The Old Siege House Bar and Brasserie in Colchester

Fabulous Sunday lunch- we hadn’t booked but we’re found a dog friendly table. Water immediately offered for us and her. The fish & risotto was perfectly cooked & flavoured, the pork chop & belly delicious in every way. Treacle tart was not heavy and the crème brûlée had a satisfying crack and was easily finished!

Great place to eat, dealt with our very large groups super well, everyone got exactly what they ordered and no one had any complaints.

Lovely food. Good quality beef and chicken. For us it was spoilt by the way it was presented. The vegetables and gravy were put on the plate with the meat. We would prefer our vegetables severed separately and especially the gravy to be served in a gavy boat so we can pour our own to our preferred requirements. It may sound petty and am not complaining but this issue can make a big difference to whether I return to the venue or not.

We love The Old Siege House it's our go-to place for a quiet drink or meal. The atmosphere is great, Nad,Darren and the staff always have a smile. We couldn't recommend them enough.

Food was lovely Service was very good, attentive but not suffocating Very quiet, hardy any diners for a Friday night

Went with a friend Yesterday and we decided to go with the Set menu as a person who has a Nut Allergy I was delighted to see the set menu had notifications for what may or may not have nuts which I honestly haven't seen in other establishments and the staff were also good at making sure that the kitchen were aware of it all in all the whole experience was relaxing and the food was delicious!!

Super service and food was delicious Nice wine

Fabulous meal with very attentive and friendly staff. Couldn't fault it, had duck starters with chicken main, a bottle wine and port to finish. Nothing was too much trouble

Quality of food was superb! Friendly staff and unfortunately it is up for sale 😟

Great resturant.to visit.great staff.very relaxed.a lot of history.one of the oldest places in Colchester.english civil war

Really excellent food. Perfectly-cooked scallops with a lovely black pudding accompaniment, beautifully presented on a bed of salad, with just the right amount of dressing. Halibut was good but slightly less excellent, as it was just very slightly over-cooked. But only fractionally, and that's being picky. I had a delicious rump of lamb in a lovely sauce that was both fresh and minty, but also deeply unctuous and satisfying. I mean, really good. My daughter had chicken nuggets, which were delicious - light and tender and fluffy, moist and just lovely. That level of attention to detail for even the kids' menu speaks volumes of the standard of the kitchen. The restaurant is set in an interesting building with plenty of history. Service was friendly and good. One ale on tap - I forget the name, but it was well-kept and interesting with hints of apricots, and very tasty. Decent wine list. Reasonably priced for the standard of the cooking and food - felt we'd had decent value for a lovely meal. Will definitely return.

Absolutely amazing food , service was super friendly too .

We were lucky enough to have our wedding reception at The Old Siege House a fortnight ago. Nadine and her team absolutely knocked it out of the park. The food was exceptional. Great, generous portions and absolutely delicious! Our guests with special dietary requirements were accommodated seamlessly. The service was fantastic from start to finish. The biggest thanks needs to go to Nadine. She made the whole process stress free and was an absolute pleasure to deal with. Thank you again Nadine and Team, you were fantastic!

I've lived locally to this restaurant for over 15 years and have never been. I don't really know why! We went for our wedding anniversary and it was lovely! First impressions: Let's start with the only negative, the interior is very tired. I am not sure what look is trying to be achieved. The tables and chairs look to be second hand from a very battered pub and the carpet matches. If this was refreshed it would look amazing. However that really is the only negative. The service was so lovely, I would say perfect! Never rushed but never felt like I was waiting either, I can't imagine how difficult a skill that is for staff! The food: Wow! rarely we both manage all 3 courses but when the menu offers so many choices we wanted to try we had to do it! Food quality and presentation was very high and the value for that was very good. I am sure we will be back

This restaurant was a little disappointing could only find Fish and Chips that I wanted to eat from the menu. I was happy with the dish as served but kept wondering what the unspecified fish was. The starter was a sage bread with cheese - very tasty. We passed on the desert. I had a gin and tonic before the meal and that was very good. The gin was Coastal Reach and that was the best part of the meal and made up with the rest which was lack luster.

