The Square and Compasses in Braintree

Great pub, tucked out the way, been a few times for a Sunday Roast now, great atmosphere, service excellent. Looking forward to going back

Great Sunday lunch. High quality ingredients . Liked the table set ups . Tasty starters . Great mains and outstanding desserts. Staff professional but friendly. Only critical was small vegetable portions . We did ask for extra which was provided but even then still little on the low side for a family of veg lovers. Appreciate others may not eat as many as us and don’t want to waste. Maybe just offering extra if needed would be idea

The location is lovely, but when we visited today, the place was dead. Prawn cocktail was dreadful, absolutely no flavour and a really stodgy sauce. The hug beef had no flavour and was chewy! The roast dinner had nothing to really rave about…although the vegetables were tender which was nice. Bread and butter pudding was nice but the port was abrasive. Waitresses are nice but lacking knowledge about food and wine.

We always ate Sunday lunch here at least twice a month. Had a bad experience, be it a couple of years ago, we often eat lunch out in different restaurants around Chelmsford so thought we would go back to A&C to give it a try. Unfortunately lunch menu is not appropriate at all, more for dinner menu I suspect it doesn’t change the menu all day. Service was fine found the ambiance dull room was dark. No light choice ham and eggs was the lightest offering but not available, surprising as only 3 tables occupied. Pricing was more suitable for evening dining. Very disappointed and will not be returning. In the toilet they were advertising for a chief so obviously a problem with staffing, although we did recognise one staff member from past visits

Went on Saturday evening to celebrate our son's birthday. We have been coming here for years, winter,spring, ice summer & autumn.Have experienced lunches (Sunday included) & evening meals, with friends & family. Even booked the upstairs room on a couple of occasions for larger groups & have always had a very good experience. Last night was no exception, in fact it was brilliant! Everyones meal was delicious, beautifuly cooked & presented. The staff were lovely, very friendly, polite & attentive. We have just come back from a family holiday in this country where a lot of the food was over cooked, served on cold plates by miserable people. It was a pleasure to return to a very reliable establishment such as the Square & Compasses, 'a little gem' in a mad world!

The food is reasonable, it would just be a lot nicer experience if the miserable landlord kept away from a customer serving role, he sadly does not possess the skills to serve/interact with customers in a positive way. A shame as the landlady is lovely.

The pub is lovely, ambience is nice. The starters were lovely, 2 of the mains were good, the 3rd was awful, it was bland and 90% of it left on the plate. I did express my dissatisfaction. The desert was ok for all 3 of us. We asked for coffee but coffee machine was turned off so no coffee! (At 10.10pm) On receipt of bill I questioned why they hadn’t taken the main off the waitress said she hadn’t taken it up with anybody! Won’t be going back !

The Square & Compasses is a truly lovely place - not in any way ruined by a modern makeover as so many pubs have been. It's atmospheric and homely with great food and old-fashioned good service. Most importantly, the floor is carpeted, which means that you can have a nice conversation without talking loudly. Other features also contribute to brilliant acoustics that so few places now have. There is no piercingly bright LED lighting that you can see in your peripheral vision. And no grey paint to be seen anywhere.

We have been to this pub for meals countless times and always had good food and service. Today, Sunday, was different. I must say we have never been on a Sunday lunchtime before and will not go again. It was extremely busy with the two waitresses doing a sterling job. It seemed that the kitchen could not keep up with the necessary meals. We waited at least half an hour for the starters to arrive. Then another half an hour for the main meals which, in my case, was very mediocre. I hardly ate any of it. The desserts were slightly better but I asked for a glass of desert wine to be told that they were out of it! This is a pub for goodness sake. We were very disappointed with our meal and will probably think twice before we go again. We were charged £72 for this third-rate meal for two.

This has to be the best pub food for miles around here. Cosy atmosphere , quiet to talk and great food and excellent service. We return again and again, so many good things to choose in the menu.

Visited today for lunch, we had booked a table and glad we had as the place was very busy. We got a warm welcome and fantastic service. The menu, especially the specials board, was varied and a great selection. So great to see a pub/restaurant serving local game. The food was delicious and all freshly produced. Great wine choice and cask ale went down well too. Will definitely be back. Well worth a visit, so glad we got the recommendation.

