The Halfway in Braintree

This cramped venue is basically split into 3 sections making circulation among friends very cumbersome. One serious health and safety issue is the wooden floor which is raised next to the bar which people tripped over. They had so many untrained bar staff it was almost impossible to get served. I would recommend that if drinking spirits you taste before adding a mixer because I definitely did not get what I ordered. To cap an unenjoyable night the 3 ornate cake stands that we loaned to the host were unfortunately left at the venue and despite phone calls requesting their whereabouts we were eventually told they have been thrown out. This leaves a very bad taste in the month and I would recommend that people give this place a wide berth.

As per the Derbyshire Jet Setter review. The food was terrible ted cabbage burnt. Lamb more fat than meat, potatoes brown lumps of rock. When the waiting staff started to say at 1 o'clock we have run out of beef bells began to ring. Our mistake for not leaving then. The waiting staff did all they could to keep the service on track. The manager totaly gutless never came near the dining room with yhe issues they were having we would have thought more if he had closed before things got so bad. If you get there and get an inclination they are having a bad day leave straight away.

We are a lunch club of 12 mature ladies. We don't mind paying top money for good food but at Lovejoys not one of us had a meal we could eat. Firstly they ran out of roast beef, on a Sunday? We were booked for 12.30 so not a late booking which might have been understandable. The potatoes were so hard we couldn't cut them as was the Yorkshire pudding. The lamb was supposed to be leg but, by the fattiness, it was a cheap cut of shoulder. The presentation was awful as it was just thrown on the plate and covered in gravy. A gastro pub it is not as they obviously don't know the meaning of gastronomy. We asked for coffee but the machine wasn't working! They reduced our bills accordingly but will never eat there again. I must say the young waiters and waitress were excellent and unfortunately had to take all the stick from us before we got to speak to the manager.

My lunch was amazing, very tasty, cooked to perfection. Chefs kiss! Great service, highly recommend. I will be returning

We took family members out for a birthday treat. Very disappointing - food was tasty but served barely warm, restaurant was cold and we all came out not feeling particularly full. Overpriced and won’t be returning. Such a shame as we’d looked forward to our Saturday evening out with family

Amazing food quality, service was great and staff were very attentive and efficient. We didn't feel as though we were waiting for ages and would definitely come again and would happily and confidently bring close friends and family for a great quality meal.

Had a pleasant Sunday lunch a few weeks ago in a nice setting with a good service but the menus advertised are still out of date which is misleading

I came for dinner with friends on a Saturday evening and had a really lovely time. The food was delicious; I had the Seabass which was perfectly cooked. We had a really nice bottle of rosé and then a few cocktails, yum! The waitress that served us was really friendly and went the extra mile to make our experience great. Will definitely return for family meals soon! Thank you The George :)

Went for a family occasion to The George (Lovejoys) well what can I say . Superb from start to finish . Food was first class, service impeccable and ambience lovely . I cannot recommend highly enough . Thank you so much .

Beautiful location, great service and amazing food! We have been going back regularly to try new menus and always delicious. Also hired out for a family event and the buffet food and service was the best as all freshly made by the chefs on site and such a beautiful venue. Highly recommend!

So arrived before our table reservation at 2:30pm. Was seated straight which was great. Had to wait for our drinks order to be taken so ordered an Irish Flat White cocktail. When this arrived it had no flavour, tasted watery so asked for it to be made again. When it arrived the attitude from the girl with long dark hair in a ponytail slammed the drink on table with no apology!!! So we then had to wait for them to take our main order for food and asked for bread and balsamic while we waited for our main meals. I could see the restaurant wasn’t busy but noticed there were long waits for food and starters. After 25 mins since our order was taken we where still waiting for the bread!!! On another table a lady had been waiting for waiter to take their desserts order she got fed up waiting and got up from the table to go to bar and order herself. What bad service is that!!! We decided after 30 mins and seeing other tables still waiting for their starters we gave up. We went to the bar and told them we had been sitting there for over 30 mins without any bread. I mean how long does it take to bring bread to a table. Again the restaurant wasn’t busy at all. So when we arrived at bar to explain we were not prepared to wait any longer the attitude girl was at the bar and just stormed off in the kitchen again rude and she shouldn’t work in a customer facing role if she can’t be civil to paying customers. Paid for drinks and left. Poor customer service, poor staff attitude will never go to this restaurant again or recommend to others Maybe you need to work on your staffing and there attitude’s.

