The Watermill in Basildon

Arrive was told there was no table was rudely told to go sit in the bar and order. The young lad behind the bar didn't know how to process a voucher. Wait for the food was comical. To the point we was about to leave. Food was dry and cold. The 8oz steak was tipped warm. Sorry but we won't be coming back.

The restaurant and bar appeared to be understaffed and it was slight chaos. The starters of chicken goujons, chicken wings and mushrooms was mainly bread, no real body or taste to the dishes and the mushrooms were very watery. The main meal of surf and turf was burnt, skin still on prawns and the calamari rubbery. Gave wrong sauce with triple steak meal and forgot the additional sauce we ordered, both remedied but staff overwhelmed. Skipped desserts and left feeling robbed of nearly £80 for a mediocre meal.

Food was ok , staff are over worked but friendly so the service was abit slow . Watermill is never overly busy so it's quiet . As a last minute place to go for a bite with the family ... yeah it's ok

Staff was extremely helpful! Food was very good as well.

Nice unlimited breakfast cooked and continental, staff friendly and welcoming.

Sunday treat for granddaughter, food was ok, atmosphere lacking very quite and dull, but landed a parking ticket, was unaware and not told that you have to enter your car reg on the pad by the door ?? A sign stating this would be nice. So beware you have been warned. Ps restaurant said nothing they can do about it, not their carpark..

Was lovley food, vicky the waitress was very friendly and polite ( lovley lady) would highly recommend going here! Thanks

I've been taking my family to the watermill beefeater, Basildon for the past 7 years. We always hope for Karen D. to serve us,as she's so friendly and welcoming. As usual she made us feel like we were spoilt with her warm attentive manner. We were saddened to hear she is leaving the watermill and moving to the Haywain. Having been a family custom to have our dinner with Karen, we've decided we'll be moving from the watermill too and going to the Haywain,instead.

The best steak and service I've ever had in my life, I highly recommend it

Good place for food, came out quickly and great service from Lynette.

Really good evening out with the family, good food and drinks. Vicky our waitress was lively and funny and made the evening!

Had breakfast and the wonderful Lynette and Alex the waiter were wonderful couldn’t be happier 😃

I always used to like this place. Unfortunately the last couple off visits have been disappointing. Crispy calamari was soggy and what should have been a well done steak was medium (at best). By the time I was able to get the staff attention it was too late to put it back on the grill as my partner had eaten most of his and we like to eat together! The staff were OK about it and didn't charge us for it but when you go out for something to eat you want something to eat!

Lovely food and great service from Vicky who regularly checked if we were happy with our food and is also very easygoing and funny. Big up Vicky and would definitely eat here again!

Food was amazing, I had a salad with halloumi. The halloumi was cooked to perfection and the salad was nice and fresh, our waiter Vicky was absolutely amazing with customer service and making sure we was all happy with our food, she made our time at windmill very pleasant and I would love to come back again very soon.

Food was amazing staff brilliant especially lyn our waitress

Whilst the serving staff were brilliant and polite, the food was horrendous 😐 and very expensive for what you got the stakes were inedible as tough as hell despite up grading to the serlion and the atmosphere has really gone down hill won't be returning anytime soon I'm afraid

Had a roast, which was extremely nice, the plate was full and plenty of food. Staff are really friendly and helpful.

Had a lovely lunch. Steak was cooked to perfection. The lady who served us, Lyn, was so friendly and helpful. Will defo go back

I stayed in the premeir inn which was a nice hotel but don't get the meal deal. The food is awful! My breakfast in the morning was inedible, it had loads of egg shell in the scrambled eggs, the sausages were still grey and cold and the black pudding was so sloppy I couldn't even pick it up with a fork. The steak I had for tea wasn't seasoned and tasted like nothing but the grill bars it had been cooked on. I've stayed at a lot of premeir inns through out the country for work and this is the worst beef eater I've eaten in. Save your money and go to just eat.

Food was brilliant, terrible service from small blonde waitress will not be going again

staying at the premier inn attached to the beefeater the staff and food are amazing the manager andy is very helpful and always happy and will do anything for you and the kind lady lynette is the best in the morning always happy to welcome us excellent service highly recommend

Went to the watermill for dinner last night with my family. The service we’ve received from Lyn was outstanding, she made sure we were looked after all night. The manager Lynette was also very attentive.

