The Viper in Brentwood

The viper is a traditional pub with a good garden in Fryerning Village Pleasant but not exceptional fine for a pre dinner drink we didn’t eat so cannot review food

Good real ale, food very good, good size portions, came quickly after we ordered , lovely staff, would definitely visit again

Good real ale and a good selection of pub grub although menues would be good to save my old legs from getting up and down to read the wall, nice service but bloody cold!

Lovely meal for four adults on a Saturday lunchtime. Bangers and mash, mushroom risotto and moules all received glowing comments! Really friendly bar staff too. Would recommend.

We called into the Viper during a chilly winter walk one Friday in December and were very warmly welcomed (and not only by the open fireplace) but by the amazingly talented all-girl team behind the Bar - intending to only stay for a pint before continuing, their suggestive selling from the festive lunch menu, kept us all there for a further pint and a huge wooden platter of comfort eating tastiness - well done to all at The Viper - an oasis of charm and a hidden treasure of hospitality pleasure - take all the family as you're sure to enjoy

Beautifully cooked sticky ribs and belly of pork for lunch, followed by the best sticky toffee pudding for miles around!

Staff and food exceptional wonderful atmosphere. Nothing to much trouble sausage rolls, phenomenal so was the Sunday roast

The Viper was exceptionally busy for a wet Thursday lunchtime but we found a table in the new back room. Beers first rate, including a choice of two alcohol-free bottled lagers. Our food was good too - indeed my penne arabiatta was exceptional for what could have been a common place dish. We also had fish and chips (massive portion), pie of the day and a butternut squash risotto - all very good. Service was friendly and efficient, especially as only two people were staffing the bar and serving tables. All in a thankfully unspoiled pub of character.

Lovely beefburger and chips. The burger was huge. Price was around the expected amount for the local area. It is relatively local to me , only a few miles away. I'll definitely be back. It's quite a small building , although masses of out door seating, and enough car parking. I guess it could get really busy inside ! Extremely picturesque , situated in some very nice surrounding woods.

Lovely food and drinks which were enjoyed by all four of us. Great service as well. The mild ale was a lovely reminder of yesteryear.

Nice pub in a great location, plus there was a beer festival on the day we went BUT we were very disappointed by the price and quality of the food. As it was Bank Holiday, we were told that the food orders were being taken outside in their adjoining canteen. With us both not eating meat, we went for the one option which was a haloumi burger for £8 each. What we got was two fried pieces of barely cooked haloumi with a little lettuce and tomato in a bargain basement bun. The chips we ordered for a fiver(!) werent much better either having a strong oil taste. So £21 for a couple of school dinner veggie burgers and overfried chips was not good value at all.

This pub reopened under new management in November 2022. It's sort of an old hunters pub in the middle of some woods (with great walks where you'll see deer etc). The pub has lots of parking, which it needs because its popular. It does great classic homemade pub food for reasonable prices. There's always has a good selection of proper beers on tap and the staff are really friendly. What more could you want?

Great pub food, very diverse menu with something for all, the home made scotch eggs were superb, along with the ploughman’s & dressed crab, the staff (especially Jo) could not be more helpful. The pub is set in beautiful forest surroundings, with plenty of outdoor seating, a great place to go after country walks. Will 100% be returning… there’s loads more on the menu we want to try !!

Hot sunny day on a Sunday afternoon,only two members of staff. Ordered gammon ham and chips gammon was tough as old boots and uneatable chips where covered in salt.Informed the waitress, when she came back she informed us there had other complaints and it was a supplier’s issue did not apologise or seem concerned. Will never eat there again

Delighted our favourite pub has reopened after refurb. The tradition of serving authentic still cider is great news for my husband who is coeliac. We have eaten there too and the chefs put together a gluten free meal. The gf fruit crumble and custard gets a big thumbs up Next time we hope they will have some gf pasta which will give my husband another option from the pub grub menu.

Went for a pint and a snack on a Monday. Well filled and a good atmosphere. Real fires so very cosy, and in a lovely setting. Good range of Essex beers and an extensive menu for a small pub. I think this is now the best pub for miles around, and shall come again. Best of all, it’s walk-in, unlike so many now.