An absolute gem. Fantastic food, mostly gluten-free. Decent prices & good sized portions. Staff very helpful and happy to check with chef on any queries. Good wine list, decently priced. Lovely place.

So it was quiz night at the old Siege house last night and Julian Roper as always did a splendid job, he is a fantastic host and always makes your evening a fun one. It’s so lovely to get together with family and friends for a great evening of knowledge, food and drinks, shame I was driving as I would’ve gone through the cocktail menu, nice to see they are still made by hand here and not out of a bag, I will just have to come again for the cocktails and Friday night I believe they do a special deal on them. Food was delicious as ever and cooked to perfection. Staff always work so hard here to make sure you have everything you need and are always on hand for anything and always with a smile on their face, nothing is too much bother. If you love quiz’s you must try and there are vouchers to be won as well. If you’re not into quiz’s they also do some lovely event evenings, day events, fantastic Sunday lunches, Afternoon Tea’s to have with mum or just one of their lunch’s or brassiere evenings. What ever your pleasure they will host, Christmas here is absolutely fantastic but book, especially if your a large party as they get fully booked really quickly, a must do. So I would again just like to thank all for a great evening and can’t wait for the next quiz, (Oct), you never know we might even win one day.x

Came here on a Friday evening for dinner; the food and service were first class. The wine selection is very good. I would highly recommend.

Brilliant great food, service and speedy delivery

Fantastic food, I went for a business networking lunch and it was great , brilliant ambience and food great , can’t wait to go again , and the staff were very smiley and friendly

The atmosphere food and our table service was amazing. Family meet up and meal, everyone was happy

Really nice food here and service was very fast. Would deffo go again. Not sure about disability access but it is old building. But otherwise really really good, beyond expectation.

Thank you to all the staff at the Old Siege House for accommodating us yesterday. An amazing spread prepared along with friendly and hospitable bar service as always. Thank you to everyone working at this wonderful venue for always making our time with you a memorable experience.

Dear THE OLD SIEGE HOUSE Management, I am writing to express my extreme disappointment with the experience I had at your restaurant recently. I visited your establishment on [date] and ordered the fish plate from the menu. Unfortunately, I was appalled to find that the fish on my plate had a strong unpleasant odor, indicating that it was not fresh. The smell coming from the fish was so off-putting that I could not bring myself to take more than a few bites. This ruined my entire dining experience and left me feeling disgusted and unsatisfied. As a customer, I expect fresh and quality ingredients when dining out, especially when it comes to seafood. The lack of attention to the quality of the food served at your restaurant is unacceptable, and it has certainly made me reconsider ever returning to dine at your establishment. I had heard positive reviews about your restaurant before, but this experience has completely tarnished my perception. I hope that you take this feedback seriously and take the necessary steps to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future. As a customer who values good food and service, I must say that I am deeply disappointed and will not be recommending your restaurant to others based on this experience.

We would just like to thank all the staff at The old Siege Bar and brassiere for holding and putting on a wonderful spread for my father in law’s wake yesterday. The food was absolutely amazing and plenty of it, the staff worked tirelessly with the family to make it a perfect day to celebrate the life of Dink, my father in law. They showed empathy and compassion to Dink’s wife Sylvia and her extended families. Thank you so much for your hard work from organising the event with David straight through to the day itself, first class.x

I Would like to thank all the staff at the old Siege House, especially Darren & Nadine, for their kindness and professionalism in hosting my father’s wake yesterday. The buffet that was presented was excellent, with a fabulous selection and quantity of food, replenished coffee and tea the entire time we were there and nothing was too much of a problem. Friends and family that came, remarked on all of the above and those who had never been to The Siege House before, praise the venue itself and would love to return when we meet as a family again, special occasions as a family and as a night out. Also great value for money, once again thank you all at the Siege House.

Simply one of the nicest experiences u had in a while. Saphron and her team were brilliant and made us very comfortable. The food was sublime and staff were super polite without being OTT!!! Very good indeed!

I don't normally leave reviews, but the gluten free dinner I had at The old Siege House last night was delicious. I will certainly return for the pigs cheek & Stilton pie. Thank you to the staff last night.

Had a business networking meeting here. Loved the history of the building. Such a lovely venue and great meeting.