Went in for breakfast yesterday and Lynette made my experience amazing! Just went in to fill the hunger and her service is impeccable truly an asset to the business will be coming back very soon! Thank you team for a great breakfast!

Popped in for a coffee , as we had an appointment, staff was very friendly and helpful locating the baby changing room Great service and a really nice restaurant to have something to eat

Fantastic Experience at Beefeater! I had a wonderful dining experience at Beefeater, and I have to give special thanks to the amazing staff. Izzy was a fantastic host—friendly, welcoming, and attentive from the moment we walked in. She made sure we were comfortable and well looked after, adding a personal touch that really enhanced our visit. A big shoutout also to Heidi, the manager, who went above and beyond to ensure we had a great time. Her attention to detail and excellent customer service truly stood out. She checked in on us throughout our meal, making sure everything was just right, which was much appreciated. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the staff made all the difference. We’ll definitely be returning soon—thank you, Heidi and Izzy, for making our visit so enjoyable! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Went for breakfast today, and there was hardly any continental breakfast . I had to keep asking for bread. There was no juice, and the cooked breakfast was horrible. Doubt, we will be going back after that.

Andy and Lynette have been absolutely brilliant looking after me and the team this weekend. Can't have been easy ensuring that a team of 14 working back to back 12hr shifts days and nights. The food at both breakfast and evening meals was superb. Great staff who couldn't have been more accommodating !!!! Keep up the good work and hopefully see you all again soon.

Very sloppy outdated establishment. Outside entrance tables were full of empty glasses strewn around from the night before given this was just after midday. Inside we decided to have some drinks which were limited to the usual mainstream brands Noticed in the bar area flies merrily buzzing around which was a total put off. Management seems to be more interested in chatting to the local drinkers rather than providing customer service .Decided to orderwhile staff rushing around like headless chickens it took about ten minutes waiting. The menu was limited to bland microwave heated food. Due to the lack of staff we were kept waiting for twenty minutes between ordering. My overly priced steak had a twangy greasy taste to it. Staff are friendly enough but l could eat more for less in a local Witherspoon which l tend to avoid. If you're younger this could be an opportunity to experience retro walk back in time to cuisine offered by pubs during the 1980s/90s minus ploughman's lunch or prawn cocktails in seafood sauce. Probably the worst eating experience in years.

Andy was absolutely wonderful on breakfast today he had a bright smile and just in general had a lot of energy

Food was nice, staff and management were all amazing 👍

Lovely food and great service will be coming again!

Very friendly staff and lovely bit of food and good locals and good laugh

Awesome fish and chips, I have a good time and found the staff friendly.

Great and friendly staff, amazing roast dinner highly recommend it.

Service was terrible only 1 waitress for the place waited 30minutes for our order to be taken waited nearly an hour for our food, the tea cup tasted of salt and dirty. Will not be returning it has gone down hill.

So we arrived and waited at the 'Please wait here to be seated' sign. We waited for around 5-10 minutes to just be seen to. The waiter, bigger guy, said we should grab a drink and then come back to be seated. So we did. We were then sat down next to plenty of free tables so I don't know why we had to wait. The younger gentleman who served us was great and he is the contributing factor to the 3 stars. The food was nice however lukewarm. Probably sat out for a little bit because it seemed like the younger lad that served us was doing all the work. Overall, I'd give 3.5 stars. Not good enough for 4 stars, feel like 3 stars is too harsh. However I can't give 4 stars

young man who served us was worth a thousand stars and should be working somewhere else this place is horrible food was terrible

Dirty , run down, the hotel isn't any better. Shocking state for a premier in. The restaurant smells damp, carpets are disgusting. Food came covered in grease and the breakfast was appalling

