Ye Olde Smack in Southend-on-Sea

I had a fun positive encounter with Caitlin! She made mine and my partners experience very enjoyable we loved her!

Had a great time at the smack, served by Cait and she was marvellous. Had the smack bitter aswell was also fantastic!

Lovely time at the smack. Served by Caitlin and I just have to say she made my whole visit! Such lovely service with extra attention to detail. Can’t wait for another catch up soon!

Always a lovely place, Graeme is the best!

Thank you Graham and the staff at the Ye Olde Smack. We have really enjoyed our afternoon and lunch today.

Fantastic traditional pub, i visit the smack most weekends with friends and family and its always perfect service, in particular Graeme Donnelly who is a credit to the staff and is always so welcoming one of the reasons we keep coming back 5* experience

I don't want to be too harsh because I like coming to this venue. I like having a drink here and watching sport but when you spend your hard warned money and hope for a nice roast dinner which is nearly £18 you buy three of them with loads of drinks? The quality of the roast, Shocking hard vegetables pink chicken Yorkshire pudding like paper really? Really disappointed will be back for drinks only, but I've had a number of occasions where the food not being good and not once asked how our food is which is probably a good thing to be honest We'll be back but drink only.

Toilets were a disgrace... Flooded could barely avoid it then walking toilet water onto the pub carpet...

Always lovely drinks and food. Was served by Caitlin today and she was very quick and friendly. Would recommend and will be back again

lovely time at the smack, the girl recommended we try the hazy day ipa, was lovely, we will be returning soon!!

had such a lovely lunch at the smack, had the steak ciabatta recommended by caitlin. overall great time will be back soon

Visited here with friends recently. Caitlin gave us excellent and friendly service, she was welcoming and very knowledgeable when I had questions about the menu. Looking forward to coming back, thanks Caitlin!

Some friends and I found ourselves here for lunch after a long beach walk and had such a tremendous meal. We were served by Caitlin, who was so lovely and cheerful and made sure we had absolutely everything we needed for our meal and we're were well taken care of. Thoroughly recommend!

Went to the smack to have lunch, Caitlin recommended the lamp special and it was delightful, a wonderful experience will be back again soon!!

Good grub and tailored experience. Caitlin was particularly attentive and chatty. Will return when next visiting Old Leigh

Such a lovely atmosphere, tasty food and great service. Graeme was very nice, friendly and professional. Thank you for an amaizing time we have spent there.

Had a lovely dinner with a table of fine including dog. One of our party had a Gluten allergy and Graham who served us was great at advising on menu and serving us, even helping us carry drinks when I didn’t have enough hands. Food was great (a new menu since I last went) and service was outstanding. Special thanks to Graham. Would definitely go again.

Love coming down here, especially on cold winter nights. Fantastic vegan options for food. Always great to see Graham and the team.

Graeme is a really lovely man. The food and atmosphere is amazing

Bar staff very friendly and welcoming

Love days out at the Smack, always great service from Graeme. Terrace is fantastic on a summer's evening!

Graham was absolutely brilliant behind the bar drinks come super quick ,service was great and service with a smile 👍

Incredible customer service from Claire and the team!

Graham was amazing and great service all night highly recommend if in Leigh and defo come back due to amazing service !

lovely service from ollie was fabulous i’d recommend so helpful so amazing

We have a great evening and meal.Graham and the team are very welcoming and staff was very helpful. Food and drinks came very quick.

Always a great vibe at The Smack, but what really sets it apart is the service—especially from Graham behind the bar. He’s friendly, attentive, and genuinely makes you feel welcome every time. Whether it’s a quiet pint or a busy evening, he keeps things running smoothly and with a smile. Top marks all round!

Graham and the rest of the staff are spot on. Great evening.

Graham is an amazing bartender, always very friendly to me and my friends

Graham (bartender) was so kind and considerate, we come in every Sunday and he always has a smile on his face and makes our time so fun!

It makes my day to see Graham at my local. He is super friendly and caring. The Smack wouldn’t be the same without him.

Great pub if you’re in old Leigh. Good Sundays roast and always good service from Graham.

Always a good time in here. Nice place to being my family. And grayhams always on hand to help me out and have a quick chat

Really friendly service and the food we had steak was well cooked so compliments to the chef.

Had an amazing afternoon in one of the only real pubs left in the town. It was pretty busy but the bar tender Graham was on the ball and served us almost every time. I always ask the staffs name. It helps with service after. He also knew the round each time even though they were really busy, I didn’t eat this time but will be back again now the suns out.

Good pub - Great and polite service from Graham

Often come here with my mum on a Sunday or money afternoon,always a nice atmosphere and always feel welcome in particular when Graham is working,he always makes our visit a lot more present,an asset to the pub!

Great food, atmosphere and service by Graeme. Will certainly be returning.

The staff are lovely and the food is great, overall lovely hospitality

Excellent pub, every time we go we are served by Graeme who is so efficient and polite, such great customer service!