We booked for 5 people on Saturday at 8pm for my wife's birthday It started bad when we were told 50% of the menue was off so most of us decided on fish & chips only to be told on ordering that that was sold out as well!! 3 of us ordered chicken and the other 2 burgers - hardly gourmet! When the meals eventually arrived - after a long wait, the carrots were raw and the chicken dry. The burgers were under cooked and the buns stale! All in all a terrible offering. After complaining we were offered free deserts which we refused. Eventually we were charged only for the drinks and one meal however we would have preferred a decent meal instead of a ruined celebration. Never again!

We tried afternoon tea after seeing it advertised as a special event. Lovely food, great service by our waitress Izzy, who looked after us brilliantly, keeping our tea topped up and hot. We'll definitely go back again.

We tried The George for the first time yesterday and I must say the roast beef Sunday lunch was superb! Perfectly cooked slices of beef, the Yorkshire pudding was spot on, awesome rich gravy, the best tasting braised red onion ever... I could say more but you get the picture. We'll definitely be back.

Lovely restaurant. Fantastic staff. Lovely decor. We had the Sunday toast and the potatoes and veg cooked well. The waiting staff were friendly and were ready to give their recommendations of food. Lovely restaurant.

Always a lovely meal! We found the George when they catered our wedding in September, since we keep finding excuses to return. Food is lovely, reasonably priced, staff are so friendly and accommodating, thanks Izzy. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated, well worth a visit!...

We came for date night a couple of weeks ago on a Thursday. And as always it was lovely, but was even better this time as the staff we had were just so lovely and funny. The food is always amazing, but the two lovely...

Last time we ate here we told staff as we arrived that we are in a rush but we would love to have the lamb. The chef confirmed the order will be ready in 20 minutes so we went went for the lamb which indeed...

After booking a table for my 40th birthday. Me and my partner went for date night. We were surprised by the quietness of the restaurant because all I can say is the food was beautiful, the interior gorgeous and the team could not have been...

Overall very good, very well organised, great food great service over all great decor My favourite is the fish n chips , could put pie on the menu

What a fantastic place to go. Beautiful decor, friendly staff, amazing food. Would strongly recommend.

What a great experience. Extensive lunchtime menu, very friendly staff, there if you wanted but not intrusive. Food was excellent, great produce so well prepared and served. We all througherly enjoyed the experience

I recently (1/10/22) attended a breakfast meet at The George with approx 45 friends. We All belong to a car club and the management team had actually agreed to open up for us 2 hours earlier than their usual opening time. In fact, I believe...

We go to the George regularly and once again the food and service were absolutely wonderful. Will certainly keep going!! Thanks Katie & the team

Just been to the George for the 3rd time in the past couple of months, and once again had a brilliant time. The service is brilliant, every member of staff is so friendly and attentive, our waiter Joe was brilliant and nothing was too much...

We had a lovely family evening at The George, food was excellent. Joey has worked hard to get this off the ground again and he is succeeding. Well done. He was very attentive to our specialist needs for one of our party and they were...

Roast dinner was amazing. Unfortunately the service was really poor. Slow to take our orders and deliver our drinks. Ended up leaving and getting dessert from Tesco. Staff blamed the kitchen, but the issue was not the food it was the poor service at the...

Our 4th visit tonight and again The George did not fail to impress! From the friendly greeting by Katie and her team to the consistently good food and lovely atmosphere .......its a fabulous place to eat, see you again soon !!!

We had a magical evening! The food was phenomenal, the staff were so lovely and the whole ambience was just incredible. Sat having our meal and one of the team came and lit the candle on the table, then all of a sudden, the restaurant...

What a lovely time we had at The George at Kelvedon for their second birthday! Great setting, fab service, and tasters of the new menu - all delicious! It's been a tough couple of years for Joey and the team (as it has been for...

Wonderful afternoon celebrating my parents 60th wedding anniversary. Katie and her staff could not have been more professional, helpful, accommodating or charming. Great food and lovely venue.

