The Horse and Groom Inn in Colchester

Best pub in Wivenhoe by miles. Friendly, accessible and great drinks and events - it might not be near the river but it’s the place to head to

Since my last review a few years back I ran a "breakfast club" here which obviously had to stop when Covid came along. The pub has adapted so well with changes and I've been so happy to attend risk assessed events here and even have my 50th birthday party here with comedians and a band. I love my local and feel so lucky to have a pub so near that is so friendly with such great food and drink. Impossible to fault this place. Come along and you will agree.

Wivenhoe is famous for it's riverside pubs, so this great pub is often overlooked. Just had a warm welcome and a delicious Adnams Ghostship. I've eaten here before and the home cooked lunches and breakfasts are great. Pleased to see their poster stating that Adnams pubs are taking a stand against rascists.

Sick of eating at home we made a last minute decision to venture to our local. Really good lunch in the marquee. Excellent home-cooked pub grub, and great value for money. Highly recommend.

We met with friends and sat outside, they had heaters and blankets available if we got cold. We were greeted by Jason our host and he was brilliant. We laughed a lot and he made our night even better. We ordered dinner (fish and chips) it didn't disappoint, it was seriously tasty. All round a great night. Amazing staff, amazing food and we will be returning.

We went for a meal the Saturday after lockdown ended & Dosh, Emily & the team have worked brilliantly to adapt to the ever changing rules & provide a safe, lovely pub and great food as always. We ate outside in the heated marquee. Service was excellent and I had the all day breakfast - simply the best fry up in Wivenhoe. Let's hope things get easier for pubs soon but hats off to the Horse & Groom for continuing to do a great job & keep customers very happy under trying circumstances.

The best omelette on the planet by light years superb who needs a river view ! Wonderful choice of beers wines etc gorgeous home cooked food generous portions all at fab prices

We dropped in for Sunday lunch which was ok but a pretty average roast, service was good and prompt, fair selection of ales and beers, fairly busy on a Sunday, car parking was a mare but that’s not the pubs fault, you can only work with what you’ve got, but all in all an average experience.

Proper family pub with excellent food and great selection of beers. Lovely landlady and staff and always made to feel welcome. Highly recommend

The food had good quality and tasted great, there was a large variety on what to choose, the location of the restaurant is amazing.

Always a nice reception and great beer,food is always spot on. Nice beer garden and parking,cannot fault this pub and service.for a village pub with nice clientele it comes out top for me,closely followed by black buoy and the station.

Very friendly staff and great food,relaxed atmosphere would recommend this establishment to anyone looking for a lovely afternoon or evening,lovely garden area and car parking

What a lovely pub it is , so friendly and welcoming and overall a really nice and pleasent atmosphere . Great service

We paid our first visit to this pub yesterday, based on the good reviews. What a little treasure. VERY friendly locals who made us feel most welcome. The food was freshly cooked,hot and traditional pub grub at its best. The vegetarian choice was a welcome addition- and not a piece of goats cheese in sight. Perfect! My only grumble is that I discovered this pub on my son's last day at University and not his first. Highly recommended.

Same old great beer, same old friendly staff, but with a new kitchen going in the food was not the same old . roll on the next curry night !! An oasis of calm in a mad world .

We visit this pub on several occasions always very good friendly staff and managers would recommend to any persons in the area can get very busy so maybe check availability

Llegamos en ella como otro pub local nos había defraudado y el equipo del caballo y la novia no podría haber sido más servicialnos saludaron calurosamente y sentado. Buena comida a precios razonables,hay un pequeño aparcamiento y jardín en la parte trasera

Good pub that isn't dominated by a mass entertainment device. Good prices. A bottle of wine cost 12 pound which is almost half the price of the rip-off prices charged in lower Wivenhoe. Friendly bar staff and locals, good beers and well-prepared meals.

Been going to the H&G; for nearly 9 years. Dosh and Simon always make you feel welcome. Good selection of beers and not expensive. Dosh's home cooking is the best, especially when she does her curry nights.

Visited the Horse and Groom on several occasions. Excellent staff, top quality Real Ale and great quality pub food. What more can a real traditional pub offer. Great place.

