The Norton in Maldon

Had a lovely Christmas meal, the food is excellent and big portions. Thank you to all the staff that made our evening really enjoyable.

14 of us Ladies went for our christmas dinner to The Norton. There was plenty of food on the plates, a large amount of meat and a good selection of vegtables. It was very tasty and I enjoyed it very much and will be back soon. I would have given it a five star, but didn't as there were no christmas decorations. It would have made a christmas dinner perfect.

The welcome is heartfelt and warming. The food incredible, so much meat and a wonderful selection of vegetables, all piping hot. The beer and wine first class and nothing matches this for value for money. The service and attention to detail of the highest level. Boris and George run a pub which is one of the best in Essex. We are so glad to have found this place, a hidden gem. The monthly Big Breakfasts are also a must.

Some friends and I went The Norton for drinks and were welcomed by Boris the landlord they serve a very good pint of Guinness as well as real ales we haven’t eaten in there but are Told by friends that the food is very good The staff are very friendly it also has a dartboard you don’t find in many pubs now. I think there is also a large room which is bookable for meals and get-togethers as some of my friends have Shoot dinners there it’s well worth a visit.

We went mid-week for a family meal. Really Welcoming. Lovely lovely, food and great beer. A nice place. Well worth a visit and very much deserves to be a destination pub as well as serving locals.

Fantastic lunch!! Came here for lunch with the family, what can I say?? Fantastic Sunday roast, huge portions, good selection of side vegetables and cooked to perfection. No burnt roast or over cooked vegetables that you find in some places. Good selection of drinks and very friendly owners/hosts. My only regret is not having room left to try the cheesecake We will definitely come back when in the area.

We have just enjoyed a very tasty Sunday lunch in The Norton...George could certainly explain to Michal Gove the meaning of “substantial” and Boris was happy and more than capable to answer questions regarding his extensive gin and wine offering (guess it helps when you’re a sommelier and know your trade). A community asset that will hopefully flourish again in 2021.

A Friendly and quiet Country pub with great food and great service. Popped in for lunch today after a morning walk and had a really nice lunch. The owners are great guys and super friendly, nice & easy menu, food was fresh hot and tasty, had a couple good pints, great selection behind the bar too, couldn’t fault anything at all. Highly recommended!

We started off by ordering during lockdown off of the pub menu. My hubby had fish and chips and I had the chilli. We were starving when we ordered and collected when passing. Delicious homemade chilli! Hubby loved his fish and chips, although may be better in wrapped in paper to stop any moisture building up in the pot, but it was also lovely! Next stop was to try the roast...wow! We are fussy about the quality of our food, we buy all of our meat from an organic butcher and make all of our food from scratch, so eating out isn't always the easiest. Seriously, I would go as far as saying that this is the best pub roast we've had! The beef is fantastic quality, cut from a fresh joint, cooked perfectly and the serving size is fab! And the roast potatoes...👌 They even make a special effort to make 2 of the meals gluten free. And always a brilliant and friendly service from Boris! Well done guys, the takeaway service will even be a great addition after lockdown. I'm looking forward to trying a friday or Saturday night thai meal from the menu at some point.

Very tasty food, great service and choice The manager boris is very friend chef George is amazing So happy this is just getting better and better, well worth a visit.

We are so lucky to have this pub on our doorstep. Boris and George really know how to look after their customers. Today as we were home alone - we decided to try the Sunday Roast - both of us tried the lamb - it was truly delicious- generous portions with lots of veg and roasties - proper Yorkies too - none of the pre-made stuff - try it you won’t be disappointed!! Great service and great selection of drinks!

A quick stop for a couple of beers during a dog walk on a Sunday afternoon. Nice setting where the pub has a modern interior. When we arrived the pub was fairly quiet but it soon filled with people arriving for looked like delicious Sunday roasts. We just opted for a couple of pints of excellent beer and a couple of plate of chips. Once refuelled we headed back out to enjoy our dog walk. This is a really nice dog friendly pub that serves excellent beer

Recently moved to the area and finally paid a visit and not disappointed, friendly warm welcome from Boris, Camembert starter was tasty and huge, Beef Wellington was amazing, chef came round to check all ok which was very good to see,will be back soon , Paul

Part of a group of 10 walkers, we arrived early after our first five miles to a warm greeting. our pre-ordered sandwiches were speedily presented along with complimentary crisps.the sandwiches were delicious and freshly made, with side salad and coleslaw. the pub is a community run venture and was specially opened on a Monday for our pre-booked group. They deserve to have plenty of support for their venture and I wish them success. Lunch was a real treat!