Went to the George at Kelvedon for a 60th Wedding Anniversary lunch for my parents. The service, welcome, organisation and food could not have been better. From the first contact to the event itself the attention to detail and appreciation of our requirements was second...

Had been wanting to try out this restaurant for a while and as it was our anniversary thought we would give it a go. On arrival we were very impressed with the pretty garden and newly refurbed interior. We were politely greeted and shown to...

Enjoyed two courses in this lovely restaurant, service was friendly and all dishes were beautifully presented and tasted delicious. The sticky toffee pudding was the best I've had in a very long time! Ample parking, lovely interior. Looking forward to trying one of the theme...

We booked for five of us for dinner and we were all very impressed. The restaurant is elegantly decorated and has a nice atmosphere. The menu choices were good, and when the food came it was presented beautifully tasted delicious. The young lady that served...

Met up with friends whilst working in the area and had the George recommended to me. Well laid out and nicely decorated inside. Warm welcome on arrival. Good choice of food on the menu all of which was tasty. Plenty of parking and the restaurant...

Never been to The George before but what a fantastic experience. Joey and hi steam definitely know how to make you feel welcome and looked after. The menu had a great selection but not too much, the quality of the food showed that the chef...

Just had a wonderful meal with my daughter. Food was excellent, service quick and attentive. Lovely environment. Will return and really recommend.

Really great food, quick service and a very nice venue with beautiful surrounding countryside. Only downside was sat nav took us all round the houses before we found it but a lovely area around Coggeshall and Kelvedon anyway.

Booked online for Saturday 8pm. Had to wait for someone to show us to are table so got drinks at bar first. We sat down but waited some time for someone to take our order. The menu was very limited not a great selection on...

Contacted The George to arrange a family meal to celebrate my husbands 50th birthday.. Joey and his team did not disappoint, very supportive with menu changes, very accomodating with menu choices.. Food amazing and all of the guests shared how amazing each of there meals...

This was our first visit under the new ownership and we were very impressed. A very good Sunday lunch - very good quality meat and great vegetables. A pretty decent wine list added to the experience and the staff were very efficient and pleasant. I...

Sunday lunch , 6 people, 3 who had leg of lamb roast, meat was full of grissel and sinew, thick fat also, couldn't cut through it, and knives were blunt, complained and waitress said that we should have asked for steak knives ( with lamb???)....

Lovley restaurant spotlessly clean, great picturesque location, friendly staff ,excellent food lots of choice. Can't wait to return.

Wow wow wow a fantastic Christmas Dinner cooked to perfection excellent service well done Varinder Joey and staff. Thank you

We visited the George last week for our car club Christmas dinner, there were 30 of us and Varinder and his team were brilliant, all meals were delicious and hot. Very friendly and professional staff. Will definitely return soon!

We visited to give our wedding menu a little taster, and we were not disappointed! Perfect portion sizes, each course was beautifully presented and tasted incredible! Personal favourites were the pork belly, hubby to be hadn’t stopped talking about it! And the Eton mess cheesecake,...

Lunch in the garden which is lovely and secluded. Food is amazing. Brilliantly cooked fresh ingredients and wonderful service

Found this pub before going on the nearby Alpaca walking experience. Very accommodating, patient host, who helpfully let me pick a few bits on the menu - I have a few dietary requirements - to make a house salad with new potatoes and bacon. My...

Eleven of us had a delicious lunch at The George. Our group had a few individuals with dietary requirements and these were very well accommodated. The staff were friendly, welcoming , and the service was excellent. A very comfortable and well decorated venue too. We...

We spotted this place on Tripadvisor, and made a point of stopping off for lunch en route from Sussex to Southwold. Minor hitch re our booking - easily resolved, and almost certainly my fault (!). Very stylish contemporary decor: food - high quality ingredients handled...

First visit and will definitely be back! Although the menu isn't extensive the food was great and service was excellent. Highly recommended.

This was our first visit; for Sunday lunch. The George had been recommended to us. The welcome was very warm and the surroundings are lovely and modern. The tables were very well spaced. The food was delicious. The service was good. A great first experience...