How much!? Nearly 6 quid for a pint of cider. Be warned, you'll need deep pockets. Big sign on the bar saying keep smiling in these hard times.....bit hard when people take the mick with their prices. I was too late to eat, but I doubt I could have afforded it! I won't be going again.

Friday 16th June I belong to a small dining club & 5 of us came along. We all had a lovely evening, the atmosphere in the 18th century pub was pleasant & the food was very tasty! Friendly service.

Fantastic place, Sue and Victor have been running this lovely gastro pub for some time. I run a local hotel, from time to time I take customers here for a thank you for their custom and to get away from it all. Sue, Victor and the staff always look after us, the food and atmosphere are great. Victor is knowledgable about his wine, and stocks some real delicious ones. Fantastic gastro pub which is reasonably priced, I will be back very soon. PS if the bubble and squeak risotto is on the menu order it.

After being away for a year and returning to have a Sunday roast here was truly outstanding I adore this place

Worst meal out we’ve had in a long time. Waited half an hour for our pre-booked 7.30 table. Shown to a cold and dingy table. Waited ages for our order to be taken. Both had chicken pie. Pie ok but new potatoes rock hard so struggled to cut them. Not buttered - tasteless and bland. Asked to see dessert menu but it never came so we paid the bill and left. Horrible evening. Waste of £70 and won’t be returning.

Visited mid April after an absence of a few months and I’m soo pleased to see that it’s as good as it’s ever been. Starter, Ale du jour. may have been Essex Gold, and it hit the spot. Main: we both had the Hake with a glass of their house wine, a white wine from Murcia, both delicious. The main came with a side of perfectly cooked season vegetables. Desert: Shared a Poached pear on a biscuit base, scrum-diddly-umptious. Service: great Atmosphere: friendly, welcoming with the reassuring soft background hum of people eating, drinking and enjoying themselves. The odd dog in the bar area is a reassuring sign that this is a welcoming place for all.

From the minute we walked through the door, albeit a little early, we were very warmly welcomed. The pub was warm and inviting, menu had a lot of wonderful homemade choices and the staff were attentive and amazing. The food was delicious, plates were piled high and there was no chance we would be leaving still hungry. I will be back and would highly recommend this gem of a place that is perfect in every sense.

Just enjoyed a lovely meal with 4 of us at the Square and Compass. We arrived a little early but no problem to the welcoming staff. The place itself is a picture of homeliness and the interior harks back to a time when country pubs really were different from each other. The majority of the menu begins with ‘homemade’ and our choices reflected same. Starters and mains were simply excellent; as good a Sunday lunch meal as we’ve had in a long time. In summary; excellent service delicious food in superb surroundings, fully recommended.

Exceptional country pub. Friendly staff, excellent beer - from the barrel. Good selection of both traditional and “fancy” food. Plus dog friendly. Can thoroughly recommend.

We have been going to this pub for some considerable years now, but this visit was very disappointing. The menu has changed from having delicious specials like calves liver, pork belly or skate to being a little banal, I see nothing special about sausage and mash. We ordered our drinks after a 15 minute wait, then after another 15 minutes our food which was homemade pie and a burger. We then waited half an hour for our food to arrive which was fair enough because it stated that it took that long for the pie to cook. We saw the waitress emerge from the kitchen with our food but she walked straight past our table and mistakenly gave it to another customer who proceeded to start to eat it only to discover it was wrong. That was the last straw, we couldn’t wait another half an hour and decided to leave. One more criticism is that £33.50 for a bottle of Prosecco in a pub is expensive to say the least. We felt very let down and sadly will not be returning.

This pub has been a family destination of ours for many years. Every time we have eaten here there has always been some sort of issue - overcharging (however always acknowledged and rectified when highlighted), slow service etc however, due to location and quality of food we have always eventually gone back. Today was the last time. Service was slow - extremely slow. Staff (which included the owner) were at best unapologetic and at worst extremely rude. Food was in the most part good. Unfortunately the lack of customer service, attention and general not bothered attitude takes away from the whole experience.