Where do I start. No stars for service and experience. Arrived for breakfast as booked at 0630. Nothing set up, waitress to busy on phone to show us to table and tell us where things were. Eventually she took our order at 0650, bread still frozen, not all tea facilities were out. The evening was just as bad, ignored at desk as 2 staff were on phone. Staff didn't know who ordered what, shambles. Into the bar with kids running it, everything was to much effort. One member of staff poured 1 pint in the 2 hours I was there as she did not want to get off her phone, the other was to busy with her partner. Only the young man seemed to be doing anything. Tables left dirty for more than an hour as it was to much effort or staff didnt even notice. Even had kids jumping off tables, chairs and partitions with nothing said to parents, who just so happens one of them worked there. All together a disgusting experience and will not be back. Manger seriously needs to give this place their full attention. Worst ever. Shame as the hotel was spot on but what i experienced at the adjoining bar will make me avoid this place.

Ordered a steak, when it came it was just fat and gristle. I was in the bar area and a few regulars shouting and swearing.

Watermill, Basildon, Essex. Unfortunately the boiler had broken down, which the staff had told us so we knew we would be chilly. We went into the ‘continental food’ area to be greeted with empty surfaces, no milk, a non-working coffee machine, several stale pieces of bread in an otherwise empty basket, rock hard pastries and a single bowl of yoghurt pots. We then sat at our table and a lovely waitress came and took our breakfast orders (floor staff were lovely). Whilst she took the order to the kitchen there was a sudden eruption of a VERY disgruntled chef who was shouting that if the company wasn’t happy then send him home! It was an extremely unprofessional and aggressive outburst that I would expect him to be removed from the company. Not only did he embarrass himself but also his fellow colleagues who were trying to make the best of a bad situation. His tirade made us feel so uncomfortable that we did not trust the he would prepare our breakfasts properly or safely so we spoke to the lady who served us and explained that we wanted to cancel our orders and leave. She was very apologetic and understood. It was such a shame that they had to deal with the chef too on an already stressful day. We won’t be going back there sadly as it is in fact somewhere we often visit and this is the second time in a row recently that the we have been let down here.

Very friendly and home like atmosphere! Food is delicious. Very special and friendly service by a waitress Lynda! Very professional and quick service. Will definitely recommend to anyone and will come back again!!! Thank you

Breakfast with family was better than expected or read! Few things not available but believe it to be a company issue.Will be returning and was a pleasant experience

Arrived at 1.10, was seated immediately and given drinks, there was one waitress, working really hard but didn’t get to order out food till 2.20, the food was good but the restaurant was so cold, we ate in our coats, she tried to turn the heating up for us but too late. She said staff hours had been cut she was on her own. We were so disappointed, we didn’t stay for further drinks

Staff great sadly they were pushed to there limit as quite a few people in restaurant so not the quickest bit not there fault. Had breaded mushrooms for starters , seriously overcooked and when I pit my fork in then they shot off the plate they were so hard . Ordered ribeye medium , was well and truly mullered and overcooked and really grisly for a rib eye , the table shook when I cut into the steak . Got given a 25% off voucher but won't be needing that I'm afraid . Chef needs serious training.

Burnt scrap ends of food lipstick around the glass twice watermill you've gone downhill

Warehouse issue lead to limited pastures, staff constantly apologising for something that was out of there control.

Had an amazing roast dinner , thanks to Billie, and John in the kitchen, Amazing service from Amy who is always very helpful.

Disappointed for breakfast today. The full English we ordered came out like warm. We knew there was no eggs, crumpets,sugar,pancakes,Danish pastries but we thought dont worry we will still enjoy coz it is cooked fresh. Well it was cooked fresh but left to go cold. Don't be having another breakfast ever again here. One good thing the waiter was full of beans and happy..nice chap.

Went there new years day, arriving around 2pm , for an impromptu lunch we haven't visited here for some time ,the pub part was very quiet and looking through to the dining area, it appeared the same, quite odd we thought for a new years day, we eventually got seated ,after I found a member of staff to confirm that the restaurant was actually open, we were advised that a couple of items on the menu were unavailable, we both agreed that the atmosphere was lacking and the decor was tired and grim, we both eventually ordered our choices for dinner, ten minutes later the waitress returned to say what I had ordered was not available, and presented me with a menu, with menu items that had a tick next to, I was told that these were not available to order, sadly this represented nearly half of the menu items offered, We left the restaurant without further ordering, vowing never to return. I'm sure other people have had a good dining experience here, but for us it was not to be.