Dog and family friendly place. Incredible views from the back of the estuary. The food is delicious and a great range of ales and beers. Graeme the barman is a legend. I recently ate the fish n chips which were very good and then the last thing I had was this duck hash plate which was really delicious.

Great atmosphere, came here with partner and dog on a Tuesday afternoon, sat by the water and had a few pints and then some foo. Decent portions and well priced. 2 for 1 on beers was a nice surprise! Friendly bar staff.

Love coming to the Olde Smack! Lovely views, cosy environment and great service from Graeme, who always looks after us 💛

Fairly middle-of-the-range in quality, service, menu, and ambiance. Fairly un-noteworthy. My vegetarian roast dinner was mildly underwhelming, but was not bad by any means.

Very impressed with the bar service especially the guy called Graham. Will return thanks.

I went to Ye Olde Smack in Leigh-on-Sea this weekend and was thoroughly impressed by Graham's outstanding service. His professionalism, attentiveness, and friendly demeanour truly enhanced our dining experience. Graham went above and beyond to ensure we felt welcome and well taken care of throughout our visit.​ The atmosphere of the pub is charming and inviting, complemented by a delightful menu and a great selection of drinks. Being there in person made the experience even more enjoyable. I highly recommend Ye Olde Smack to anyone looking for excellent food, a warm ambiance, and top-notch service. Kudos to Graham for making our visit memorable.

Lovely pub in Leigh-on-Sea with the best steak and ale pie I've tasted 😃. Quite noisy but fine. There's outside seating too so you can look at the sea as you eat and drink.

Ye olde smack is a fabulous pub in the old town of Leigh-on-sea. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Nothing is ever too much trouble even when the pub is very crowded. Special mentions for Graham and Francis who are always very professional and serve us with a smile even though they are clearly very busy. This pub helps us to feel part of the community that we miss in other parts the of Leigh. Thank you!

Fantastic staff at The Smack. I love it when you walk in and the barman pours your pint without asking you. Graeme is a star.

Graham was an absolute gem, he made our experience, thanks Graham <3 UTG

Graham was amazing, so attentive and made sure the busy bar was maintained well. Great attention to detail, will definitely be coming back

Great atmosphere, brilliant staff. Graeme was an absolute pleasure and super accommodating, thank you for your help. Would highly recommend to anyone.

Have been a few times. We love sitting on the back deck in the sun. As usual we had a lovely relaxing time. We ordered food and it came up quickly and tasted delicious. The service was excellent, attentive and friendly. I love to see happy waiting staff. My husband said that when he went to the bar, he was served by Graham who was very helpful in choosing a wine.

Couldn’t recommend this place enough, amazing staff, brilliant drinks and 10/10 food! get down here!

I have to say Graeme was amazing! and provided a fantastic service to myself and my family. Such a lovely atmosphere along with the brilliant service. We couldn’t fault the evening.

I always come down here when I'm in Leigh, it's my favourite place to go, to enjoy a glass of wine and I can't fault the food, it's always delicious. I love the atmosphere and there's always something going on during the week/weekend that's entertaining for everyone. I'm usually visiting with family, and we're always made to feel welcome. Graham is always a pleasure to see, he always makes time to catch up and takes an interest which makes you feel valued, I think that's a lovely quality to have. I would also like to mention Francis whom has always been a splendid host and always goes the extra mile to make your evening more enjoyable. This is a great place to be all year round.

Was greeted by a lovely gentleman called Graeme, he was very attentive to our needs as we had a dog and bought over a bowl of water for our dog and some treats. He was also very very kind and made our experience very enjoyable! All the staff are amazing! Highly recommend!

Graham is the most welcoming Barman in Essex. Always a pleasure

I recently visited Ye Olde Smack and had a mixed experience. The food was genuinely impressive — well-prepared, flavorful, and served hot. However, the experience was dampened by one particularly rude staff member behind the bar. From the moment we arrived, his attitude felt dismissive and unwelcoming, not only to myself but other customers. which really took away from the overall vibe. Everyone else on staff seemed polite enough, but that one interaction left a sour taste. It’s a shame because the kitchen clearly knows what they’re doing. If the service matched the quality of the food, this place could easily be a favorite. Here’s hoping management takes note and works on the customer service side of things.

10 out of 10 !!! Amazing food and had a lovely night on a night our! Cheap pints amazing food. came here about ten times within a month and absolutely love it !!!

Had a lovely family lunch at Ye Olde Smack. Amazing food, service, and ambience. Brilliant afternoon. No hesitation in recommending the venue and my Duck Hash meal, which was something to behold. Heartfelt thanks.

Graham and the team are always welcoming, chatty and quick with their service. Even in busy periods its easy to get served. The food and range of drinks on offer is great too. My favourite spot is the balcony, it's a real sun trap and perfect when the tide is in.