Have been many times before, always good. However, yesterday was different. Landlord was not his usual jovial self, hardly acknowledged us at all. We didn’t receive a menu until 30 mins after arriving, apparently they were being printed. When we finally received the menu, we were given only the Sunday menu, not knowing there was a special menu, this wasn’t mentioned (heard this being offered to others afterwards). The food came 25 minutes later, so nearly an hour in total. The food wasn’t up to the usual good standard. The beef was tough & chewy and the lamb, although ok(ish) was very fatty. Didn’t bother with a desert as have always thought that they are overpriced and underwhelming here. Unfortunately, would think twice about returning. Having read a previous review about the entrance, I agree, it is quite off putting walking past the toilets as they always smell. It’s not inviting, especially when taking friends there for the first time!

Pleasant enough atmosphere, nice staff but where were the vegetarian choices - or even as usual the one dish. Cheese-type meals could not be guaranteed to be cooked with the appropriate cheese. Plenty of other eating venues within a small radius which cater for such customers, why not here. Unlikely to go back even though it's very near, too many other places to choose.

6 weeks ago I wrote a justifiably glowing review but after going back yesterday I have to write a caveat. The owner / manager told us on arrival that 2 of his staff had called in with Covid so he was short staffed, nevertheless the...

Popped in on a Friday evening and the friendly staff were able to accommodate us without booking. Great service right from the start, served quickly with a smile. Really good menu both traditional and specialist with the most beautifully prepared, delicious food. Ended up having...

A project for Alex Polizzi ( hotel inspector) I fear. This pub used to be the place to go to 20 years ago when Ginny and Howard was running it . It has a brilliant country location and good sized car park and it was...

I had not been here for about 15 years but my wife had been recently and wanted to return - she was absolutely right - as usual! The signs outside saying how hard it is to get staff and asking customers to be patient and...

What a fabulous evening! Excellent food and wine introduced by our host. Big thank you to Vic and his hard working team for making it such an enjoyable meal. Look forward to the next themed dining event.

Enjoyed a spring gourmet meal here recently. The menu celebrating the start of the Asparagus season was really good. All courses were tasty and well balanced. Some nice wines accompanied the meal and the convivial host generously kept our glasses topped up. Look forward to...

Returned to the Square and Compasses again with friends, but this time the food was well below par. My steak which they recommend to have medium rare was so well done it was hard to chew. Restaurant staff are always friendly and polite, I hate...

So today I took my family to this fine pub. The food and service was perfect. We started with 2 tahaini prawns on toast with avocado, a apple and celeriac soup and pork scatching with apple sauce, so much freshness. We have been many times...

Had a meal with friends on a Sunday and decided to choose something different to a roast, the ‘cod loin with confit potatoes, local mersea mussels with a creamy tomato sauce’, a dish definitely up my street! When it arrived there was not a mussel...

Wonderful If you’re passionate for freshly prepared seasonal food this is for you . Friendly welcoming staff attending to all your needs Absolute first class , week done to all

I have visited before but not since COVID. I was treated to lunch last week and I am happy to give five stars. The dining room was already busy early on a Thursday. We were seated immediately and offered drinks, the menu and "specials board"....

We had been to this pub restaurant on numerous occasions but this was the first time since the first Covid lockdown in 2020. I am pleased to say that we were not disappointed. The food was great as usual with good menu choices and very...

We knew that there would be a wait for our food. 60 minutes later our main course arrived although the pub was not at all full. Three dinners ordered, but unfortunately the chicken was raw inside. The waitress came back to say that chef said...

Food was poor, service was poor and when we tried to discuss the issues with one of the owners it was ignored. I have recommended this pub to many, never again extremely disappointed and won’t go back.

First visit to this beautiful pub with excellent food and a wonderful atmosphere. Friendly management and staff,will definitely visit again.

Eight of us enjoyed a food and wine evening in the upstairs private room at the Square and Compasses. Victor had selected 6 different wines to go with our 4 course meal, and he gave us a description and a personal story about each one,...

We have visited the Square and Compasses regularly for many years and are never disappointed. Victor, Susan and the entire front and back of house teams always do everything to make our visits special The Sunday roast is always a delight and the regularly updated...

Visited last night with friends. There was a great selection of dishes and the food was delicious as always. I phoned the evening before to enquire about vegan options - the chef explained the different dishes.He even said that he could make another vegan main...