Still a real pub with great ales and pub grub, so pleased it has reopened and still kept its traditional style

The Viper is Back & Even Better The Viper was always an excellent pub has had a very sympathetic refurb and is even better. It looks almost as it was but you’ll start to notice improvements in decor and spacing still keeping all the old...

Bern eagerly watching for thr return of this grm of a pub and season the Viper is lovely. Log burner was on menu was varied and I sure once they have a few months under their belt will add a I little more variety. The...

Great news now open after a 2 year closure and real ale is back on again. New decor and carpets and very nice.

Went there a few times in the past and I must say, it had something quite special about it. Mainly went there for a beer in the summer, ended up having a lovely conversation with the two old fellas sitting next to us, had a...

Not sure what has happened but Sunday Roasts have been cancelled for the foreseable future problems in the kitchen apparently.Just hope everything back to normal next time I am passing. Great Pub and great beers.

The Viper is very much a traditional British Pub. The selection of food is good and vegetarians and even vegans can be catered for. The for .

My wife and I and our little dog went there last week for a drink and an afternoon meal. We ordered up the cod n chips apiece. Considering it cost 10 notes each I was expecting something nice. Instead we received a poor quality piece...

More ales and ciders than you can ever wish for, good music, good atmosphere, good food and even great weather.

just a beer . but very pleasant situated in an Essex forest and judging by the real estate you can go for a good days march to find a food bank . john

The dishes were scampi and chips with salad, which was very appetising. The other dish was a cheese selection Ploughman’s which was excellent. Very much recommended.

Lovely pub, great service and a lovely Sunday Roast. Excellent portion size and a good dessert to finish off. Excellent service, very polite bar staff and Landlady. Good choice of beers and in a lovely setting, superb👍

A large group of us so spent a fair amount of money so I was a bit miffed when I ordered a tea and the lady in charge lent over to the colleague that was serving me and moaned I'd asked for tea!! Rather rude...

I entitled my review last time as ‘What’s happened to this lovely pub? 6 months have passed and we heard (some months ago) it has been bought by The Cricketers pub just down the road. We thought we would give it a retry. Well I...

Great little pub, friendly staff, good beer and good food. Nestled in woodland with a great little beer garden it’s a great place for lunch

Called in for a light lunch after a walk in Writtle forest. My husbands first visit but I've been many times since my parents first brought me here as a child in the 1960's. It hasn't changed much which is why I still love it....

Very good tasty lunch, good service. nice staff will definitely visit again. My friend really liked the atmosphere and enjoyed their lunch too

Popped in for lunch after a lovely walk with the dog in the nearby area. There is a separate bar for muddy boots and dogs which is clearly signed and therefore makes you feel very welcome.Bar staff really friendly and helpful. Nice selection of real ales. Went for a pint of Brewer's Gold which was very well kept. Also really nice to see a simple pub lunchmenu with sandwiches and the like, too often these days it's just main meal options for Sunday lunch . We had a sausage an onion baguette each with chips. Excellent value for money, great traditional pub as it should be. We'll be back.

Had a great walk in the woods few hours came to the viper . Few beers and great food , nice bar staff plenty of banter . Well behaved dogs inside and out . Will defo go back enjoyed the whole afternoon in the pub ... soup was homemade . Had mushroom and Mrs tomato with fresh bread & butter . Shared a lovely viper sausage in roll and salad . Weather was just right today for our walk . Deer running in the woods .

Went there for a beer festival in August - amazing range of beers - live music - definitely worth a trip - the pub itself is tiny - but they have marquees in the grounds in case of bad weather.

Not pleased all round. Only plus side was only a short trip to A12 from the Viper. Will not be returning

We took our dogs and children out for a walk in the nearby forest (which is beautiful in itself) and popped into the pub for a drink and lunch afterwards to warm up!

Met some friends for lunch, the sun was shining so we sat in the garden and enjoyed the late October weather. I had the steak and ale pie which had generous amounts of steak. Friendly service from the staff.