Blimey. Tried this for supper on Wednesday as hadn’t been in a while. Menu isn’t extensive or particularly exciting, so wasn’t expecting too much. However, we were blown away by the food. Really well cooked and extremely flavoursome. Best meal we’ve had out for a...

Absolutely love this place. Have been coming here for dinner regularly for a couple of months now. There’s always a warm and friendly welcome, excellent service, delicious food and a fantastic wine list. Tonight was their 1 year anniversary so if you haven’t visited in...

A very nice experience on our first visit. The food was tasty and hot with ample portions. Service was okay but room for improvement, down to young staff , training will bring my score up to a 5 star. A little warm once the venue...

Love this place , been many times before but first for Sunday lunch. Food superb. Roast beef with all the trimmings. Could not fault anything , beef was very tasty and cooked perfectly. So full I couldn’t even make room for one of the delightful...

We dined as a table of six for a family birthday on Saturday night. Two guests arrived first a little early and sat outside in the garden with pre-drinks, however they waited twenty minutes for a lemonade and a glass of white wine, but couldn’t...

We visited as my partner had seen that the George were doing a two course deal Tuesday / Thursday and we like to try different places not too far from us. The setting is lovely and the George has been re-vamped from my last visit...

Lovely staff, great cocktails and beautiful food, have already recommended to friends and family and will be back very soon!

Had wonderful lunch today on first visit. Staff very friendly, professional and attentive. Lunch was served in marquee, which kept us warm and dry during the frequent heavy downpours. Will definitely go back soon

We had an amazing lunch so good we went back a week later. Yet again a fabulous meal. Excellent service. A must visit!!!!

We had a lovely evening at The George - outside, in their beautiful marquee, which has well spaced and nicely presented tables with stylish and comfortable chairs. All the staff were welcoming and helpful, and the food was excellent. We both enjoyed our starters (calamari and creamy garlic mushrooms on sourdough toast) and the mains - pan roast chicken with tagliatelle and a special of beautifully cooked salmon in a delicate sauce, served with crushed new potatoes and green beans. We had an extra serving of spinach which was delicious. The George deserves to do really well and we wish them all the very best. We shall definitely be revisiting.

Visited today and i will definitely be returning! Friendly staff , great location with a lovely view from the outside across the fields . Food was beautiful! And really nicely presented . As it was Sunday a lot of us ordered roast dinner and it looked and tasted wonderful! I myself had a vegetarian pasta there were quite a few different vegetarian and vegan options and tasted lovely!

Food was delicious, service was outstanding. Extremely great value for money. Highly recommend if looking for high quality food. The outside dining had a lovely atmosphere and was very comfortable. Will definitely be returning with the family next time.

Lovely place, went for a double date tonight. Quick service, great drinks and brilliant food! The woman who served us was lovely and the man (who I believe may be the owner) is very polite. It’s a very welcoming atmosphere and, even though sitting outside due to COVID, it was warm and very comfortable. Also, being a woman, I really appreciate that in the toilets they offer female hygiene products for free, which most restaurants do not. They really do think of everything to make you comfortable and feel welcome! Would like to massively thank the servers tonight. Come a couple of weeks ago and was the same great standard! Offered blankets, drinks, great service! Will definitely be returning.

First place we visited as the COVID rules were relaxed. With a 12:00 lunch booking we were the first diners to arrive which was also nice. I love this place. The menu the staff and the food are all first class for a very reasonable price. A very nice selection of wines including some English wine produced nearby which is delicious. It’s so nice to have a very nice restaurant so close to home. If it’s dinner as a couple, a group outing, working lunch/dinner or a venue for a party, I can’t fault this place.

We ate outside in the marquee which was quite lovely. Service was a bit slow but worth the wait. Food was great and service very friendly. First visit but it won’t be the last.

Had a lovely evening meal outside. Everything thought of, heaters, blankets offered as arrived (although the heater for me was warm enough). Service was very accommodating. We enjoyed a 3 course meal and the food was outstanding and full of flavour. The menu is very cost reasonable too. Watching the sunset go down was an added bonus as they have perfect outside views. 100% will be going back.