We visited on a cold, miserable, wet day and we had a wonderful afternoon. It is a very traditional old fashioned pub, with a roaring fire which perfect for that sort of day The food was absolutely fantastic and the service was great. The pie...

We made our annual Christmas lunch visit to the Square and Compasses today with our good friends S and P. Despite ongoing staff shortages the hospitality, service and food were excellent as always. Many thanks to the kitchen staff and front of house Victor and...

We had lunch here yesterday, it's a bit off the beaten track for us but a friend who is a regular here asked us to lunch. We were very impressed with the food - it was hard to choose from the specials board as everything...

I had been past this pub several times but had never been in before. It was much larger than it appears from outside. It is very smart inside and a property dining pub, The staff were very friendly and helpful and there was a good...

Friday evening dinner, warm and friendly staff from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. Great food, great value.

Thoroughly enjoyed our meal for five. All the dishes served were cooked perfectly and tasted amazing. The traditional country pub setting is relaxed and comfortable and the staff were all friendly and welcoming. Cannot fault our evening out at all.

This pub was located in beautiful countryside full of character abs charm. The staff were warm and friendly, the menu interesting using all local produce which resulted in the best Sunday lunch I have ever had, the aged beef was tender and full of flavour...

We popped on Saturday lunch and was very impressed with this pub. The decor is traditionally old English country pub with beans and log burner and the walls filled with interesting things to look at. The specials board is huge and really has something for...

Sunday roast was ALWAYS a high point at square and compasses, hence today’s visit for our wedding anniversary!! But we were left as flat as the Yorkshire’s!!!! Smaller than usual portions, roasties that would build a great farm wall (they were like boulders) and actually...

We arrived at 7.45. Drinks arrived fairly quick. Waited a long time for specials board to arrive. Waitresses very good but young and inexperienced. They took order after 45minutes. Ordered wine which was not what we expected for £26. Turned out to be a bottle...

We are regulars here and it never fails to impress. The specials menu changes almost daily and there is always the regular pub food menu if you don’t fancy anything else for a change. Pork and Apple scotch egg and Gnocchi tonight followed by Wild...

We dined here as a family tonight. The food we received was good. I had the swordfish and my husband the pork loin and son the fish and chips. The portions were generous. I did have a problem with my gin and tonic. I chose...

We had a lovely birthday meal.We dined in the private gallery room, which is a lovely space for 10 or so people. Staff all friendly and helpful. Nice selection of food, ranging from from pub grub to gourmet. My son's are whitebait converts.

Had a rare evening meal out without the kids and chose the Square and Compass as haven't been in here for many years. Started with the salmon, had duck for main and pushed the boat out and had the baileys cheesecake for dessert, all were...

This place was visited when restrictions were still in place and they did well to offer a warm and pleasant outside area . However the food was so so and took an absolute age to arrive which really took the shine off our visit ....

Thank you victor and Sue x Had the most amazing lunch last Tuesday lunch . Scotch egg was amazing and the meatballs , omg absolutely delicious . All washed down by the most beautiful Shiraz . Love this little gem . Always a lovely welcome...

Thank goodness the Square and Compasses has got through the pandemic and is still producing the best pub lunches anywhere We visited today and were immediately given a warm welcome by the great Landlord, Victor. The format is just as good as we had remembered...

My partner surprised me with a birthday dinner at The Square and compasses last week and it was absolutely beautiful. We were given the private dining room upstairs which wa a laid out beautifully, Prosecco on arrival - and the food was to die for....

Service was poor (forgotten drinks orders several times throughout). But, we understood they’re just training new staff post-covid. While most of our group enjoyed their meals, the chef doesn’t know how to cook a steak. The special (£26) was ordered rare, but what was delivered...

Super service, perfect for a quiet lunch. Indoor and outdoor seating. Ample Car parking. The menu is very good offering a great selection of English food. Their pies are superb.

Chewy roast potatoes Worst cauliflower cheese I've ever had, odd taste and watery with no cheese crust Substandard service, didn't seem chap wanted to be there Missed parts of order and still tried to charge for them. Meat gravy offered for vegetarian meals only Offered...