The Norton is not too far from me, I had heard that the food was really good so popped over for lunch and I am so glad I did. Staff were very friendly and the choice and food were perfect. We chose off the the Thai menu and was served quick the food was fresh, very tasty and piping hot. Good beer selection too. Absolutely can't fault anything. Highly recommend and will definitely be back.

Came here with my fiancee after a recommendation. So glad I did. Plenty and quirky choice of seating, where you can relax with friends, with a choice of benches, stools, sofas & restaurant tables. The drink selection is huge! At least 3 - 4 ales & ciders on tap, along with their local 'Nortonian' lager, which is crisp and refreshing. There is about 3 shelves worth of gins & whiskeys. If your not sure what to have, ask Boris. He is very friendly and knowledgeable at what he serves. I had a glen keith single malt. With food, they have a standard pub menu with pub food. But, I think every Friday, they do a Thai menu, and wow! Everything on that menu is freshly made and is very tasty and not expensive. Can have it as take-away too. Highly recommend going down on a Friday.

Wow fantastic night, came to visit friends and noticed an open mic night at the local pub, so had a walk down, upwards of 8 artists had gathered, each offering something a little different, and each very good, great entertainment, we also enjoyed a lovely meal with the staff being very efficient and friendly, brilliant atmosphere, what a little gem, will definitely be coming back here.

We came here with family for pie and mash night, and it was lovely! A wonderful welcome the moment you step in the pub. They couldn’t of been more attentive! The pie and mash was amazing. Wonderful desserts too!Will be back for fish and chip night!!

I have to write and praise this food.

Another brilliant visit to The Norton, great staff and huge drinks selection. Regular theme nights and live music. Definitely try the restaurant too, great meal again today and they never dissapoint. 5*

Amazing: the food, the service, the atmosphere. Everyone worked so hard to ensure our lunch was 👌 .... and no washing up ❤️

We have lived in the area for 35 years, the last time we visited this establishment was over 20 years ago, just never got around to returning, We saw the sign outside for the new Thai menu so thought lets give it a go for a midweek treat,.

Went to this venue for a Norton Owners meeting back in early 1980's. Next visited last New Year as we had moved to the area and was at a loose end. What a lovely surprise, full of friendly welcoming people, nor like when a stranger normally walks into a pub to have all the locals staring. That aside we heard that it was now serving Thai food and paid a visit last night. Personal service from the chef who was very helpful in explaining all the dishes (probably as it was not busy) and boy we were not disappointed. The food was delicious. The chef prepared us a mixed starter selection, which included the best prawn toast I've ever had. The rest of the choices from our party were equally enjoyed and we'll definitely not be leaving it long before we pay another visit. If I had to leave any negative points it would be that the room was cold and they could do with some more comfortable chairs as they were on their last legs pardon the pun and reminded me of school chairs.

A revamped menu focussed on Thai food - which is simply fantastic- excellent value for money and good portion size. The choices are varied and they’ll make it spiced to your taste. You can also “take-away” and have a drink while you wait. Something a little bit original from the norm - with the usual great selection of craft beer and lagers, spirit selection and warm welcome from Boris and George - the Thai food guru!! As I just heard one customer describe the food as they just left - “peng” out of 10!!!

just had a Thai dinner there and it was unreal best we have ever had. Service was quick and they also offer a take away service

At the time of booking we were advised that the England game was on so the pub side 'may be noisier than usual' which was absolutely fine by us. What we weren't told was that the menu had been altered for today to BBQ food and two roasts and I have to say we were disappointed that we hadn't been told when booking as we would have gone elsewhere. However the food that we ordered, a roast and sliced sirloin, were very nice and the service was absolutely first class. The charge of £9 per person for 3 small slices of cheese and 5 Jacobs crackers was, we felt, very poor value for money though. All in all, a lovely pub with really efficient waiting staff, just unlucky we booked for today and weren't advised of the change of menu.

Just returned from The Norton where we had both fish and vegetarian meals. Absolutely lovely food, delightful service and a wonderful ambiance. Will certainly be returning before long

Great value, service and food. We have the 3 course for £25. The beef was beautiful and the seabass really tastey. Amazed how quite the place was, especially on father's Day. We will be going back

I love the smell and taste of Cod and Chips, but so many times the experience is ruined with overly thick, greasy or soggy batter and poor stoggy chips. Quality produce and cooking is absolutely essential, anything less wont pass my eye. I even returned Cod and Chips at Rick Stein's in Padstow. It is an art and very few places can reliably get right.

Fantastic Sunday lunch; great food, lovely wine and welcoming service. Would highly recommend. We will be back!