Visited nye and we really enjoyed it-great atmosphere-Lovely waitress and enjoyed our last festive meal of 2024………..

Loads of food off the menu as problems with the supplier. Pub empty and lacked atmosphere. Pub is quiet dirty. Last visit.

Waited all year to have a family Christmas dinner so booked the Watermill for 12 of us big mistake was booked in for 2.30 didn’t get seated till 3.45 4.10 for starters the staff was unhelpful and by this time we all walked out our family Christmas dinner was spoiled the atmosphere and restaurant looked shabby and dirty will never walk in there again for all of us 653.50 for the meal we didn’t have so have put in loads of complaints to get our money back and I will get our money back I will take it further our family meal together what a joke you are Watermill

Went there with work on 13/12/24 booked well in advance, nothing available on menu , food was dropped on the floor during service, never again

We booked Christmas dinner, we turned up on opening time and still 2 and half hours waiting with no food. Absolutely horrendous experience for us as a family. Got offered no good will gesture. Can’t believe the service we have received here. We have an autistic 7 year old and a new born baby so they decided to seat us upstairs with a pram we had to carry. Just awful our son got his food and we are still waiting for ours. The outcome we got was unacceptable.

Half of the menu wasn't available

Came here after having a bad experience in another beefeater not expecting much but the waitress Gemma was amazing explaining all menu items etc and all alternatives available. The chef john cooked the food beautifully steak spot on for myself and friend Food was faultless

We stayed at the adjoining Premier Inn so had breakfast here. We stay typically a couple of times a year when visiting family and the breakfasts here used be ok until a couple of years ago but it’s definitely as if the management just doesn’t care about their customers anymore. I kinda feel like I’m being treated with contempt. We were greeted by a sign saying that the so called unlimited breakfast would be limited to two of any one item per person due to supply shortages. We saw exactly this when we stayed in June this year. Good grief for us that’s not a problem at all, as typically we’re eating later in the day, but for crying out loud there’s several supermarkets within a couple of miles radius put a little bit more effort into it go out and buy some eggs, bacon, sausages etc stop being so lazy 🤷‍♂️ One time we visited and were told the only eggs on offer would be scrambled eggs, honestly this is beyond ridiculous! Sort of like the Little Chef experience of sorry we haven’t had any omelettes delivered yet today! Anyway our breakfast turned up on cold plates and the items were well cooked and tasty enough but all but tepid or cold. I’m not a toddler for crying out loud I can eat hot foods! I really don’t know how an eatery like this could possibly be so incapable of making a half decent breakfast, I could do a far better job myself and I don’t have a Scooby about catering. Sadly though there is no alternative locally so I expect we’ll be doing the exact same thing in a few months time.

Booked for unlimited breakfast, when we arrived a sign in door said they were having supply issues so only 2 of each item allowed ( not a problem for us ) we were seated and waited for over 30 minutes for them to rake our order ( people seated after us were served befor us ). We went to have some of the continental items 1/2 of which had run out already ( no bread out, no yoghurt, no pancakes and croissants had been cut into pieces. Then when cooked breakfast came out for the table next to us they were telling people that they had run out of the items they had ordered, at this point we complained and left. We had been in there over an hour and still no cooked breakfast. Service was so slow despite plenty of staff. Will not be returning again.

This has to be the MOST disorganised restaurant in Essex. We had dinner which was ‘ok’. But breakfast. They had food restrictions and the cooked took a ling time to arrive. When it did the portions were small, eggs overcooked and it looked line the plate was rushing under the food when it was put on. All the serving staff had a twitch in their eye which told me there was a knowledge things weren’t right. There was no cohesion to the service. Solutions: 1. Split staff between table sitting, orders and clearing. 2. Get some food (bacon, sausages, tomatoes etc) in the oven so you only do eggs fresh. 3. Get a second coffee machine in the restaurant to ease the pressure in the buffet.

Not the restaurant fault but half the bits were unavailable. I ordered crispy chicken which was nice but small amount of chicken in there, chips ok coleslaw was amazing thank you. I thought the price of this is expensive £16.99.