Before the pandemic lockdown we would visit on a regular basis , great food and service. We just started to visit this week and was not disappointed, we had a Great night with friends. Can’t wait to go back next week. Well done to the...

I had lunch at the Square and Compasses today with friends and it was excellent! The service was also good, (a very pleasant waitress, smiling and courteous, served us), and we did not have to wait too long at all - They have a varied...

Really lovely staff! They were slightly understaffed, hence not 5 starts, but food was lovely and worth the wait! Would definitely come back again.

How nice to be back. A warm welcome from Sue and Vic. We had a proper ham hock & chicken pie and Suffolk chicken breast with local asparagus, dauphinoise potatoes and a bottle of Sancerre. Finished off the meal with a lemon posset and strawberry...

So we had an outside lunch at the S&C and it didn’t disappoint. It’s a lovely peaceful setting slightly off the beaten track and when the sun shone it was glorious. Staff here are delightful. Period. I’ve always loved the menu here which leaves you...

Yet another delicious, well prepared and beautifully cooked edition to the Square and Compasses lockdown takeaway menu. We have ordered regularly these last weeks and thought to try the Sunday chicken roast. What a treat it was! The food kept its freshness and was as...

Disappointed!! Second roast take away from here the first was so nice so much food cooked perfectly this time was almost like it was from a totally different place! The portions was very small the roast beef was so dry almost inedible the first time the beef was pink and succulent we had chicken and beef, the chicken which was a breast was shrivelled and dry and tasteless the vegetables were cabbage and carrots and we ordered cauliflower cheese not sure what happened too the cheese though!! The potatoes were so crunchy and dry they almost broke my teeth. Couldn’t have been more different to the first roast takeaway we had last month, maybe the chef was off and someone else had stepped in but no excuses it was the same price and a total waste of money. Very disappointing!

My wife and I celebrated our anniversary ,the staff ,the food was excellent. The atmosphere was relaxing. A perfect evening.

We had yet another delicious meal, great choice of menu as usual with lots of local produce We felt very safe The owners and their staff did everything possible to make it a very enjoyable experience Can highly recommend the Gin cocktails made by Harry

I watched the waitress clean a spillage off the floor with beer matt, place the same matt on the coffee machine.10 minutes later she spills milk on floor and uses the same cloth to wipe up and place back on machine. When she cleared the table I challenged her and she was of the opinion she had done nothing wrong. I explained that she was failing basic hygiene rules. She replied that she was happy with what she had done. Dissappeard into kitchen and 5 mins later the landlady discreetly walks passed, looks at coffee machine and within 1 minute staff remove the cloth. Who knows to clean what else. Made me question what else goes on that we couldn't see. Such a shame but clearly not covid secure and lack basic hygiene standards. Won't be returning.

Generally a very good pub serving a wide choice menu, including specials. Slightly inconsistent quality with some dishes heavily over seasoned and others not? The staff are courteous and attentive and dealt with a complaining winger with incredible patience. This is a pub and not a gourmet restaurant, but a pleasant place to go!

Lovely relaxing atmosphere almost felt like normal. They have successfully laid out seating so you don’t feel that it’s not normal due to Covid. Service excellent food excellent and would highly recommend. A big well done to Emily our waitress and thank you to the chef behind the scenes. We will definitely be back

I was so busy enjoying the environment and more so the food (I have eaten here a few times now) that I sadly forgot to take photos . I wish I had as our meals (three of us dined) were absolutely lovely, so, so tasty I cannot wait to go back and do it all over again. It was quiet-ish with this dreadful Covid time, about five other tables eating we were all well spaced and the staff were VERY attentive and VERY considerate of cleaning and taking care to ensure we felt comfortable and safe. I had a delicious Goat cheese starter a fabulous Raghu on falafel the tastes were exquisite, the other two both had Liver & Bacon and said it was to die for. The desert was VERY unusual "Carrot cake in a flower pot"! fabulous tastes and great presentation. Thank you everyone at the Square we will be back soon. You are a fare drive out or us but a lovely drive so we will be seeing you soon regardless.