Phone Saturday lunchtime to book a table for hubby and myself ( have been before and enjoyed the food) arrive for our 7 pm booking only to be told that they had some problems so could not do food. I was disappointed but these things happen. My only moan was the fact that l had give my phone number I just wished they had phoned me and we could have gone somewhere earlier. But to be very fair and it was appreciated Boris dit offer us a drink or a bottle of wine. We declined as things happen that cannot be avoided.

We had a lovely meal, great service, really good wine and a good time.

They just know how to entertain people and they have so much knowledge in food and drink The Gin collection is second to none

Joined some friends there for Sunday lunch, as we entered we were warmly welcomed by Boris and soon after became acquainted to his other half Nora, equally as hospitable. I started off with Tempura Prawns, moving on to the Roast Pork followed by the Apple Tart and finally a Cheese Board which we all shared.

Went to the taste test menu which can only be described as outstanding

I’d driven past this place on many occasions over the years but never actually visited, so I decided to try it out.

Fantastic! Wonderful! Sumptuous! More than one way to describe our dinner at The Norton recently. Midweek dining was never so good, fantastic produce used to create some stunning dishes. The cheese board is a must!!

Popped in a few weeks ago just to look at the menu and ended up a few hours later wowed by this place !

Excellent food - very nice wine - and a very nice pint of Guinness. Add to that the friendly staff...

Un pub decorado, curiosamente, no parece el mejor en la llegada, y el comedor de la parte de atrás es un poco cursi con un extraño altavoz pequeño tocando música mala. Pero si ignora todo eso, el vino y la comida es excelente. Muy bueno platos de pescado.

A menudo la parada en el camino a casa de un viaje de un día para una rápida pinta o dos. Es la parada ideal para nosotros, espero a ver qué es lo nuevo y locales y siempre nos saludaban por propietarios que están orgullosos de su entorno y cerveza, casi anticuado en que te hacen sentir cómodo y bienvenido a su pub/restaurante. Mi familia siempre me hicieron sentir bienvenido que claramente hace el día mejor para nosotros. Mi favorito pub en Woodham. No he comido aquí todavía, pero soy un entusiasta y está claro para ver la comida es preparada por un chef y no alguien profunda freír congeladas tat.

Good selection of beers and a resonable looking menu. Unfortunately i found the burger I ordered to be a little bland and was over cooked to my taste, with a slightly powdery/flowery texture. The hand cut chips were average.This said the welcome was friendly even though the bar service later was less than attentive to customers, due to server having to watch thier children??Maybe I'm old fashioned about children at the bar?I'd go back for a drink but would be reluctant to delve further into the menu.

What a lovely evening! Lovely tasting food, served beautifully. Varied menu sampling the very best of local produce. We went for the wine paring too - well would have been foolish not too given Nora and Boris credentials - lovely tasting food, presented in a lovely way with a great wine choices - very lucky to have this pub and restaurant with Chef Dereck - on our doorstep. Can't wait for next tasting menu.

Wonderful menu with imaginative balance of courses. We chose to have wine pairing to accompany the food. A revelation o unexpected wines which complemented the courses perfectly. Can't wait for next time.

Drove past on Easter Monday lunchtime and dropped in to see if food was available. Immediate and very friendly welcome, a barbecue was just starting with a very acceptable short menu. The food and wine was very o.k. , the atmosphere pleasant. Only a shame that few other customers had made their way there.Don't be put off by the name and the bike on the pub sign - no old style rockers or hell's angels would be at home here!

Very friendly and have real beer , car park a bit small . it is good to see it open all the best to the local for running it

Had a great evening at the Taste of Essex 5 course dinner where the best of local produce was sampled. What made it so good was that we were given a specially chosen wine to compliment each course. I've been clearly doing it all wrong all these years sticking to the same red or white throughout a meal! The wines all complemented the expertly prepared and cooked foods. Really delicious! Lovely atmosphere with people on others tables telling us what they thought too. Great stuff!

Food was delicious ..great wine more expensive than the usual but no headache in the morning ...don't go by the look of the outside as inside is warm and welcoming

My Husband and I first visited The Norton just before Christmas, we had a lovely meal with very good service. We have since popped in for a couple of drinks, Boris and Nora are very friendly welcoming hosts. We have booked a table for Valentines, looking forward to it.

Very disappointed. Should have been an indication, as we were the only people in the restaurant. Food was just ok, but really very small portions, and extremely expensive. DO not go here if you are hungry, personally we will not go here again, we have had larger starters than the main meal served here for £25 for two courses.