Says on Google that it is wheelchair accessible with accessible toilet. After contacting them to check on car parking I was informed that they DO NOT have an accessible toilet and the entrance to regular toilets is narrow. I was due to attend a meal celebrating a birthday. I had to cancel as can't be expected to not use a toilet. I understand the premises is listed and difficult to adapt but they make accessible toilets that fit in a car park space so some arrangements could be made. To the owner. Please update your Google listing showing that you are not fully wheelchair friendly.

Wow what a wonderful find! We were staying in a local hotel who weren’t serving dinner due to hosting a wedding. Thank goodness they weren’t as the meal we had was superb. The whole experience was faultless from the warm welcome we received on arrival to the ordering and meal itself. Our waitress was friendly and attentive and our meal was simply sublime. I chose beef cheeks in a bourguignon sauce and my husband had butternut gnocchi with blue cheese. I then couldn’t resist the Eton mess with berries and raspberry panna cotta. As well as a fabulous meal we were also fascinated by the history of the building and would recommend this restaurant without hesitation.

Came to the Old Siege House for a family birhday. We booked a Sunday lunch the booking online was very easy. On arrival the waitress was very attentive and answered any questions about the menu with great knowledge. The food was beautiful,hot and plentiful. You can opt for a three course or a two course reasonably priced. The desserts were delicious. The atmosphere was nice and you were made to feel comfortable by staff who were all friendly and professional. There is a car park behind the restaurant, however it’s better to book an earlier slot in a Sunday as the car park is limited on space. I would definitely return. The best food I’ve had in a long time 10/10 😊

What a delight it was to discover this restaurant. The building itself is gorgeous and full of history, and the serving staff were so friendly and helpful. The food itself was delicious. As someone who can't eat gluten, I'm used to getting only one or two choices of main course - here I had so many GF choices. Both our main courses were tender and beautifully cooked, and the choice sorbets was fabulous, as were the sorbets. I particularly recommend the ginger and passion fruit. Such a delicate flavour. What a pity we were only staying in the area for one night.

We had a superb 3 course meal here including a beautifully cooked and presented duck in red white sauce and a delicious trifle for dessert. Our waiting staff were fantastic and very attentive to our needs as well as our allergy restrictions from the start. The setting is an old tudor seige house with a unique history including original cosmetic evidence from the English civil war. A perfect afternoon. Thank you and our compliments to the chef.

Unfortunately not what I expected. Hadn’t been for years, review’s looked so thought we’d try. 50th birthday celebration, no acknowledgement of this, despite the giant balloons, until paying the bill, ‘oh happy birthday by the way’! Starter stodgy and main course reheated, rushed to take our order despite being v quiet and lacked any atmosphere, such a shame as a nice venue

The food and venue are great but the service is what made all the difference; cannot recommend The Old Siege House enough!! We were a small group celebrating a 70th birthday, ranging from children to adults and the entire Siege House team couldn't have made us feel more welcome. We had a semi-private spot which they allowed us to decorate and everyone that served us was super polite, friendly a kind - so rare these days but it helped make the evening a total joy! We'll be recommending the Old Siegh House to friends & family, and looking forward to trying their other options such as tapas, afternoon tea and Sunday roasts! 5*****

The food and venue are great but the service is what made all the difference; cannot recommend The Old Siege House enough!! We were a small group celebrating a 70th birthday, ranging from children to adults and the entire Siege House team couldn't have made us feel more welcome. We had a semi-private spot which they allowed us to decorate and everyone that served us was super polite, friendly a kind - so rare these days but it helped make the evening a total joy! We'll be recommending the Old Siegh House to friends & family, and looking forward to trying their other options such as tapas, afternoon tea and Sunday roasts! 5*****

Great fun was to be had last night at the Old Siege House’s Quiz night. Great food, service, a great quiz master that entertains you throughout the evening, we even came a cheeky second, all that for £12, can’t go wrong. Book your table for the next one, tables from 2 - 6 people, a great night was had by all.🧐🧐🍔 Thanks to all at the Siege House for an entertaining night and I even learnt and thing or two.x🤣

This restaurant in a historic 15th century building, is worth a visit. We went on a Sunday and had the roast. This is one of the best Sunday roasts I've had in the UK. I had the white bait starter and stuffed pork belly as a main. Both were superb and the portions are generous. Worth a visit.