60% of options on the menu unavailable. Waited 90 mins for food. Steak overdone & cold when finally received.

Went today for breakfast, was served by Alex and Andy, they were busy but the service was great.

They didn't have a table for us, but we're told we were welcome to sit at the bar area. We ordered our food and drinks and they came relatively soon, apart from one of the meals that wouldn't arrive because the girl that took the order didn't hear/ took not of it properly. But then we ordered desserts, were told coffees would arrive earlier than the sundaes, but these didn't arrive at all. After half an hour, we went to the bar twice, asked about our desserts and it took in the end more than 45 minutes. Desserts that may take about a couple of minutes to prepare. Their excuse, that we were not sitting at the restaurant and orders from the restaurant come first. This is something that they didn't tell us when we were told we were welcome at the bar. If they would've told us that we could have chosen to not stay. But no, they didn't and everything was paid in advance so there was no excuse from them not to serve us. It was just bad hospitality.

Meal was awful toilets awful carpets minging will never go again.need to complain to management no phon number.also need decent cleaners in conservatory cobwebs.food was cold worse meal ever.

We went because we had heard it had had some changes , Food, forgotten egg and tomato off mixed grill, rectified once spoke to waiter (bar kid) . Upgraded fries were barely warm and no spring onion. Poor staff were run off their feet desperately understaffed the poor waitress who served us advised she was covering all of tables with young lad popping out from behind bar periodically. Didn't realise till we got home the 50% discount on food didn't apply properly so paid full price pretty much on a distinctly average meal.

Mixed grill was excellent, really one of the best I've ever had. Shame it took over an hour to get it from ordering. New 3 hour parking restrictions mean that I physically didn't have time to order a dessert. Ordered a refill and didn't get it. Not sure if they were short staffed or just really busy but our server didn't stop running around. Food was great and really well cooked, but I'm not going back with that parking restriction in place.

Good food for reasonable prices and a chill atmosphere. Service is friendly. Very good place to go out for a few drinks with mates.

Normally come here about once a week Really enjoy the food and such amazing options Steak is always fantastic and breakfast is definitely our go to 🤪

Great value for money over all for a family of 5 we had no starters but had mains drink and dessert and cost £72 in total so great value. We had fish and chips for mains which taste wise it was great the chips was of good quality how ever the fish was a bit small and was more batter than fish. The gravy was very tasty the corn on cob was part cooked and was nice. The kids starter which was pigs in blanket and tortilla chips with a mint and mayonnaise sauce and cherry tomatoes the pigs in blankets was a good size and of a good quality. The kids mains which was sausage mash and beans was a good size but sausages was quite thin and could of been alot thicker but my daughter cleared the plate The other kids meal was burger and chips the burger was a good size but dry but again plate was cleared. The desserts was delicious

Terrible , booked for 6 people got told no table until 3 but could sit at bar. Went to get drink 1 staff , so we left. Won't be spending time and money in the fyture

Cannot answer concerning food or drinks had table booked for 1.e0. Was informed on arrival cannor be seated till 3pm or we could order bar food so my group decided to have bar food. Waited 20 mins at bar area waiting to be served through no fault if bar staff gave up and left. Abs disgusted no prior warning via email or phone call. Will definitely not return bye bye

Food i ordered washing the food they bought out lucky it was still gluten free

Brilliant food, excellent service, Katie was fantastic and bubbly and Chef Michael cooked my steak to perfection, as a Kitchen Manager myself I can honestly say I would be very proud I was Michael's Manager.. Fantastic can't stop talking about the meal!! Well done to you all.

Beautiful food from chef michael hot and delicious. Very quick service with friendly waitress Katie. Absolutely amazing service from beefeater Basildon!

Ordered fish and chips. Mushy peas were dry and hard. Chips not tasty.place could do with a clean.

Steak was overdone, no ribs and only two options for burgers.

A very disappointing experience with nothing really good to say about the food. The breakfast is unlimited, but you really wouldn't want to eat more than you had to. Service was great and attentive. Good place for families.