He estado en el caballo y la novia unas cuantas veces, y cada vez ha sido una agradable experiencia para mí y mis amigos. El personal es muy amable y dinero y simon son tan encantador, las bebidas son un buen precio y la cerveza es preciosa, con una amplia gama de cerveza o lager y la comida, bien es simplemente increíble. Sin duda el lugar para estar el sábado por la mañana para un desayuno frito! Buena comida de pub antiguo adecuado para toda la familia, muchos pubs gastro contento este pegados a la casa tradicional cocinado servicio familiar!

Lovely beers on tap. The inside is a bit dated but the place has a nice atmosphere Food was nice and incredibly cheap. Worth a visit

My local of almost 3 years, the beers are impeccably kept, the food is amazingly priced and tasty. Go for the all day breakfast! Main thing is the patrons and staff are friendly and welcoming. Highly recommended.

The beer in here is excellent. Friendly welcoming staff, especially Simon and Dosh. Good pub food served at lunchtime plus curry nights once a month. Highly recommended!

friendly staff, good ale and the best food around in the authentic pub way. Curries hit the spot, ommlettes never let you down, and as daft as it sound 6 eggs can usually be bought over the bar.

this is a traditional adnams pub which you could say is good and bad, as adnams ale is good, but it would be nice to have more variety and not just adnams. The food is really good for the price, and the staff are really friendly, the pub is friendly and the lighting is good, always made to feel welcome,

Brilliant Lunches, very reasonable prices and superb cooked breakfastsin a truly lovely proper pub.

Had lunch in one of our local pubs with the girls, hadn't been there for ages, big mistake. Very nice lunch and very reasonable prices for food and wine. Another place to eat on our days out.

You might think that you have stepped back in time when you walk in, but if you are looking for a plain authentic tradition pub this is it. It's very ordinary decor but has two bars as well and they cater for pub games. Good choice of beers, very good pub food and inexpensive.The landlords and staff very friendly.It's not a place I go to often, but I always enjoy my visits.I would have rated as 'Good' if that was available.

Visited this pub recently for lunch roast on Thursdays wonderful taste and good size portionsWould recommend food and worth a visit

I've been to The Horse and Groom a couple of times recently and it's a traditional, no frills community pub where the landlord knows now to look after his beer and where the kitchen provides simple food of good value - in truth their spaghetti bolognese at £5.95, yes I said £5.95, is delicious and must represent one of the best bargains in this part of Essex. Don't expect any frills but worthy of a visit. On a Thursday they offer a roast lunch - I'll be trying that before long

Have now been to one of the Horse and Groom's regular curry nights - held on the first Tuesday of every month. It's best to reserve in advance (although you can order on the night) as it's the best value good meal in Wivenhoe. Meat or veg curry (this month was lamb, last month was chicken) with rice, nan bread, poppadums and a generous bowl of mango chutney. Brilliant stuff - can't believe I've been missing out on this for years!

A friendly local with excellent, well-kept Adnams beer and good, no-nonsense pub food.We had a good burger and a splendid home-made chilli & rice (the special of the day) that had just the right amount of heat.The staff and the locals were all very friendly - and there was no piped music, hurrah!

This is one of my favourite pubs in Wivenhoe and for good reason. Simon and Dosh run the bar so well and it's always got a nice laid back feel. Good Adnams beers and we regularly go there for food - the big breakfast has to be the best in the area for size, quality and value. And it's all homecooked - not warmed up in a microwave.I'd recommend checking out "the Horse" - it may not be right by Wivenhoe Quay but it makes up for that with lovely staff, beer, customers and grub.

the horse and groom in wivenhoe is an authentic no frills village pub which prides itself on well kept beers including guest ales ,and could arguably serve the best pint of guinness this side of dublin probably !, also lunchtime food (except sundays chefs day off !) that is cooked to order,tasty plentiful and great value ! specials are available on each day and thursday is roast dinner day ,there is also a curry night usually first tuesday in every month which is great value all homemade ,amongst the culinary delights are such wonders as the all day brunch (a thing of beauty albeit lacks black pudding ,the dustbin omelette is a fantastic creation and the list could go on steak n kidney pud ,chilli,fish n chips etc etc all wonderful,the staff are all very welcoming as are the locals ! enjoy!!