Want to encourage and support this relatively new venture.The wine recommendations were great and the passion for this oozes from the owners.But...The 3 small (suspect cut in half ) scallops were fighting over the one small piece of chorizo and the limited pea puree. but great taste. just bit more puree and two more pieces of chorizo will be a super starter.Steak was a bit tough but very well seasoned and tasty. 4 small chips sat across another four. Again a bit wanting and unnecessary.Salted caramel tart slice was very tasty but close to ridiculous in portion size.We had a laugh about others having a taste and eating half! We shouldn't have been in that position.A bread basket might have helped? happy to pay for.So after 3 courses I went home to 2 weetabix. without the wine!Also friends comment Two small lamb ribs as a main is also wrong for cold norton.I hope this misconceived portion policy get sorted and the reviews don't have to mention it again. Exclude all fatties though!The decor needs a few more props/plants etc to warm it up a bit.Then this will be a hotspot and guarantee very profitable .Hats off to those that have a go and needs supporting but at the minute I am a watch and see for a few months.

First visit - seven of us on Saturday night.Bar is very welcoming and very dog friendly.The owners know their stuff when it comes to wine and spirits, great selection and you're given a sample to try. Restaurant : Small menu, always a good sign - two of us had the skate, large portion but could do with more seasoning.The beef Wellington was served pink but the plates were too hot so the meat started to cook. Others had lamb, too much minty sauce.Desserts and desert wines were good.This review is meant to be merely constructive criticism - please do go along and support this lovely, different bar/restaurant.We'll definitely return!

As a birthday treat I was taken to the New Norton wine and kitchen. We experienced a lovely atmosphere in the bar and restaurant the food was excellent and the service very friendly.I would highly recommend.

What a super job the new management team have done with The Norton. Its almost as if someone has dropped a trendy Hoxton bistro into the heart of rural Essex. The mood lighting and decor offer a welcome change to the usual theme pubs in the area and its no wonder that the locals are raving about it!!!We ordered Fish and Chips, with the fish struggling to fit on the plate. The “mountain“ of chunky chips and delicately cooked peas were a delight. Cooked to perfection, we simply couldn't eat it all. Although my wife did try her best and manage a dessert. The wine list offers a great selection and if you like your Gin & Tonic, there is an amazing range of eclectic types to choose from.I had to pinch myself when the bill was presented, I would have expected twice the price had this really been in London. Recommend it to anyone passing through on the way to Burnham or the other neighbouring villages. Dog friendly as well I am told.

We had a lovely family meal in the Norton wine & kitchen last Sunday. They sat 13 of us on the communal table in the middle of the restaurant. Wonderful food, drinks & ambience. We had a great time and the family are now badgering us for a return visit.

We entered the pub on a Friday evening at 8.30pm and were surprised to find it very sparsley populated. We were taken into the restaurant and found that we were only the 3rd table to be seated. So the ambience just wasn't there for a start. We were handed menus clipped onto hard board clipboards. The menus had been freshly printed and looked good. The prices were quite high we felt but we thought that we would be getting a qulity meal. We ordered and Nora, our hostess seemed disapppointed that we were not prepared to drink a different wine with each course, but at the prices that they were quoting, we did not feel inclined to do so! So she recommended what she called a full bodied red without tannins to go with my main course. I would not have called it a full bodied red without tannins, but it did improve a bit when tasted with food. My starter of fried brie was nice but very small - 2 small lumps of brie with 3 dots of raspberry puree and a couple of cress leaves all for £6. My husbands starter of pan fries prawns in garlic, coriander and chili was tasteless and 6 prawns for £7 on the menu and £7.50 on the bill was expensive. Our mains were a rack of lamb (2 ribs) tenderstem broccolli (barely dipped in hot water, so nearly raw) and creamy mash (cold) £19 and Chicken supreme (tough), mushrooms and creamy mash (cold) £14.50. When Nora asked if we were enjoying the food and we told her our thoughts, she said that she would speak to the chef. We didn't see her again! Her partner came over eventually and offered us a glass of dessert wine to go with pudding, I accepted a glass of very chilled wine which tasted a bit like a sharp port and to be fair, this was by way of apology for our somewhat ruined main course. For dessert, we chose warm brownie ( a 2" square of chocolate sponge) with vanilla ice cream and a salted caramel tart (undercooked pastry and rock hard caramel). Desserts were £5.50. We didn't stay for coffee. Our bill was £70. We didn't feel that we had received value for money and will not be returning. I can't see them being open for business for much longer with their mediocre food and lacklustre treatment of their customers.

