The best restaurants in Rettendon and Runwell Chelmsford East of England

Food was excellent, so good. The only thing to advise is check your bill, and the amount that’s put into the card machine as there was possibly, but maybe not, a £30 difference which I luckily noticed!

The food was absolutely lovely, but unfortunately, the service let the experience down. The waiters seemed more interested in posing for Instagram pictures and videos than actually looking after customers, which made the atmosphere feel very fake and forced. At the end of our meal, we were surprised to be told that they needed the table back because they were ‘too busy,’ even though we had only been there for an hour. Normally, we would have been offered a complimentary drink, but that didn’t happen this time. Overall, while the food was great, the lack of genuine hospitality and focus on social media rather than customer service was disappointing.

First visit in a long time but have already rebooked. Tasty food, good quality cocktails and friendly staff. Very reasonably priced. Perfect night out

Great bar and staff, highly recommended

We booked at the Lodge today, for a Sunday Carvery with nine adults and three lively grand children in the party. From the moment we walked into the restaurant, we were taken care of by the excellent, capable and super helpful staff. Nothing was too much trouble for them and the young lady who took our varied orders for 12 meals must have a photographic memory as she didnt write it down but was 100% accurate when the drinks and food came out. Jane was running the carvery and had it well under control and was very helpful. where there was a lull in the carvery que, then Jane took the opportunity to check everyone was happy and even made time to entertain the grand children with funny hats etc. The service then, was excellent, so too was the food. The general cleanliness in the restaurant and toilets was also very good indeed. The quality of the carvery meat and associated veg etc was excellent and prices very reasonable. Two of our party are Vegan and were very happy with the nut roast that they had. I would therefore have no hesitation in recommending the Lodge for a Carvery or menu meal to anyone and I will for sure be returning there as soon as I get a chance for another carvery or a meal off the menu. SW Chelmsford 16.3.25

In the afternoon, stopped here for a toilet break & cuppa, would go back to try their yummy menu. the food looked delish :)

I think this is our favourite nursery cafe. It's a bit dark inside and can be a bit noisy as it's so popular but the staff are great, offering table service, which is so convenient. We were between jobs so just stopped off for some toast and coffee. Very nice. Extra butter and marmite. Yummy.

Found this lovely pub on our way to see a comedy show at Southend. The food was good quality and well cooked. The sever was very friendly and professional.

Exceptional service by Sara!! Very friendly and great ambiance of the place is great as well! First time here and recommend any and everyone to pass By!!

Me and bf decided to come here for lunch after a good day browsing and for our first time there it’s was excellent I had the bacon sandwiches along with salad and crisps and my bf had the sausage chips and egg meal and both our meals were delicious The staff and waitress were great and we had excellent service Overall me and my bf had a great meal and a great view of BattlesBridge on the top floor Completely recommend if your in the area or after a good day browsing at BattlesBridge Solid 5/5

Wonderful atmosphere, food and staff!

Update: 10 of us booked for sunday roast and what a fantastic meal it was! See my photos, everyone had a big smile. Lovely staff, good prices. Big thankyou to Deb the barmaid who always works so hard! A credit to your team. Now under new management it's the return of The Bell ! Some of the old ream, and a nice new manageress to get it back on its toes! Benefitting from a good deep clean, and brighter lighting its ready to welcome old and new customers back. Friendly service, Biker's welcome, onwards and upwards! Good luck to all !

BE CAREFUL WHEN BOOKING ON THEIR WEBSITE!!!!! I am extremely disappointed with the shocking service we received. When we booked for afternoon tea, the website provided incorrect information, yet when we showed proof of their mistake, we were refused a refund or voucher to come back. Prior to our visit, we had spoken to someone over the phone, but the reception was terrible, and the background noise made it almost impossible to hear what she was saying. Despite this, the staff showed no understanding or willingness to help. They were dismissive, and completely unaccommodating. We explained that we were happy to find an alternative, but instead of assisting us, they simply told us they had "lost money on the table"—as if that was somehow our fault. The lack of professionalism and basic customer service was appalling. This was meant to be a special experience for Mother’s Day, but instead, we were left frustrated, unheard, and £45 down on a deposit for just a table . Extremely disappointed, we won’t be returning atall.

Had a wonderful family afternoon tea last Saturday. Easy to book, staff were quietly efficient, friendly and attentive. Food was excellent and more than enough. Highly recommended in a lovely setting.

Lovely food,the owner was so welcoming even though you could see he was rushed of his feet,highly recommend for a spot of lunch.