Pubs just don’t come more traditional and welcoming than this one. Totally unpretentious and relaxing. Wonderful setting buried as it is in the woods of Fryerning, with large lawn area to enjoy finer weather and a great selection of real ales on offer. Choice of three roasts all served with a good heap of roasted potatoes and a large selection of veg with gravy boat to the side. We all have exceptionally good appetites but were reluctantly defeated with the quantity. However after a break we manfully tackled the choice of sponge puds on offer, served with custard, cream or ice cream. Will always return to this pub, have enjoyed their sandwiches in the past, all generously filled and the jacket potatoes have to be seen to be believed.

I can't comment on beer quality because as I was driving it was soft drinks for me.

Friendly staff, lovely beer and surroundings, dog friendly. Lovely walks in the surrounding area. Typical Old Fashioned Pub

The Viper is an relatively isolated pub with a good choice of beers and real ales. It serves traditional pub food including a range of sandwiches etc. I have always enjoyed their pies with my pint but others I have been with have been less impressed.

Popped in for lunch got a friendly welcome lovely pint of San Miguel & the picture of the ham, egg & chips for £7 speaks for itself!

Hidden in the middle of woodland this is a rare find at the other end of the spectrum from your High Street chains, quirky, decent beer, good pub grub, what more do you want.

Tried this place after hearing good things about the food and was a little disappointed. We had roast lamb and beef (they mixed the meats up for us). Considering it was all home made, we were expecting it to be really good but we found the meat a bit dry and the veg a bit tasteless. The potatoes were not the best either. Friendly bar staff though.

No customers when I visited and even then I waited 5 minutes for the hippy guy behind the bar to move himself into pulling a pint he is so miserable he obviously has no social manners.

Evening visit to a great pub I have been to many times before. The standard I’m sad to say has plummeted over the last couple of years. You’ll see this is reflected by the pub not being included in the CAMRA good beer guide having previously been a shoe-in.

New Year visit and asked for a Mighty Oak beer and they said they were not selling it which is a big surprise as the Viper was famous for its Jake the Snake and Vipa ales which are locally produced.

Perfect for walkers as there’s a ‘muddy boot’ bar so you can get served without having to remove your boots. The fire was roaring and the food and drinks were fast to arrive. Toilets are accessible from outside also which is helpful. Great for walkers!

Had a great walk in the woods few hours came to the viper 👍. Few beers and great food , nice bar staff plenty of banter . Well behaved dogs 🐕 inside . Will defo go back enjoyed the whole afternoon in the pub ...

So many years ago the Viperwasthe pub we went to the Free House that sold really good local Beers / Ales with really Genuine Friendly atmosphere and good honest Food wholesome and hearty...

The location of The Viper is lovely, and thats about the only positive that can be taken. The food was ordered and took nearly an hour and a half to arrive, when asked what the hold up was the kitchen commented 'its because of the roasts', which makes no sense, surely you prepare the food as its ordered like any other place? The pie when it arrived had absolutely no flavour and the vegetables were overcooked and disgusting.The lock on the ladies wouldn't work which meant if you needed the bathroom you had to leave the door open. The woman behind the bar also rudely joined in with a man being obnoxious and intimidating towards us. Will never visit again, not in a million years, it was a pretty horrific experience. Shame because I had heard only good things about this place in the past.

Have really fond memories of this pub, but went for lunch today and waited over an hour for two pies! Apparently that's because they were cooking lots of roasts, strange on a Sunday... When the food did finally arrive steak pie was salty and the meat dry and the chicken pie was tasteless. I'm sure I'd be fine going here for a drink but the food and service was terrible.

Este es el pub siempre nos tomamos nuestro visitante extranjero como un ejemplo de un verdadero pub inglés, pero por desgracia ha cambiado.

Pagamos una visita para degustar el ale y yo no debería haberme preocupado ya que la cerveza está en forma como siempre y la comida era deliciosa. El propietario era acogedor, así que en general un gran día.

Bebimos durante años, pero lentamente a medida vimos el local, incluyendo algunos prominentes, y leal bebedores/disminuir, más amantes de bastante un corto período! Después de mirar un poco más duro a mis visitas, entonces pude ver que la culpa los laicos firmemente con lo que...