First impressions, trying to be too clever with the interior, ex school chairs circa 1960 are not exactly comfortable !, Ordered, and noted prices, sadly portion size left much to be desired, and the quality?. Well I go out to eat food I cannot cook, on this occasion, I could definitely have done better, from the cold creamed potato, undercooked veg, tasteless prawns, hard brownies ( like concrete !) undercooked pastry, etc. Sorry, but better food can be had at Morrisons at a fraction of the cost. One occasion I could happily have gone off for a fish supper to round off the evening ! Tried once, will definitely not be back !.

Visited here with friends for a drink and a meal. A very good selection of real ales. The restaurant is modern and stylish. The food was superb. The chef here is top notch!! Highly recommend a visit or two!

We were taken for dinner at Norton by friends on a Saturday evening . The service was very good and we learned that both the owners – Nora and Boris -were sommeliers by trade;They only took over the Norton in April this year but they already have an impressive list of local suppliers.I had the best tempura prawns ever followed by an excellent rack of local lamb; with hindsight I would have preferred the truffle oil thick cut chips instead of the rather pedestrian Bourguignon potatoes.My wife had the Cod Bourguignon ,as did our friend Francis, who also had the truffled chips, some of which we were able to steal and enjoy. Our hostess started with an unusual and, I can agree, tasty beef in filo pastry and had a very nice vegetarian risotto for her main course with a rocket and Parmesan side dish.Finally, two of us enjoyed home-made salted caramel tart.We were very taken with the white wine which was a verdicchio from the Italian Marche region.

This formerly tired local has been completely revamped by new management and now offers a small but delicious gastro style menu accompanied by an extensive wine list in its' new, beautifully styled dining space. The service is fantastic too - accommodating and very friendly (we dined with our one year old son and a children's meal was offered to us despite not being on the menu). Those not looking to dine can also take advantage of a selection of real ales in their relaxed bar space at the front of the pub. Well worth a drive out to Cold Norton.

The Norton has indergone some transitions over the years. Formerly known as the Norton Barge it was once a brewery owned public house which struggled to make ends meet. As the pub was due to close a consortium of local people ran the pub and I believe this ran until the new owners took over. The new look gastro pub is ran very friendly people. The bar is light and airy and has lots of choice of wine, ales and spirits. The restaurant is situated to the rear of the bar and is quite without being isolated. The menu has an adequate range which should sate most appetites. For main course I chose the 3 pork which was nicely presented and the three cuts of meat were cooked perfectly. Service was efficient and friendly. I would have no hesitation in returning for another visit.

We had a Christening event at The Norton and it went very well. The catering was first class. Most importantly was the use of locally sourced produce, where possible and the use of free range eggs in the sandwiches and dishes. I checked out the usual menu and there were good veggie options, as well as superb choices for meat and fish eaters. The kitchen will also make something for vegetarians whereever possible. The atmosphere was great, with lots of tables and space. It was a really enjoyable event. I was told it was very popular with the locals, which is also a good sign. This is a great pub. I will make sure I go back to enjoy the atmosphere and the dining.

We stumbled upon this place after a visit to Hyde Hall. I was looking for a place to stop for a drink with the kids (6 and 9). We spotted The Norton and pulled over. A lovely surprise to find a Beer Festival in the garden (the ales were great), plus a live rag time/jazz band in full swing. The staff were really friendly and even gave my daughter a bowler hat. Plus, there was free face painting for the kids. It's a very welcoming, contemporary country pub and I hope to return to sample the food which sounds amazing from the other reviews!

Go there before it becomes so popular you wont get a booking for weeks. We eat the best fresh food we had had in ages. A London style place with fresh Essex food.

I didn't expect much from this small pub but what a surprise. Our hosts Nora and Boris gave a warm welcome that made us feel at home and comfortable. The menu is no nonsense uncomplicated and caters to all tastes. Nora has an impressive knowledge of wines and you can safely leave your selection in her hands without breaking the bank..We enjoyed a long, unhurried lunch that was beautifully prepared and presented with comments from Boris that enhanced our enjoyment of the meal. Highly recommended.

Had a lovely evening in this friendly pub and gastro eatery. This is a community owned premises run by a very welcoming couple who clearly know their stuff. Locally sourced meat and fish excellently presented. The wine recommendation was spot on. We will be back!

This was my first visit to The Norton. It had been recommended by 2 friends so had high expectations. The pub has a good reputation for their Gins and Boris (the owner) was very happy to talk to us about the Gins on offer. After a drink at the bar we made our way into the restaurant. The restaurant wasn't fully booked which was surprising. It's clear from the menu that Boris and Nora are very passionate about delivering first class food using locally produced ingredients. For my meal I chose the Deep Smoked Salmon with a Chive Cream, followed by Roast Pork and all the trimmings. I managed to find room for a dessert and had Bread & Butter Pudding which was served with a beautiful warm Creme Anglaise. The residents of Cold Norton are incredibly lucky to have this lovely pub on their doorstep. It's just as well I don't live too close as I would be there all the time. I really hope that the owners do well, they certainly deserve too. The pub wasn't overly busy and having more people would have added to the ambience, but it's still early days as the restaurant has only been open since April. I will certainly be returning again, hopefully soon.