A wonderful surprise evening on Saturday for my birthday. Food, staff and atmosphere was brilliant. Thank you for your help in making my birthday a very special day

Fantastic evening as a surprise birthday, and such a treat. Food, staff and building was wonderful. Thank you

We visited for mothers day, food was delicious albeit a bit pricey, only thing that let it down was the service was a bit slow. But staff were very helpful. Parking can be an issue at busy times.

Had a wonderful afternoon tea here for Mother’s Day with my family. Service was fantastic and the food was amazing. Great choice of sandwiches and lots of delicious sweet treats. We had a wonderful time - would definitely recommended!

Was taken here today for a birthday treat and what a treat it was. Food was amazing, service excellent. Woll d3f go back

Lovely Sunday roasts, great service, we had a wonderful time there. The staff were so accommodating to our allergies and dietary requirements. And the food was delicious and generous portions.

I hadn’t visited the Siege House for many years and had no expectations. Not only were we pleasantly surprised but very impressed with the food and service. We all had the roast which was absolutely delicious and will definitely be returning soon…

Fantastic meal and superb service. Highly recommended.

Good food, prompt service and reasonably priced. Went for a special meal - good selection to choose from and all the food came piping hot on warm plates.

We had a great sunday lunch . Amazing service with a smile and lovely engaging staff. We had three courses and all were excellent. I also loved the building and its history (see the website for details and menus). Guinness was also good so I left a very happy man! Would recommend that you make a point of eating here when in Colchester. Thanks to all the staff for making it a great experience.

The food was gorgeous, the service excellent. However, at the time to pay it was bitter-sweet. The waitress added on our bill a tip of 10% of the total amount of what we should pay. We planned and gave a tip but we don't like to be pushed to do it and pushed to give 10% of our note. We don't think it is a fair way to increase their income. Could you review your way of doing. Thank you

Once again a fantastic Sunday Lunch. Starters of homemade carrot and orange soup with plenty of artisan breads and salmon and dill tart. Mains, well it had to be the beef for hubby, cooked to perfection as always, hot and plenty of fresh veg. I had the Gnocchi with Stilton, OMG, defo having that again. Didn’t have room for desserts but looked scrumptious as usual. As usual staff very welcoming and wearing smiles on their faces which is so nice to see. Been coming here since they opened, we travel from Sudbury to Colchester as it is so worth the travelling to have such a lovely meal in such a beautiful building, if your in the area try for yourself you won’t be disappointed but book as they are very busy and sometimes hard to get a table. Thank you all at The Old Siege House, be back for the quiz soon.x

I visited as a party of four for a family meal. History of the restaurant is unique. The staff were non-obtrusive, professional and friendly, but with plenty of people taking care of all the tables - this was perfect. The non-alcoholic cocktail options need expanding and modernising (Shirley Temple was not an ironic listing of the two options!) Seedlip, Pentire, Bovito or many other alcohol free options could be offered. The playlist should be reviewed to avoid repeats/pop. Portions were ideal and menu varied enough to please everyone. Half way down a review I know but a major fact is: the food was absolutely delicious, very well cooked and plated with care and attention. The ambience from the open fires and jug of table water on arrival are a couple of simple touches that really settle you in perfectly immediately and the tables are well spaced. If there was any history of the restaurant on the menu I missed it (this is a really unique building and they should showcase this!), look for the bullet holes on the side of the building.

Food great, service great, only reason I didn't score 5 stars. All bottles of wine prices were £4 more expensive than advertised on their web site. I did comment to the waitress, she said their web site needs updating, or was this just for Christmas parties.

Nice historical building. Very pleasant interiors. Very polite and cordial staff. Food quantity quite sufficient. Food was delicious.

Have a lovely lunch, gorgeous food and good beer/wine. Will definitely be back

A great place for a meal and a couple of beers.

Mmmmmm…. Used to be a really good Sunday roast before COVID. Went in a while back , last month and have to say. While the portion size is good,the veg was a huge disappointment, I’d almost say lazy cooking. Potatoes were warm, meat was hot, veg was just…. disappointingly boring and like they had just scaped together what was left in the fridge, and it was warmish, but not hot. Service was great, but not good enough to get you back. The price is high, if the quality is there then would be worth it. I actually had a much better Sunday roast two weeks before in Middletons! Guess I’ll head elsewhere till the quality improves.