Elegimos este pub de la Guía Good Pub, así que quedamos asombrados por cómo era pobre. El pub prometió una buena oferta, pero entregan poco. Parece encantador, con montones de flores y un hermoso jardín, en medio de naranjos y arbolado. Sin embargo, la 'bienvenida' era indiferente, y la comida de reir mal, con un correoso, insípido y sin sabor pollo quiche tarta y setas. Nos dimos cuenta de que la pareja en la mesa de al lado izquierda de la mayoría de su comida. Evitar.

I was doing DofE with my friends, and we asked to use the toilet, but they said no, told us to wee in a bush, and locked the door on us. We asked politely but the staff were very rude.

It's been a while since I've been here. Not sure if it's the same landlord, but whoever is there now was not very welcoming. Didn't say hello, didn't ask what we would like and more importantly didn't say thank you. You would think in the struggling climate that publicans are in at the moment, they might be slightly great full for any custom.I will return in the future, hopefully it's just an off day.

lovely surroundings but I didn't find it overally friendly and the landlord was walking about with my food ticket in his mouth for ages whilst other members of staff put their orders straight to kitchen whilst doing drinks hence we waited ages for ours to come out.....ok for a drink but I wouldn't pay to eat there again

Beautiful may sunshine so we took Peggy and tess lurchers for a walk in the countryside . Easy to park opposite the viper apparently the only pub with this name in the country . You certainly can't miss the bright yellow doors ! Very friendly atmosphere with vipa ales like jake the snake . Lovely garden to sit and relax in and the meals are large . Various walks for the dogs opposite the pub as on St. Peter's way . Very nice way to spend a couple of hours .

Visited The Viper today for a quick drink after a walk in Writtle Forest. The pub is a traditional old style pub serving food. we did not eat. The staff were very friendly and welcoming it had a nice relaxed atmosphere. It is not that big and although we got a table I could imagine it gets full quickly. Would return.

went to the viper for the first time good honest pub grub there was three of us all very satisfied very busy I don't think they thought it was going to be has busy has it was they run out of jumbo sausages and has we where leaving JACKET POTOTOES ! but the staff work really hard would definitely go back

Visited the Viper for lunch following a walk in the lovely countryside nearby. The pub and its beer have long been a favourite of mine and the food, though simple pub grub, was freshly prepared and great value. We had ploughmans and jumbo sauage bagettes - all good

An old fashioned pub in a lovely wooded location popular with ramblers and cyclists. There are three small bars and two of them have wooden floors so they are happy to have muddy boots and dogs.Beer always excellent (Jake the Snake especially) and the food good value basic pub grub (daytime only).

Popped in here for a light lunch. Lovely fresh sandwiches and good fries. Also a good selection of real ales in excellent condition.

One word, not 100 required - superb. Has great selection of local beer, good '80s style menu at reasonable prices. Only real downside for me is lack of 'card payment' option which in the 21st century is a bit rubbish.

Enjoyed a cold Jake the Snake ale on a cold Winters night and the pub was cosy due to the roaring log fire .Didn't try the food as its not available night time but the beer was well kept as usual and the barman was happy to see us.

Arriving at 10pm no food was being served, but the relaxed, friendly, comfortable bars with with cosy glowing fires were just what we needed. The Viper has an excellent range of specialist beers - The Oscar Wilde (mild) made me smile but I had to settle for a decent coffee being the driver. This is an unusual pub, with a community feel. Good dogs will feel at home too, a one-off, set in a tiny hamlet and a great find - I'll be back.

The only public house in the UK named The Viper, lives up to all the traditional views of an old pub.They do have a standard pub-grub menu which provides everything you need to aid drinking pleasure. There is a large garden and well behaved dogs are allowed in one bar. Similarly ramblers with boots covered, so as not to track mud through out.The only downside is Credit Cards are NOT taken. But that is probably down to the very poor internet connection. This might be considered a nuisance but there it is.

Not been for a while, beer was ok, food was cheap, service slow, presentation was poor but in fact tasted good. Dog friendly but grumpy staff. This is on the slid down. Not very busy like it use to be. Needs a new cheff

Lovely pub in a lovely setting. Food is tasty, drinks are reasonably priced. Can't ask for much more than that!

Fantastic day with great music good food and good beer! Surrounded by lovely countryside and good company.