Was staying in coggeshall, had a few iffy meals in my vicinity. Heard good things of this place and I must say, was very impressed. Went straight for main course, a lovely steak with a bottle of malbec. Will definitely recommend this place to my colleagues and family alike. Thank you for a lovely evening

Had a family booking to see Santa with our 16 month old grandson. We are in a bubble as we are the main childcare for him so could eat together. Food was fantastic, and very plentiful. The sea bass was to die for, sitting on top of a sauce that was incredible. The roast was delicious, and the children’s meal came up ready cut, which meant we could all get on with ours without it getting cold.Excellent service from all the staff, and a special mention to the grinch, who was very good with the children.In these very difficult times it was lovely to be able to get out and enjoy a special event, thank you to the whole team for this lovely experience.

Visited here with my wife and my mother back in October right before Lockdown 2 began. The outdoor dining area was elegantly presented, complete with heaters, although I'm eager to one day spend more time in the beautiful interior.The service was first rate, me and my wife are vegan and were catered for fully with alot of choice. The food was excellent and you pay for what you get, but this was not expensive at all. Simply a case of paying for the quality, which is how it should be surely.We'll be back again in no time, can't wait!

Brilliant food and a gorgeous building all bring a brilliant atmosphere. Staff are all wearing masks properly as I was a little dubious about that having checking Tripadvisor for the best restaurant locally. We made the right choice and had a great evening.

All the food was excellent, but the experience was spoilt by the waiter wearing his mask under his nose. He might just have well not bothered. Will not be returning while we are in the pandemic.

We have been here now for a roast and lunch on a Saturday. Both were amazing! We will definitely be recommending this place to friends and family!

We went to celebrate my friend's birthday and we couldn't have chosen a better place than your restaurant, the service was great and the food excellent! The waiter who served us very friendly. We will definitely go back! Highly recommended.

Booked a table here for lunch today as it was close to Marks Hall estate where we were meeting friends for a walkSo glad we did We enjoyed a lovely lunch and although I think we were the last diners for lunch were made to feel so welcomeReally good food imaginatively served - especially the soupMy husband had seared mackerel which he said was great my friend and I shared olives and home made breadTwo of us had fish and chips and two had ham egg and chips which sounds ordinary but as I said was served with styleI would recommend a trip out to this restaurant and we will certainly be backThank you Ps very Covid safe

This was our first visit to this restaurant since it changed hands and we were disappointed by the Sunday lunch, as we had read good reviews. The roast beef (not enough and thin slices) was lacklustre, potatoes poor and the huge Yorkshire pudding gave the impression of having sat around a while, which was odd as it was early in service. The desserts were mixed: the coffee cake and ice cream was uninspired, while the apricot cobbler was warm on the outside and cold inside, but tasty. When we asked for horseradish sauce and then gravy, they were both brought swiftly and were plentiful. Two courses for £20 would have been good value, if lunch had lived up to our expectations, but it didn’t. The Covid-19 measures were first class, with temperature checks, app QR code, wearing of face masks, table spacing etc all meticulously observed. The welcome was very warm and the staff conscientious and friendly.

Service and food beyond fantastic you could not do better in a Michelin starred restaurant nothing was too much trouble both food and service were 5 star

My first visit to The George since it's upmarket rebranding. Lovely, easy-access approach to the bar, with interesting plants along the walkway. Beautifully clean and fresh inside, with high spec decoration and coordinating accessories.Tables are nicely spaced, which even without social distancing measures is a welcome sight. The service was professional and polite. The lunchtime menu was good value and there was plenty on the plate. Every effort was made to offer diners a safe, relaxing place to eat.

So my wife and I decided to take our 4 week old son out for the day and for a treat and what a treat it was. The George did not disappoint- from a kind & warm welcome, modern and stylish decor and exceptional food, our experience was one to remember. The staff were lovely and attentive and very accommodating. We felt very safe and comfortable with the tables well set apart but not effecting the atmosphere. The Sunday menu and food was excellent and cooked to perfection- all very reasonably priced too. A great experience all round and we will certainly be back. A new favourite for us for sure. See you guys soon and thank you for a lovely meal. Alex & Kylie (and baby Jackson)

Absolutely delightful, beautiful food with impeccable service. The staff were lovely, very friendly and attentive. Fantastic value for money. Will definitely be back.

This is the second time I’ve visited recently and the food and service were great once again. Tables are a good distance apart and our temperature was taken on entry. We will be back.