Amazing food, a foodie's paradise! A lot of passion and love put into the food using local produce. Each dish and items on the plate explained with great enthusiasm, knowledge and passion!

Fantastic food, extremely welcoming, are definitely going back! Owners very nice and passionate about giving a great service.

Boris and Nora have created something special here. Their obsession with high quality and local produce enables their chef to deliver such special dishes from the kitchen. From the smoked salmon starter, braised brisket main and salted caramel tart I enjoyed tonight the quality was outstanding. Combine that with perfect service and a genuine hard working couple looking to build their business I feel genuinely excited to watch them succeed and enjoy some fantastic eating along the way. Di & Steve

The service was very good. The waiter was very knowledgeable about the ales and larger. And extremely polite. The atmosphere was relaxing and the food was amazing. I recommend the beef brisket. I cannot fault my visit to the Norton. And I will certainly be visiting again.

Living locally we had heard that The Norton had taken a fresh approach that was celebrating quality local produce...the rumours thankfully were right.Boris & Nora appear to have found a chef whose food does justice to their passion for good wine. My glass (or two) may have cost more than your average house red but there was nothing average about it! We definitely need summer to resurface so we can walk here.I made the mistake of perusing their menu on-line, so had to borrow the pubs reading glasses to re-choose my three courses. Not a bad thing, though disappointed not to have tasted their 'Jaffa cake' it was more than made up for by the salted caramel tarte. Nora explained that their menu is adapted to the produce purchased that morning. So guess that just means we'll have to make regular visits!We had worried that the place would lack atmosphere as rumour had it that some locals had abandoned the barge but actually there was a great buzz in the bar as we left.

We were visiting old friends in Cold Norton who we have not seen for ages and she suggested the Norton for evening meal. We were close by so we walked in without booking. From the start everything about the experience was fantastic. Boris and Nina were both lovely and offered different wine options and tastes before deciding. Multitude gins were offered (which suited our lovely host because she likes a few G&T's) I'm more of a beer monster so there were a few good ales on draft which I enjoyed to their true potential. My partner loved the wine options and the fact they were explained and tastes offered. The menu is geared to local fresh (organic?) food and while there is not masses of choices the options were varied. We decided to get three starters and mains and then share as we all wanted to try the options on offer. Starters of Ham Hock, Deep smoked salmon and asparagus were all cooked and presented to perfection - this is not 'pub grub' - All three were faultless. We moved onto mains and we had pork, brisket and cod.I don't want to go into massive detail but all three dishes were cooked to perfection and presented beautifully. We finished with my partners favourite of 'bread and butter' pudding and also a crumble. again all lovely. I could not fault this establishment, service was excellent, the food was excellent and they are really enthusiastic about making sure you enjoy the experience. Basically it was brilliant. I will be back when next in the area. Thanks Nina and Boris - we had a great night. (PS it was good value as well.)

this was our first visit for dinner. We were warmly greated and offered excellent advice on the extensive drinks range. We started with an Aperol spritz which was a surprise. We both had a 3 course meal which was very good accompanied with a very nice red wine. The restaurant was decorated beautifully and the bar area was good.We will definitely return.

My friends and I had a meal here last Friday evening as we fancied trying it after reading in the local paper about the new couple who had taken it over recently. The food was amazing, a real fine dining experience that you wouldn't expect from a pub. The menu had been created based on local in-season produce and was beautifully cooked and presented. There was also a great wine list and the host recommended an amazing Italian wine. A great night out and highly recommended.

We had a family get together at the Norton - it was thoroughly enjoyable experience. The hosts could not do enough to accommodate us - even when we went off-menu.We cannot recommend them highly enough!

My daughter on the other side of the world wanted to shout me to a meal for New Zealand's Mother's Day and as my host and I were going to the vintage air show at Stow Maries, lunch at the Norton beforehand was an obvious choice. I expected a regular pub meal, but how wrong I was. This was fine dining which I would not have expected in such a tiny rural community. Far better than my 'Fifteen' experience in Melbourne. The menu is deliberately small so that every ingredient can be selected carefully from locally sourced products. I hadn't realised until now that it has only been open a couple of weeks but Boris and Nora have obviously done thorough market research and found a niche market. Long may they prosper. As with anyone passionate about food, they were happy to explain every dish in detail, which you don't often come across nowadays. The decor is refreshingly different with some quirky framed prints and photos, each one worth a look. Both our hosts were welcoming and any minor request was attended to very quickly. The bar is extensive and would cater for any taste. For once the glasses perfectly suited the drink. There was no Pinot Gris, my wine of choice, but the alternative offered was more than acceptable. If I had to offer any suggestion for improvement I would suggest linen napkins; good food such as this deserves no less. And it was really icy cold today and the large dining area was inhospitable as a result; some heating would have been most welcome. Foodies will come in their droves when the word spreads.