My waitress Vicky was superb. Loved the meal and the enthusiasm put in to the work.

Lovely food with excellent service.

My favourite place to go on a chill night. The bar staff are really nice, Izzy is always really helpful and a great laugh.

Breakfast was great was served by Andy who was very nice

Want to say a big thank you to izzy and Heidi on the bar very polite

Heidi and Lynn was amazing very kind and lovely food

We went on 26th Oct and it was dreadful, my prawn cocktail had less than a teaspoon of sauce on it, my beef lasagne wasn't it was slop which apparently was the veg one so the kind waitress took it back to the kitchen. I waited ages for the beef one only to find my flat bread was absolutely cold as they had left the original one onvthe side to go cold. Our daughters ribs were dry, my husbands gammon steak was shrivelled up and our daughter friends rare steak was so dry. Wouldn't go back

Absolutely atrocious time. Pre-booked for 5pm looking forward to a roast dinner to then be told they’ve sold out. Fine no probs. Takes waitress nearly 20’mins to order our drinks, by which time we stated we were ready for food. Well if eye rolling was a sport this lass would win!!! All ordered lovely. After waiting another 15-20 mins for cokes - flat as a pancake, finally get our drinks. Slowly but surely every table around us was sending their plates back for either being over cooked - rare steak like a slab of concrete, or chicken pink as you like. Gave it a good hour after we arrived but then finally stated cancel our order. To be fair the earlier rude waitress could not be more helpful. Will definitely not be returning. The haywain is the same chain and the service and food is 200% better.

Staff are very friendly and helpful make sure you register your car as you will get a parking fine

This is in the premier in hotel. It is a good cozy place but i believe they can have more better food options specially in breakfast. I would suggest them to add vegetarian options as well. Also spray some room fresher. The lady currently who helps in breakfast is really good.

Stood at the front of house for almost 15 minutes waiting to be seated. Once seated, it was another 20 minutes or so before someone came to take my order. 45 minutes later, my food arrived and it was NOT worth the wait. I’m had the mixed grill and I was really disappointed. The chicken breast was almost non existent, more like a budgie breast. Steak was overcooked and very dry. Sausages were thin and tasteless and the triple cooked chips were somehow undercooked.

Went in today and asked for a table for 2, was told there are no tables at all for tonight and can't book anything. Left the restaurant and checkeeld the website to find that there was lots of availability starting from a 40 mins wait.- yet the number of staff said, there was nothing! From the second I walked in, I believe I was treated differently. All the staff stared at me and left me waiting there for ages before even coming over to me. I feel the establishment treated me differently due to the colour of my skin!

We came to celebrate our anniversary. We had 3 courses and were absolutely stuffed after. Our server, Lyn was very friendly and polite.

Had to wait a long time for food to be served. When the food arrived it was cold. We couldn't get the waitresses attention to get drink refill. In the end we had to go downstairs looking for a waitress.

Food was lovely and Lyn the server was kind. Little mix up with drinks but nothing that wasn't resolved. Always a nice visit and set menu was good price

All I can say is that it was all average. The moral of the staff seemed very low.

As a beefeater goes the food was nice, shame about the endless chips being taken off the menu... But I digress Would like to give our waitress Nicola a massive shout out, as much as we where only there 2 days she went above and beyond each and every time we where in, from squeezing us in to tables when there was over an hour wait, to literally running around taking drink and sides orders from us, she deserves any recognition possible for her amazing service Would 100% recommend and if back in the area will be back again based on the service alone

A pleasent meal. Great service from Lyn. An ideal birthday treat. Thanks Beefeater

Staff nice food poor really grufty dirty everything sticky needs a lot of work smarting up. Area manager needs to get a grip

The food was perfection and the staff were so nice

Been there quite a few times. Seem to not have a few things on the menu. Rib's were good but have gone downhill recently we have mentioned it and were told that they have a new supplier. It's part of a pub chain so I suppose that is to be expected. Seems to gone down hill a bit. Staff still good but being let down badly by the company. . This is edited on from previous review. Pie was expensive for what it was. Spoon full of peas and small portion of chips. Company needs to sort out portion sizes as this seems to be the norm.