This is nice dog friendly pub on one of our regular walks. The staff are lovely and do everything they can to give you that pub atmosphere. It can get quite busy on nice days and it is quite small inside but there is a fair amount of sitting outside. I have not tried the food but it looks amazing. I think however they only serve lunchtime to be sure to check times. Price is fairly average for a pub off the beaten track.

We sat outside next to a big marquee - there must have been a function on the day before. Unfortunately during our meal, there was a delivery of metal canisters (beer?) which was very noisy and then the marquee was dismantled amidst lots of shouting, hammering, clatter etc. I know these things have to be done but it did spoil our visit.The waitress who served us was dour, unsmiling, likewise the man behind the bar (long hair), my hostess was surprised and said maybe the owners had changed because the last time she had been there service was pleasant and friendly. The one redeeming factor was the food which was enjoyable. The outside needs brightening up. Not very welcoming. If the staff cheer up it could be a good place to eat!

This pub is in a nice location and usually has a nice garden where u can have a enjoyable drink and food in a relaxing location, on this occasion though they had a beer festival the day before leaving a huge marquee up so therefore not much of a garden left, however we did find a seat in the sun, I had a ploughman's which was just ok although the ham was delicious my husband had a steak and ale pie which he said was ok but not the best puff pastry he had ever had. After the meal we decided to sit in the shade to enjoy a quiet drink, this was not to be, it was like battersea dogs home, I like dogs but not on this occasion, constant barking and grunting for the whole time. Not the pubs fault though, maybe we will visit again at some time

mid week lunch for three people. One fish pie, one steak pie and one mixed cheese and pate ploughmans. The food was exceptional, obviously homemade and very reasonably priced. Bar staff were friendly and helpful and generally an excellent pub in an idyllic setting.

I have been here several times over the years. The food is always simple quality food served with excellent real ales. The garden is lovely in the summer in perfect peace & quiet. A good place to bring your dog and read a book.

We have been to this pub before but only for a drink and as we noticed they served roast dinners decided to try them (saved me from doing the cooking and washing up). My husband and two sons had beef and I had the turkey and was very impressed as it was proper Turkey slices (not out of a packet) with stuffing, Yorkshire pudding, carrots,cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, parsnips, roast potatoes, cranberry sauce & tge best gravy I have ever had, wished I had asked for the recipe. Excellent value for only £8.95. We will definitely eat there again, we was so full up we didn't have dessert.

Very disappointed. Visited as came highly recommended. Extremely poor menu, chilli looked like it had come out of a tin, sausage and mash came out 20 minutes after the first dish. Made a polite enquiry where I was just ignored by the landlady and she never even came back to me with a comment so I sat back down and just waited. Young man serving was extremely apologetic about everything but landlord and lady were very unwelcoming. If I hadn't paid up front I would have got up and left. Seems to be a regulars pub probably better for drinking. Will not return, sorry.

We walked a couple of wintry miles through fields and woods to reach The Viper. We arrived with muddy boots and a muddy dog for Sunday lunch. The Viper has two small, wooden-floored bars to accommodate just such patrons, and a larger, carpeted bar area for a more refined visit. We found a table for two. We both had the cottage pie, which was tasty, filling and good value. I had a pint of the local V.I.P.A., which was a delicious ale. To sum up, the service was prompt, the food hit the spot, the beer was great, there was no music, there was a hum of conversation, we were welcomed in our muddy state... what more could you ask for from a pub? We hope to return soon. Loved it.

I grew up in Stock and went to secondary school in Ingatestone. This pub was one that we often ran past for cross-country, and when we were all old enough, descended on for beer. I've been going to the Viper for over 35 year and it is an amazing, unspoilt, proper pub. The beer is always good, the staff and clientele are friendly and the setting is just about perfect. My only reason for not giving it an excellent rating is that they do not take debit cards - this is a bit self defeating as there are lots of pubs around the area that do, and people don't always know how much they are going to eat or drink for that matter. Other than that, it is a fantastic place and should be commended.

Great beer, atmosphere and food. Always enjoy a visit to the Viper. The chilli is always a great option.