What a wonderful place this is. Visited last night after reading article featuring the couple now running it and the opening of the new restaurant. The hospitality and service was outstanding the couple who run it were perfect hosts. A great knowledge of wine and locally sourced produce. The food was fantastic and could rival Michelin starred restaurants I've eaten in. All you foodies out there this is truly worth a visit.

We turned up at The Norton this evening for a meal. We normally sit in the bar area but got a table in the restaurant. The decor was modern and comfortable. I ordered the Hake which was delicious and came served with Clams and vegetables. My husband and boys ordered the Nortanian burger with delicious chips and homemade ketchup. Desserts ordered did not disappoint. We ordered the rice pudding and blueberry compote, bread and butter pudding with Chantilly cream and Jaffa cake. Staff were very nice and friendly. Will definitely eat there again.

My husband and I booked a table for the opening night of the Restaurant (27th April, 2016.) We arrived and had a drink at the bar...all newly refurbished, decorated and quite stunning - where we were warmly welcomed by new incumbents, Boris and Nora. We made our way into the restaurant, ready to be seated at a cosy table for two when we were encouraged to sit at the centre-piece Community Table by some lovely locals (7 of them) who invited us to sit with them. We did and soon after another couple arrived and asked if they could join us! It was lovely and friendly eating like this and made the evening most enjoyable. The menu had been carefully designed by Nora, Boris and Ray, the new chef, based on the wonderful Local Produce they have been sourcing for the past couple of months. An excellent choice of 5 starters, 5 mains and desserts kept us all extremely happy.....the wine probably helped too, of which there was a wonderful selection to choose from...by the glass and by the bottle! Superb! Of course we couldn't leave without having another drink, which we took with us to sit in the lovely leather sofas. Spread the word, folks, a great pub with a great restaurant. I am told the menu will change regularly according to whichever vegetables are in season! Great stuff!

Excellent food with great service,and fine beer.I only wish I had found this pub a long time ago.Serves the best cider I have tasted.

Visited on a Saturday evening, got a table easily and staff very friendly and attentive.Food was amazing, lamb and mint pie was delicious, whitebait was the best I'd ever had, desserts yummy and plentiful. Will return as often as possible, this pub deserves to do well.

The norton has had a change of staff recently and I would say it is definitely getting better.. the staff are very friendly the new chef is very obliging.. food is plentiful and tasty good honest pub grub..yes the restaurant could do with a make over, but if you eat in the pub it is a nice atmosphere.. if you have a larger party then you wouldn't notice the lack of atmosphere in the restaurant as you would just make your own.

My husband and I have been here before and not been disappointed so we thought we would try Sunday lunch. The choices were Beef Turkey or Pork Belly. I opted for Beef and he had the Pork Belly. Both were outstanding the beef was cooked to perfection and the pork was outstanding. It was accompanied by proper homemade gravy which was delightful and an assortment of vegetables cooked perfectly. I have read other reviews and they did make me laugh especially strange coloured gravy that is because it is not Bisto!!Great service very friendly I would highly recommend but please if it is quiet eat in the bar area as it is much more enticing. We will be back without hesitation

went for sunday lunch used to come here often when James was the chef, sorry to say the standard has dropped dramatically, service was quick and attentive,but the food was awful, starter was ok but the"roast" ? deep fried potatoes overcooked veg and very strange coloured gravy,shame because it used to be so good,wont be going again!

Visited here for Sunday lunch on my birthday. Booked a table prior to visiting. When we arrived there were five of us we ordered a drink and was shown through to the restaurant which was at the rear of the pub. Oh my god how dismal this place was it was more like a hospital canteen. We should have left and gone somewhere else. The place had no atmosphere at all it was 2 o'clock on a Sunday lunchtime and we were the only ones there. The chairs weren't comfortable and all the furniture looked like it had been purchased from a clearance outlet. The walls were just painted white with some dodgy artwork dotted around the walls.The person who served us at the bar came to our table and informed us that there were no menus and she would tell us what was on offer, no mention of any starters she just reeled off about six meals that was on offer. We all ordered a roast 3 beef and 2 pork.The actual room we were in was so cold we had to keep our coats on for the duration we were there.The meals all arrived at the same time with the meat and roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding and gravy on the plate and the vegetables served separate. The roast potatoes were I would say were cooked from a packet. The roast beef which I didn't have was so over cooked was hard work to eat. The vegetables were also a strange selection for a roast, corn on the cob just doesn't go. The pork I had was cooked ok. We finished our so called roast and was asked if we wanted desert which again was going to be read out to us as they have no menus. We declined the offer and couldn't wait to get out of this place. I appreciate this is a communal run pub but the so called restaurant just doesn't cut it. The place isn't cheap either it is charging more for a Sunday roast than most other places. Give this place a wide berth.

