http://www.essexrestaurants.com/ 334-1384 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-queens-head-littlebury-essex.html Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:09:08 +0100 653-1351 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-pubs/elmdon-dial.html Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:33:22 +0000 159-1350 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-cricketers-clavering-essex.html I am so relieved to read that other people have had the same experience as me as I don't often complain in restaurants. On arrival the waitress was very abrupt and rude. We were then put on a table in the bar area which was freezing and not served for 25 minutes. I had to go up to the bar to order drinks as we could not get any attention. I also had to go up to pay the bill!!! The food was good but not worth it for the service we received. When the waitress asked me if everything was ok, I explained that we were very disappointed with the service and she said sorry. I would expect more than a sorry from a restaurant which rates itself and that is associated with Jamie Oliver! I think it is also disappointing to read so many bad reviews and that it has not been noted or rectified. ]]> Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:58:35 +0000 159-1332 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-cricketers-clavering-essex.html Not as exciting as one would have expected given the pub/hotels association with Jamie Oliver. The room was cold (it was i have to say a very cold night ) Cold air gushed through the single pane windows. Stupidly the thick curtains when shut completely covered the only radiator.There does not appear to be sound proofing in the rooms for one can easily hear conversation from the next door occupants and the hum of the restaurant below.( The next door occupant banged on the walls at 3 am believing , I think that there was the beep of an alarm clock consistantly going off next door - when it turned out to be coming fom the restaurant below) The knowledge that the occupants could hear was not condusive to their, or my, romantic weekend!!. The restaurant was overated too many tables squashed together - one becomes part of a shool dining room!Far too many tables ans so little elbow room - the food,at best, mediocre - I had pork swimming in a red sauce(?) that had a tin tasting quality that seeped into the mash.The cheeseboard at £9 consisted of 4 small pieces of cheese - totally overpriced and over rated. The Arms is situated in a rather boring setting with a small industrial estate situated behind it. This is not the place to visit if one is wanting to find somewhere special to visit. Although it is now a couple of weeks ago that I visited I still feel let down - we had travelled 120 miles to get what indeed was forgettable. I would have quite happily told the reception on leaving - but they never asked! I would not like to suggest that the arms is living off the a famous reputation rather than supplying quality Maybe Jamie who is trying to educate the people of Rotherham to good food should revisit his heritage and apply his skills for I cant see this type of quality enhancing his reputation!!. ]]> Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:16:20 +0000 144-1309 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-ash-stansted-essex.html This is one of our many locals, and have never been disappointed. The landlord and and his wife are friendly, many a time they have ordered a taxi for us on a Friday/Saturday night allowing us to leave our car in the car park. The food, imo, is excellent (albeit over generous at times). As a pub and restaurant I cannot fault it - but then maybe I am biased as a local. ]]> Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:33:17 +0000 166-1263 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-lion-and-lamb-little-canfield-essex.html great for a Sunday roast. Well priced and plenty of good food to eat. Give it a try! ]]> Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:54:09 +0000 166-1233 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-lion-and-lamb-little-canfield-essex.html It was a welcome return to the Lion & Lamb after a few years, I was so pleased to find the Roast Rib of Beef still on the menu & still cooked Rare!! The thick sliced juicy piece of meat arrived on my plate & it was everything I remembered, The potatoes where crispy & full of flavour, the vegetables had that crunch I love & the gravy was just the right thickness to coat the meat & all this topped with a golden Yorkshire!! All I can hope is they can keep this level of food up for my next visit which hopefully wont be another couple of years away!! Bravo Mike & his team keep up the great work!!!! ]]> Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:17:57 +0100 166-1222 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-lion-and-lamb-little-canfield-essex.html Dined here on Sunday, had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. Roast beef was beautiful, service was excellent and a good selection of ales for my husband! Would recommend to friends. ]]> Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:12:37 +0100 166-1219 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-lion-and-lamb-little-canfield-essex.html Six of us went for Dinner the menu is confusing with a surcharge per person depending which menu you order from and where you sit. The Yorkshire pudding was burnt, the roast potatoes were overcooked and the veg was barely warm. The beef, turkey and steak pie were good but let down by the rest overpriced and disappointing. ]]> Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:37:45 +0100 305-1180 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-cricketers-arms-rickling-green-essex.html Pretty awful really food under seasoned and after looking at price very expensive I never look at price unless not happy worst meal since going to the bull in great totham and that was bad bad bad such a shame ]]> Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:18:46 +0100 159-1032 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-cricketers-clavering-essex.html Took my girlfriend for dinner here, the staff were so kind & friendly, my girlfriend loves partridge but would be unable eat the beetroot that it was served with, The waitress overheard and came back less than a minute later to say that the Chef would be more than happy to modify the dish to suit her needs - she was so impressed and really really loved the modified dish. It was busy for a monday night but we almost felt like the only people there - such was the level of care and attention that we received. Prices were reasonable bearing in mind the very high quality of the food & ingredients. We absolutely loved this place - a real treat ]]> Wed, 11 May 2011 12:49:20 +0100 305-1021 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-cricketers-arms-rickling-green-essex.html I don't know why last years reviewer's comments remain on the Cricketers Arms website. We have just returned from having an evening meal andbed and breakfast- the meals and service were of a high standard.The bedroom was stylish and well appointed. Thechanges are obviously down to the new managers who have only been there twelve weeks. We wish them all the best for the future. ]]> Thu, 05 May 2011 17:29:40 +0100 305-983 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-cricketers-arms-rickling-green-essex.html I was very disappointed when I visited the Cricketers Arms - Clavering! It is marketed as being owned and run by Jamie Olivers parents and where he first learned to cook. I can safely say that this is somewhere where I would not go back to or recommend to any of my friends or enemies!
Things got off to an interesting start when I ordered a virgin bloody Mary and I had to explain to a the senior barman what that consisted of! I had the set menu and chose the rabbit pasta to start which was full of bones and under-seasoned! I then went for the lamb kidneys and as soon as they were brought out I knew something was not right as they smelt of urine/ ammonia and the kidneys still had the White veins in the centre! I asked the waitress for a second option and she explained that they should smell like that after she asked the chef, however on having lamb kidneys before as they require being as fresh as possible I decided to exchange it for a safer option. Unfortunately after the kidneys left a bad taste in my mouth and in the air as the smell lingered I divided to go for the apple crumble which appeared to come straight out of a packet! Very disappointing! What was worse was the fact that it was supposed to have been my mother-in laws 60 birthday and I know that my partners meal of mussels and pork was similarly disappointing as half of the mussels in the bowl were closed tight and the pork was tough and dry, despite swimming in a apple sauce. ]]> Sun, 03 Oct 2010 09:46:38 +0100 305-962 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-cricketers-arms-rickling-green-essex.html Hard to find any redeeming features in a truly awful restaurant experience. Whatever could go wrong, did. After getting the drinks order wrong so many times that we despaired (how hard can it be?) no food arrived for 2 hours. The waiters were inexperienced at best (for example, did not seem to understand their own wine list) and the the management, such as it was, appeared either blissfully unaware, or unconcerned. When - eventually - we complained, pallid excuses were offered (they were 'busy', and a larger than expected party had turned up). By the time the meal finally arrived we were beyond being able to enjoy it and in retrospect we should have left long before. A perfect example of how NOT to run a business. ]]> Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:00:01 +0100 159-907 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-cricketers-clavering-essex.html It was my Husband & Sister-in-Laws birthday lunch & although the food was excellent the edge was taken off the celebrations by the VERY off hand attitude of the staff. Although they had their cards & presents on display there was never any reference made by staff that they had a occasion on their hands. We especially DID NOT like that one of the waiters was serving in SHORTS !! This is supposed to be an elegant venue NOT A BEACH IN GREECE !! ]]> Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:11:30 +0100 305-904 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-cricketers-arms-rickling-green-essex.html Arrived on a Sunday evening great sunshine cricket being playered.Ordered our food all main courses to come at once two adults and two children.Our roast dinners arrived first both cold with rock hard Yorkshire puddings.Asked for our childrens food which turned up as our plates were being cleared still with two rock hard Yorkshire.WE decided to complain which we never do.The manager was very rude and could not give us a discount as I had paid cash before the food arrived.She offered a bottle of cheap house wine!Iwill never go back to this pub for food and advise you to steer clear ]]> Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:31:59 +0100 166-877 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-lion-and-lamb-little-canfield-essex.html We were a party of 6.
Roast beef meal - tough as old boots
Chicken & chorizo with absolutely no chorizo
Medium steak, charred and over cooked all the way through.