Although I have moved away from Essex I frequently return as I have been visiting this pub since the seventies. It's a small pub with two bars, a large garden area with benches, limited parking outside with some more spaces opposite. Staff are friendly. This pub is famous for its Huffers which are excellent value for money along with the other selections on the menu. Beers are very good and served just right. It does get very busy with queues at the bar so get there ready for opening time, especially on a Sunday in the good weather. Highly recommended. A lovely unspoilt pub which will hopefully continue to shun modernisation. Good cyclists stop as bikes can be taken to your bench in the garden.

A nice pub in a relatively remote area - a good area to cycle round with this pub to stop for refreshments on the way! Good beers and coders, and food is pretty good too. Only a small place inside, so its nice to sit out in the big garden in the summer.

I've used the pub for over 30 years and it's one of the rare ones in that it is consistently good. Real ales, 3 separate bars, open fires and good food in a lovely setting. Give it a go.........

Great location, good range of interesting well kept ales and beers, above standard non pretentious pub food at a reasonable price and pleasant staff, this is a country pub so you should adjust your expectations accordingly

I went to the Viper with a friend for a light Sunday lunch having read excellent reviews of the ploughmans. The unexpected sight of marquees in the front garden welcomed us to The Viper's Beer & Cider Festival. It was busy but not crowded as we went to the bar to order food. "Just to warn you food will take about an hour". "Ploughmans?" "Oh, that should be quicker". I should jolly well hope so. I bought a beer from the festival marquee and pretty good it was too. The ploughmans came within 20 minutes but without any knives or forks. I had to ask where they were. "On that table over there, where that couple are sitting". I stared at my plate - a dried out lump of Tesco French stick, a couple of wrapped slices of butter, a thimble full of pickle, grated carrot, lettuce(I think), some silver onions from the jar and no dressing. It was so boring I nearly fell asleep head face into the plate. The three different cheeses were decent enough but the bread was criminal. The real ale was good enough to salvage one star so The Viper gets three instead of two. If you want to drink beer or cider go to The Viper during the festival, but not if you want to eat.

this is a little gem set in the ingatestone countryside. Surrounded by a canopy of trees its quiet and peaceful. The pub itself is traditional and staff and service is friendly. Food is excellent and good value. Regularly visited by passing cyclists you really can immerse yourself in this peaceful location

Nice location. However a little disappointing inside. Did not accept cards. By pure luck we had £10 between us after we had already ordered the drinks.......The food looked average, but we did not eat, and wasn't tempted to either!

This is definitely the place to go to try out some real ales and a must for Sunday Lunch. Lovely garden in the summer and a big log fire in the winter.

We went to eat but unfortunately only had cards on us so stayed for a drink and it was a lovely cosy pub and the food coming out looked lovely.

We stumbled across the beer festival here. Friday night was very quiet, except for the loud band. We gave Saturday night a miss as it was raining but returned on Sunday...wow what a difference! Absolutely packed with people literally dancing on the tables. Great for all ages. Liked the fact they had put up extra marquees so the rain didn't spoil it. The only downside was the food. I'm sure the BBQ was fine for most...£3 for a cheap burger, "plastic" cheese and bun. I would have preferred some decent food available.

Go here a lot to meet my friend for lunch. I am vegetarian and they do brilliant range of proper veggie meals plus normal pub lunches. If you like real ale then this is the place for you. Olde world, lovely garden and good location. Plenty of parking.

A beer festival with a great selection of beers, a lovely beer garden and a great atmosphere. I will always go back.

Decent beers and good food in a nice wooded area for walking with or without your dog. They don't accept cards so make sure you take cash.

We've been coming to The Viper for years as a family and it's consistently good. We went last weekend for roast dinners, which are great value and always yummy (minus the definitely not homemade Yorkshires). Great choice of real ales if that's your thing. And a lovely beer garden, perfect for hikers or bikers, those with dogs or children! Staff always friendly - but a warning, they only take cash!

This is a fab pub serving a great range of ales and ciders. The menu is basic but the food is done well and worth the sometimes long wait that is to be expected in such a popular place.

We haven't been in the Viper for a long time. It is nice to see the place hasn't changed and kept its quaintness which is difficult to find in Essex. Good quality real ale with average pub grab.