visited this pub for my birthday, the food was good and hot although had to ask for tartare sauce to go with my scampi, service was average not great but not slow, didn't like the fact there was no menu's at the tables you had to walk from the dining area into the pub to read the menu which was on a blackboard it had the starters, main and dessert's, so once you had finished your main you had to go back and have another look for your dessert, it was an ok night but won't be going back again.

Lovely roast dinner, between the 5 of us we had all of the three meats on offer -beef, gammon and turkey - and all were pleased with their choices. Crispy roasts, plenty of meat, an ok amount of veg and very tasty gravy! Enjoyed the friendly feel of the place, we'll be back!

Spent the evening there (7.30-11.00), celebrating my husband's birthday with a meal and drinks with friends. A warm and friendly atmosphere which our friends from afar commented upon! They really enjoyed the relaxed nature of the pub and said they'd definitely go back (as would we)! Bar and waiting staff were most welcoming and happy to serve and keen to assist with anything we might need. The nicest thing about the Norton is that it is owned and run by the village on a mainly volunteer basis! So go on, give them a try and encourage their endeavours to keep this wonderful village asset open! The food is reasonably priced and as the chef is new, the menu is constantly being adjusted so, as they say, bear with!

Not impressed. Had visited once before and had an enjoyable time, but was unimpressed this time. Service slow, glasses dirty and was not made to feel welcome in the slightest.

Went for a quick drink with my wife on the way back from shopping it turned out to be more than one beer.nice ales In pumps and friendly staff and customers will go in again!

Slow service could only take one drink order at a time and that was difficult. I orderded three cokes half a cided and another which i was asked to order one drink at a time!!! It was rather dirty and very dated with stange looks from the locals i felt uncomfortable and this put us off ordering any food especially as it wasnt clean.

New Manager could be more friendly to its costumers, made us feel not welcome,Would try again if under new management,

Very friendly pub & a well run beer festival. Live music & very good BBQ food complimented some great ales & ciders. Thoroughly enjoyable afternoon/evening hope to return to next years event.

Thank you for wonderful dinner and my surprise dessert, four of us dined and all ordered different dishes and everyone was perfect,fish to die for steak that literally melted in the mouth and boar burger best ever eaten. Staff and chef a delight made my birthday very special thanks again

Came here for a family Sunday lunch a few weeks ago. The food was really lovely, the staff were nice and the beer was a really good range. Overall a really pleasant experience.

Arranged a couple of family gatherings here at The Norton, and on both occasions the staff went above and beyond. The food was excellent thanks to James, so much so everyone wants to return for another visit! With friendly, welcoming staff, a wide variety of choices on the menu and a great ambience what more can you ask for. Would definitely recommend and will be returning for another visit.

Visiting family in the village, third or forth time we have eaten in the pub along with our two young grand daughters, always been very good but tonight the chef and staff excelled. Wild boar and apple burger delicious, fish and chips to die for, in fact better than a well known fish restaurant chain! Keep up the good work we will return whenever we are in the area.

This must be one of the hidden Gems in Essex,I was visiting a friend in Cold Norton and she suggested we have dinner in the local Pub The Norton, as I am not keen on Pub food I was not really looking forward to the experiance.Well I was totally bowled over,the Chef James produces food that I thought was only available in the better restaurants,so I can only suggest if you are looking for somewhere really good to eat go there give it a try,I love food and this was excellent.The menu varies but the standard of cooking is unbelievable,you would be hard pushed to find a better place to eat.

Visited the Norton last night for the first time.Booked a table for 2 after reading Tripadvisor reviews and made the 30 mile round trip .Was greeted by a pleasant you lady behind the bar who told us we could sit anywhere in the bar area .Ordered our food and were surprised at the large portions of both starter and mains .Food was well cooked and very good value and although the pub was not very busy due to a local party going on the atmosphere was very nice .After speaking to a couple of friendly locals we found out a bit more about the concept of the community pub .We will return with friends soon