product as not the staffs fault who were serving me but the chefs who produced it. Next time I will go elsewhere!

The car park was pretty flooded on arrival although we managed to find a spot where you didn't get wet feet I feel it's worth mentioning. Inside the staff were friendly enough and quickly took orders from our large group but unfortunately some items were off the menu which was disappointing. However what was more disappointing was the food! I ordered the gammon and truth be told I wouldn't have given it to my dogs. The whole meal was overcooked and dried out. I think it had sat under heat lamps for quite some time before being served. I was unable to have a starter due to being out of stock and having tasted the main there was no way I was having a dessert and I left hungry and disappointed. I didn't complain at the time as I do worry what kitchen staff may do to the food. However I certainly won't return and can't recommend the place as it had more faults than redeeming qualities.

Great food and friendly staff. Visited previously and decided to come back for my birthday meal.

Good friendly pub and restaurant and good service

Great country pub with good food and well kept beer. Monthly music open mic nights. Friendly and attractive.

Friendly service and welcoming. Excellent fish and chips and a huge portion.