This is a go to for us, usually for special occasions, and the staff are welcoming, they go above and beyond, you have the history of the building which is great, and the lounge area is comfortable too if you’re not eating, as well as some outside space.

Was well worth 100 mile round trip. Great service from friendly staff. Good food. Good atmosphere

Visited The Old Siege House Bar & Brasserie with high expectations but left utterly disappointed. The service was poor, staff seeming disinterested. The food, unfortunately, matched the poor service - bland and uninspiring. Won't be returning.

My go to place to have a special meal.

So if you have a birthday in December you cant just book a normal table with the normal menu, you have to have a Christmas themed set menu! Its not a works do! 7 people will be going somewhere else unfortunately. Shame as we normally love going to The Siege House

Previous visit excellent so we were expecting great things. Only given the set menu and had to ask for the a la carte menus. My starter of “King Scallops” consisted of just 4 very small scallops with 3 small pieces of deep fried black pudding in bread crumbs (not home made?) and some salad for £16.95 The Lamb Rump was described as “cooked pink”, and although tender, was “brown” at £22.45. Two “single serve” glasses of Prosecco cost £17, and a large glass of (a very acceptable Chardonnay) was priced at £11. The total bill, including Fish and chips and 2 rather ordinary sweets and no more wine, came to £112.75. All in all a very disappointing experience.

Visited here for lunch a few days ago having heard good things in the past, however unfortunately didn’t find anything to write home about. The food all tasted rather bland, particularly the garlic and herb chicken skewers which tasted completely unseasoned. This was accompanied by plain rice and a drizzle if tomato based sauce that tasted like a jar of pasta sauce. Service was good, and the building itself provides a lovely environment, I just wish I could rate the food higher! Maybe worth a second try for dinner one day to see if it’s better, but otherwise i wouldn’t rush back!

This spot is great for a historic sit outside while taking in all the scenery to being called to the table it was perfect. So we'll looked after absolutely best food we've ever tasted. Highly recommend for a casual night to a special night staff super friendly an helpful. Can highly recommend slow cooked pigs cheeks an sea bass made our colchester dining experience complete.

Lovely place, excellent service and food

We were visiting Colchester for my partners Birthday. On booking in our Hotel, we went for a walk round & came across the beautiful building. The Old Siege House, so lovely & a Tudor facade kept beautifully. I side so comfy, little nooks with arm chairs ,we had 2 large glasses of wine & admired the inside decor. Highly recommend this plave

We had another excellent lunch in this very pleasant, spacious and relaxing restaurant. It is close to the city centre and has ample parking for customers. The food is always good and the service is prompt and friendly. An added bonus is the amazing historic surroundings (this building survived the Siege of Colchester after being in the front line of attack in 1648).

I had a mixed experience dining here with a group of friends. We were seated upstairs, in an otherwise empty top floor with very little atmosphere. Service was friendly and efficient. The menu is small and mainly focused on meat and fish dishes, but was chosen as it had vegetarian and gluten free options. There were very few other allergen markers and we weren't offered any extra info about allergens when we asked. While the pakora starter was good, my main course of the vegan roulade was really disappointing. While others in my group were served well thought out and well prepared meat and fish dishes, the roulade was straight from a catering catalogue. It was filled with cream cheese (unmarked on the menu) and a sickly relish, which didn't go with the red pepper sauce. It really felt like an afterthought that the chef had quickly added onto the menu and not even tried.

Need more meat options for a Sunday roast!

Food was definitely better than expected.

Outstanding Sunday roasts and excellent service in a beautiful building! Recommended!

Always welcoming, friendly staff, great food and and great desserts. Local vegetables, fish and meat.

We absolutely love The Old Siege House, whether we are popping in for a few drinks, meal or an afternoon tea. We regularly take our dog too in the bar area…he loves it! Staff are friendly and accommodating. Food is excellent and the cocktails are...

Not really a go to for a nice celebratory dinner because of hit and miss food and substandard table service.