Small family group. weekday lunchtime. We pre ordered food due to special dietary requirements. I thought this pub was excellent. Plenty of character. Covid 19 precautions were fine. Friendly welcome. Service was faultless. I had cod which I thought was excellent. My daughter felt she could have done with some extra vegetables. Deserts were very nice in particular 2 specials to cater for gluten free plus lactose free requirements.

So, 4 of us set out to go out for a meal at another pub close by but it wasn't open and drove on and found the square and compasses.Lovely location, lovely pub. Got all excited when I see all the Camra signs outside and a Michelin 2018 sign as well, happy days I thought.We walked in and walked throught the door that's say 'TAP room' where the exceitment grew.... From this moment on it went downhill!!Not a great reception but was shown to our table. We ordered drinks. As for the Camra real ale, they had one, just one type and it was awful and very over priced. I have a local 30 seconds from my home that does various ales and all are a pound or so less than here.So the food. Not a great selection for the vegetarian at all. Our friend ending up buying 2 vegetarian starters as the main. Which, with respect, she enjoyed and said it was lovely.Our other friend ordered the Steak and ale pie with new pototoes and again he enjoyed his food too.I ordered fish and chips. Fish was OK, mediocre. The chips however were over cooked brown soggy & non crunchy, just awful, nothing like the pictures. Didn't even come out with tartare sauce.My wife ordered the the chicken roast from the specials board which should of come with 'goose fat roasted pototos'. The roast came out with little veg and NO goose fat roasted potato! Instead it came with some sort of bubble and squeak type stuff. My wife also order a jug of extra gravy and by god was it salty. I tried some and I had an instant salt overdose. I'd think I would had poured sea water over the food rather than that.What was even stranger is that my friend with the steak pie also ordered extra gravy (or it came with a little jug, can't remember) but it was the same gravy as my wifes, surely a chicken roast should have chicken gravy?My wife complained about her meal which we didn't end up paying for. The person we spoke to (landlady?) agreed about the roasties. So if it's the case that it doesn't come with proper roast pototoes, rub it off the specials board.TBH, I have tasted better at the cheap 2 for 1, H horse chains etcBased on all the other reviews we were expecting a great evening, so maybe it was an off day, but we will not return to see if it was a one off.So to sum up. Lovely pub, lovely location, NO atmosphere, no welcoming smiles from the staff, very over priced mediocre food, Very poor over priced selection of (well, one) real ale.

I had exactly the same experience yesterday as the last reviewer (“Very Disappointed Indeed!”) on what looks like the same day. We arrived without having booked and asked for a table for two. We were the only people in there are that time and were offered a nice table at the far end. My wife ordered the Roast Chicken with Goose Fat Roast Potatoes from the specials board. Now when I last looked, roast potatoes were little yellow round things, not as the previous reviewer accurately described, a type of ‘bubble and squeak thing’ – basically Mash! I’m not saying that this was Sunday’s roast potatoes recycled the next day. I’m sure there must be a perfectly good reason why this rubbish was served up – I just haven’t thought of it yet! One thing is certain – we’re are not buying the explanation we were given by the landlady when we questioned it, which was (after checking back with the kitchen) that it was all about better presentation. I wonder if they were presented that way the day before. I won’t be going back to check!Also like the previous reviewer, I had the fish and chips. The fish was OK but I fully agree with her description of the chips – brown soggy and overcooked. I was offered tartare sauce though, which was nice as it took away the taste. I haven’t yet mentioned the service, which was awful. The landlady brought up our plates on a tray and warned us not to burn ourselves on the hot plates as WE had to reach across and remove them ourselves from her tray using the paper serviettes provided as she stood there! That was ‘a first’ for me, as even in the cheapest restaurants you don’t get this DIY service. It couldn’t have been a COVID-19 precaution as someone had obviously put them on the in the first place and I saw no real evidence of any other COVID safety precautions apart from the fact that we were almost the only people in there apart from a table of 4 that arrived later and sat a sensible distance away from us. From the moment we questioned the dodgy potatoes we had a very frosty response from the landlady. Then when a couple of people came in from outside and decided to sit at the small table between us and the only other customers in there, even though EVERY other table was empty, things deteriorated. When one of them objected to being asked to observe social distancing and actually became quite verbally aggressive to us, the landlady’s belated intervention came with what felt like hostility towards us rather than acknowledging that the others were at fault for not keeping their distance during a pandemic. We heard only one further word from her after that when we asked to pay the bill - a confirmatory “Yes” when I asked if contactless would work. Not a word about the meal; our experience; thank you; goodbye; nothing! She clearly wasn’t interested in whether we were happy or not, and by that point were certainly were not.Unlike the previous reviewer I did pay the bill but on reflection really wish I had refused. I really don’t like feeling that the staff of a restaurant are doing me a big favour. This place is far from cheap and whilst that has never bothered us before, it really left us with a bad feeling and we certainly won’t be going back. It’s a strange time to be venturing out with the pandemic starting to run out of control again in some areas. This restaurant/pub could learn a great deal from some of the chains that will put them out of business; that are staffed with helpful smiling faces (behind visors); and that appear to be going out of their way to offer value for money whilst keeping their customers safe. Not so at the Square and Compasses. I left feeling that I had just wasted my money. It is tragic to see what was once a quality dining venue going down the pan like this.