Absolutely delicious supper here this evening. They appear to have sorted out their initial teething problems and consequently was most enjoyable. Excellent food, drinks and service.The new chairs are infinitely more comfortable and stylish than the old metal ones so am hoping the attention to decor will continue to create a truly atmospheric dining experience.

This is the place to go locally for something that's a cut above standard pub food and definitely atmosphere! Will soon be Number 1 on Tripadviser.

Popped in for a quick lunch and opted for the Honey and Mustard Glazed Ham, Duck Egg and Triple Cooked Chips on the light lunch menu. Fantastic food and will definitely be back with the family for a Sunday roast or to try the a la Carte menu. Good luck Joey Lovejoy and the team with your new venture.

Visited on a Thursday night with a few friends to catch up and enjoy a nice meal, wasn't left disappointed. The starter was phenomenal, the flavour and texture sensational and the steak was cooked to perfection, exactly how I asked for it. The waiting staff were superb, knowing we were a group who had not see each other for a while, so keeping their distance but knowing when we were after another drink or something for the table, and had excellent knowledge of the food and drinks menu

We chose this restaurant to take some relatives out for lunch on 26th August 2020 to celebrate their 75th birthdays. We couldn't have picked a better venue. The food served to all four diners was delicious. I had saddle of venison as a starter which, whilst small, was wonderfully cooked. I then had the pork belly which was great, and a baked Alaska, which whilst nice, the next time I go I will substitute this for the panna cotta my wife had which was even better. Staff were all friendly and professional and nothing was too much trouble. The Covid-19 arrangements were good and the tables were very adequately spaced to keep diners apart and safe, but there remained sufficient buzz to give a good atmosphere. Highly recommended.

Today two of us had an excellent lunch at the George. The new management is doing a brilliant job; both food and service were superb. Matt was the perfect waiter, friendly, cheerful and efficient, wish there were more like him. A real change from the last time we went here about two years ago. The menu was just the right size, with a variety of options for all tastes. To call our first course "mushroom soup" was the understatement of the year. It looked like a work of art and tasted wonderful. We will be back.

Fantastic food drink and service best place to go to inside and outside. We couldnt reccomend it more!

Had a lovely meal on the opening night a couple of weeks ago. I would fully recommend this restaurant. Both food and staff were five star.

Now called The George. The food was excellent. The staff highly conscientious and polite. Very very good. Only thing they will need to work on is adding more atmosphere. It’s too quiet and neutral inside. That’s easy to fix they have got the food and service brilliant now.

Refreshing to go to The George restaurant newly opened. The food tastes amazing, perfectly cooked and is very well presented, service attentive and the staff really look after you well. Very impressed and will definitely be back soon!

One of the best fillet steaks I have had, Joey and his team made me and my partner Feel very welcome. Will most certainly be back and hopefully we can enjoy the lovely garden area next time. Thanks again 10/10

We had a wonderful meal at The George upon its reopening, immediately being made to feel comfortable and attended to by Joey and his team.The food was of a high standard and it the evening was a lovely treat, within a relaxed but polished setting.We'll be returning shortly with family to indulge again!

Generous portions , well cooked pleasant service albeit a shade slow , this only reflected the activity on the night which was fine. It may be considered slightly inconvenient location wise but do give it a go , if is worth the effort.

Enjoyed everything about our visit here. Stocking our Picpoul favourite white, excellent draught Guinness. Superb fresh fish and rare breed steak. Dessert delightful flavour fusion of apple and ginger. Faultless service and lovely ambience. We will return soon!

What a treat! Great service, lovely decor but most importantly delicious food. High quality, locally sourced ingredients, cooked to perfection. What more could you ask for. Can’t wait to go back. Sorry I haven’t got any photos, too busy enjoying my dinner!

We visited the Halfway tonight for a birthday meal, and as always the food was exceptional! There was a party of 14 of us and the service was excellent, food full of flavour never fails to impress! Highly recommend the halfway to anyone! Big thanks to all the staff once again!

Wow! This restaurant is simply wonderful! We came here in the spur of the moment and the whole family had fantastic meals. That was by far the best deal I have had in years. You really are missing out if you don’t try the Halfway!