Lovely afternoon tea..staff attentative pleasant ..cakes to die for ...a must !!

Amazing food & service at the Siege House Colchester we ste there on Saturday, party of 4. Scallops were cooked perfectly followed by succulent pigs cheeks. The desserts didn't disappoint a great way to finish. Service was great without being overbearing we all enjoyed our evening thankyou.

I have no hesitation in recommending the food at the Old Siege House. It is a truly excellent culinary experience which is enhanced by the ambience of a 15th century building with such a rich history. I went for the roasted rum of lamb which...

Amazing food, I had the lamb which was cooked perfectly with a cheese course for desert. Friends all loved their meals. Very reasonably priced for the quality, amazing front of house staff very attentive without being intrusive. Thanks all, we will certainly be back again...

Fabulous meal and atmosphere. Service was excellent and food served was hot, well presented and tasty. Would definitely recommend.

Haven't been to The Old Siege House recently and forget what a great place this is. A lovely family run restaurant, excellent food and lovely attentive staff. I highly recommend this lovely restaurant.

Will definitely be going back to The Siege House again. Went with my family and they made it a great night with happy staff and great food. They have a large menu and loads of different beers and spirits. Can’t recommend this restaurant enough and...

Excellent food, superb presentation, our server Sophie was an absolute delight, she was attentive without being overbearing, well spoken and incredibly polite. Good place all round 👍

I’ve been here many times and its always a great experience! Friendly staff, fantastic service and food and drinks. The building is grade II listed - it’s beautiful with interesting history and has been put to great use.

I don’t live in Colchester but this restaurant is the reason I come. On every occasion whether it be a meal in the evening with my husband, drinks/cocktails with friends, an afternoon tea for a baby shower or there fantastic quiz nights It has always...

I went to the old siege house with a friend. I had scallops and lamb rump, both beautifully cooked and very tasty. The recommended wine was delicious. I had the brulé and my friend had the cheese board. So full and content.Great service. Back soon!

I’ve used this pub many times over the last year I can safely say the food has always been top quality along with the very attentive staff .

Went Friday 14th July ,warm welcome from staff as always .went straight to table drinks order taken straight away !!! I ordered curried spiced carrot coriander soup and lovely assortment of bread .ex-wife ordered pan fried scallops which my daughter tried and loved them delicious...

such a wonderful place and amazing history, the staff offer a leaflet that show all the history of the building that happened there. lovely food as well and great staff.

Such a lovely meal, staff were so nice and attentive. Food was delicious and great portions! Great atmosphere aswell! Would really recommend!

this restaurant is superb, we came here with friends and family which the service had provided with us in a very professional manner. The fish and chips were amazing, the batter was prefect along with the tartar sauce, couldn't ask for more! my wife had...

Biggest Sunday lunch I ever had cooked to perfection.(roast beef). Next time I will skip starters and make room for dessert, can't fault anything good friendly service.

Lovely setting food out off this world,staff couldnt do enough for you such a lovely night go you wont regret it

If you like eating a bucket of salt then this is the place for you. I asked for a San miguel ( from the menu) they no longer served it. As a starter we chose a meat platter, this arrived with a dish of bread...

I held my birthday celebrations here for around 60 people in the garden and downstairs in the restaurant. We enjoyed a hog roast buffet and beautiful bite size puddings. The food was fantastic and the brilliant staff kept drinks flowing. I have been inundated from...

Was expecting some thing better food very standard beef non discript with little taste fish was not prepared very well menus not very appealing would we go again may be but not a Sunday server was brilliant

This place is absolutely great! Lovely staff, beautiful old building inside and outside and the food is amazing! The lamb shank was to die for, as was the chocolate and Guinness cake with chocolate custard! Huge portions, decent prices and a big car park at the back. Will definitely be coming back here!

We went here for our anniversary night, and the food was ok but not to the standard I expected. The service was bad, and the assistant was not so attentive. We almost left without eating dessert. When it eventually came,the waffle was burnt,though they tried to decorate it, but we could not even eat it. We were so disappointed when we left, worst experience. I wouldn't recommend this place.

Delicious food and attentive service

Good food and friendly staff. Reasonable price. Enjoy the evening.