Having been regular customers over the past few years we were so disappointed with our dining experience yesterday at the square and compasses. Firstly, it was quite clear that our reservation hadn’t been entered into their booking system but that was soon resolved and a table was found. The food, as always was delicious it was the appalling service that let the whole experience down. Service was slow, disorganised and ruined what should have been a wonderful Sunday afternoon. Nothing came out together so we had one starter and had to ask where our other one was, the roast dinners were bought to our table but again no sign of the side dish of cauliflower cheese, apparently the waiter had forgotten to order it. I ordered a glass of wine and after reminding a member of staff if was finally bought out when I was coming to the end of my meal. By this point we didn’t want to waste anymore time or money at the restaurant and decided to ask for the bill. That was the only thing that was delivered promptly. I don’t think we were alone in feeling like this as I overhead the waiter apologising to another group of diners. Come on Square and Compasses! You have such a lovely business please let this be a one off.

Went for lunch and as usual had a great welcome from Sue, Stephanie and Vic. We had burger as a main and salmon for a main, followed by Pear and Rhubarb crumble and Lemon Tart. We sat inside an it was lovely to be back. Food was delicious as ever and can't wait to get back.

We decided to have lunch out today and there is never any discussion. It’s always the square and compass. We sat inside for the first time since lockdown and felt totally comfortable. Vic and sue And the great staff have done everything to make lunch still special during these tough times. Once again the food was fantastic. And I was happy to see that there were quite a few tables taken..as I have said before we need to support this pub because it’s the best in this area for miles and it would be so tragic if we were ever to lose somewhere as fantastic as this..

It's been a while since the lockdown and great to see that the S&Q is still one of the best pubs in Essex even in this new normal Had a first class lunch with friends ( Game Terrine / Fish Pie ) and the service as always was really good & great value .Good to see you back & wish you well for the new future

Early evening dinner for 4 midweek. Great food, good service we will definitely return. Just one request - please, please kill that dreadful trumpet jazz piped through the speakers. I did ask for it to be turned down which it was, then someone must have crept back in and turned it back up. When I was settling the bill our server asked me if everything was ok I told her how we enjoyed the meal and I mentioned the obtrusive ‘music’. She replied ‘tell me about it, we have to work here with it!’ Apart from that, a very good evening.

We had lunch today at the square and compass’s. This is our first lunch since FEB It was fantastic as usual . I have been shielding and was slightly worried about going. But fear not . Vic and sue have made it all as safe as possible with regular hand sanitizing stations with Plenty of hAnd gel. We sat outside and were completely comfortable. The service was fantastic and credit goes to sue and vic for making it all so seamless..In our opinion this is and always has been the most consistently fantastic food experience in this area. If I had a choice to go anywhere and it was my last meal I would go here. Times are tough for all businesses at this time and these type of pubs are treasures.. I can’t wait to go again. So happy that you are back open again vic and sue

Booked in advance to be sure. Nice table, good food & service overall, meals very good quality. Drinks a little pricey and they may not have a huge variety as other gastro pubs, but we all found something we liked. Great hanger steak!