Cozy pub with great staff, but the food isn’t great. Cardboard-like cold fries, and a very mid roast. The vegan burger was tasty, but unremarkable though.

Lovely atmosphere. Great food & service. Perfect for family dining . Very welcoming. Highly recommended.

Always a great night out with live music on the weekend, enjoying the sunshine, thank you to the fantastic bar team. we love our local pub 🥰🍻

Great views, interesting menu variation on traditional themes friendly service

Great place to go to, especially on a sunny day!!! One of my favourite!!!

Ye Olde Smack (or just the Smack to the locals) is large traditional pub in the heart of the Old Town. Its perennially popular with locals & tourists alike and has plenty to offer in the way of entertainment. I popped in on Saturday night when there was a band playing, and the place was rocking! It has a nice, sunny terrace (though not large) but is near the beach. The food is reasonably priced and properly produced in the kitchen-the pies are particularly good. The bar staff are attentive and work hard to get you served promptly, even at the busy times.

Nice pub with a great selection of drinks! Filip made our visit even better! Will be back

Been there a few times , all different age groups and families .. one of our favourites in the Old Town .

Needs a lick of paint and men's toilets are a disgrace. However, good selection of drinks, atmosphere is decent, and it's in a very nice spot.

Very friendly and enthusiastic staff very nice quiet setting and Billybob was very helpful during my visit 👍

Great pub. Barman Graham is fantastic, excellent customer service

Proper old fashioned pub vibe, great music and atmosphere. On the food front, a lot of the menu is pretty ropey pub fayre but if you go for the squid, haloumi and chips it's all good. Some of the staff are fab - big shout to Graham and Ethan who are consistently absolute stars - the place would be a lot less without these two legends

Very dark inside, even during a bright Spring day. No parking nearby so arrive very early or park at the train station. Not enough staff behind the bar at weekends so service cancelled take a white. Food quality was good considering how dingey the pub appears. Some confusion over our food order which caused some consternation. Wouldn't come here for a birthday party but might to watch the rugby or a decent binge before a night out. Not really where I'd bring children.

Popped in for a pint after walking from Southend. I wanted a lovely, quiet pint of Guinness. I got that.

Lovely pub with niece views across the sea ( when in). Wish there were more cask ales esp. Stouts on offer. Had a variety of bar food starters. Did the job. Thanks!

Pros: super dog friendly. The drinks are fine. They play the sports. Cons: service is so slow, food comes out cold and you've finished your meal but your friends still hasn't arrived, and on top of it all you've already paid so you can't complain and ask for money off or something to compensate the poor quality and service. Even if they offered a free dessert or drink you'd be waiting forever for it and it woild be the wrong temperature.

Packed on a sunny Spring Saturday. Recommend you book a table.

Dog friendly. Lovely views and very welcoming.

Did nit eat but food looked so good

Went for Sunday lunch with family and had a lovely experience. I had the roast dinner, which was delicious, and the fish and chips came highly recommended by my family. Mum had the fish and chips, which were beautifully presented and cooked perfectly. The desserts were fresh, and the timing between courses was spot on. The whole place had a warm, relaxing Sunday afternoon vibe. Would definitely recommend!

Great place to stop for a bite to eat really good food and service thanks Chris

I don’t come over that way often but was pleased we went in. Food was lush and Claire was lovely, welcoming and went above and beyond. Will definitely go again and I’ll be bringing my mum next time 💯 all round great place 🤩🤩🤩

Where should I start I had an amazing time her everything was perfect and the lady that was serving me Claire she was absolutely amazing and made my visit will definitely be coming back

2 stars because a pint of level head is £6.90. It's £5.50 in the pub next-door.

Friendly, welcoming, and a great atmosphere Great service, dog friendly, live music and nothing is to much trouble Will be back again and again

Absolutely lovely pub, such a nice atmosphere on a Thursday evening. Great food and even greater wine! Was served by Callum, such a polite and friendly young man. Will definitely be back soon.

absolutely lovely pub, very home like atmosphere

Great location and good hospitality , Francis was an excellent host who really looked after us and the other guests , he worked hard and made the whole experience special.

Amazing night And especially Francis he make our night so Friendly and amazing service definitely we come back Much love

Great pub with great food and a great atmosphere!

Great dog friendly pub, great sun trap out the front.

Love coming to this pub, always such a great atmosphere. The bar staff are always friendly no matter how busy it is, Especially Greame, who is super attentive and always has a smile On his face.

Great pub great food and drinks - great staff. Graeme Donnelly behind the bar really looked after us - will definitely go back again !

Brilliant service again thank you to Graeme our barman who made us feel welcome. Love this place such a great atmosphere.

We love the ye old smack, my old friend Graham who works here, is just a top man… and he got good control and great attitude, great pub!

Lovely place to visit winter or summer…cosy and friendly.

Great place for food and drinks. One of the nicest pub in Leigh.

Best pub in Essex by far! Amazing food Amazing atmosphere and super friendly staff 👌