This was our first post lockdown pub visit and it had to be the Square and Compasses. We’ve been many many times over the years and the food, drink and service have been excellent. Today was no different. There was plenty of choice on the menu (I had been craving the steak and ale pie) and excellent beer on tap. The service was very quick and easy and all the measures put in place for social distancing etc. are very simple and unobtrusive. The country pub is a cornerstone of a thriving rural economy, and it is so good to see this pub back up and running.

Good ale, good service, excellent beef, served masking decidedly al dente carrots and moderate roasties. Additional charge for cauliflower & cheese Needs tweaking to justify cost!

sprouts were like bullets potatos underdone and one member of the group suffered food poisening all in all very dissappointing

Nice traditional pub with good menu choices. Quality of food was excellent and they have rotating ales from the surrounding area. Recommended!

My husband and i previously popped in for a drink and liked the look of the menus so came in for a meal and were not dissapointed.My husband had pigeon breast on Savoy cabbage with black pudding for starter, his main game stew.I had the cream of cauliflower soup with garlic croutons followed by wild duck on a rosti with red cabbage and red wine jus.We shared a date pudding with custard and ice cream.The service was very good food was excellent.

What a lovely pub, me and melzee took our dog for a walk before sitting down and tucking into some beautiful homemade food at this amazing pub. The staff and owners are friendly and chatty. Dog friendly and lovely pint of real ale. Ideal for couples and family.

Vic, Sue and the team excelled themselves yet again for the best Sunday Roast in Essex. A great country pub serving locally sourced ingredients and a well selected wine list.

This pub/restaurant has been a favourite of ours for many years, but yesterday (Friday 31st January) was disappointing! Small things, but annoying and just took the edge off the lunch. Duck main course (special) should have been pink, succulent and tender, but both servings were over cooked, dry and tough ... nearly black! Vegetables with the Skate (special) were hard; not the usual al dente and the presentation poor.Needed to ask for additional glasses of wine more than once ... overall not a good customer experience and our first ever disappointing meal at the venue. If it was an off day, it needs not to happen again!

We went for dinner to this place as a family and some friends. The food, service, and staff were amazing!Highly reccomend it. They have free parking, no WiFi so its good to talk to each other. We have been here before and we love it.Thanks to all staff and the Chefs for the great service and delicious food.

The service was really friendly & helpful which was added to with lovely tasty food especially the duck & haddock risotto both from the specials board. The relaxed ambience within the whole restaurant/pub is so welcoming & warm. It tempts you to want to stay all night !! Nothing to fault or query - it's just right.

Went here for a late Sunday lunch with the family. The staff were very patient with us as we were waiting for our daughter to arrive. We ordered starters of parsnip soup and garlic bread. Both were home made. The soup was served hot, was very tasty and served with fresh bread. The garlic bread was lovely - one of the best i was told. We had a mixture of beef, turkey and gammon for mains. The meats were lovely and the veggies just right - my Yorker was overdone but I guess I was unlucky. The desserts looked tempting but we were too full. In addition the local IPA was really nice. So to summarise, pleasant, patient staff and good service. Great food and good beer and wine. Definitely worth a visit.

BEEN VERY ILLOn arrive was lovely place greeted nicely and was taken to table everyone had very good time food seemed lovely two off us had same main (skate) was very nice but I had prawn and crab starter which I can definitely say it was his! Being the only one had it .I’ve had food poisoning before from fish and I know what it’s like. on arrival being home two hours all hell broke loose didn’t stop being sick till 5am next day.I am Sorry too have too write this about this place but I missed a very important charity golf day next day besides BEING VERY iILL and having too take day off work still .Too be fair everyone really enjoyed it ,was even thinking of booking New Years

A simple lunchtime pleasure ahead of an evening at the races. 4 of us sat through 3 very tasty and beautifully presented courses, accompanied by real ale for 2, wine for one and a small lager. The meals were tasty and plentiful with quality non-invasive although attentive service. A lovely setting seemingly miles from anywhere and yet not too far for the quality.

Sadly not a good experience for my family. One meal brought out 10 minutes after other family meals arrived. My chips were undercooked. My sons burger was burnt. My husband ordered a drink which never arrived. We were never asked if our meals were OK or whether we needed anything. Very disappointed after reading the good reviews.