Sent back

New steak quite literally dripping with blood

This menu is expensive for pub food and it was really poor quality.

And on a Friday night, no manager on the premises. Just a very nice young lass behind the bar trying her very best to deal with something totally inadequate ]]> Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:04:28 +0100 159-740 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-cricketers-clavering-essex.html Our party of eight dined in the bar area on Saturday evening and all enjoyed the experience.Wide choice of tasty food,generous portions and plenty of vegetables.The local venison and the sticky toffee pudding especially praised.Friendly service.Also very comfortable,warm room in Courtyard section and excellent breakfast ]]> Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:23:49 +0000 159-730 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-cricketers-clavering-essex.html Before Jamie was famous..if you can think that far back..this restaurant was buzzing..I would have given a rating of 10 for everything. Been once a year since for the past three years and unfortunately standards have dropped in all aspects. It is such a shame.
I will not now go back as I think I have given them a fair crack of the whip. ]]> Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:17:59 +0000 503-729 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/little-hallingbury-mill.html If I could have given a 0 I would of done!. Avoid. Service was awful..made to feel unwelcome. The food was tasteless..half way through we wanted to pay and run out but the english stiff upper lip in me could'nt do it. The plates were chipped and just left there on our table when dessert was brought up. The restaurant was not busy. Felt I was in some sort of comedy show and candid camera were going jump from behind the screen..alas no. ]]> Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:11:35 +0000 159-677 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-cricketers-clavering-essex.html We went here on Sunday lunch for a special family occasion and were disappointed with both the food and service. There was no atmosphere (no music), the toilets were small and only two for a place that seats over 100 people!, the 3 waitressess were surly, one elderly lady was far too friendly, one of the waitresses was rude to another one and clearly did not like her. The kitchen chef could be heard swearing from our table.
The food was average and not inspiring or inviting. There was so much choice and the menu was a hodge podge of old and new and really looked at though it had been put together from various cook book recipes amalgamated. The cranberry starter was AWFUL - the craberries were soooo sweet and it had one round piece of goat's cheese on top. The plates were cold, the tables crowded. To be honest the restaurant had about 20 more people than it could comfortably accomodate. It was difficult to get in and out of many tables as they were so close together and on two tables the cutlery was up on the mats to accomodate more diners at the table. The first table as you go in could comfortably sit 6 and they had laid it for 8! ]]> Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:08:46 +0000 159-650 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-cricketers-clavering-essex.html If it wasn't for the fact that this is "the pub run by Jame Oliver's parents," I wouldn't have given it a second thought. My parents live in Essex and so we went there as a party of 8 to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary over Sunday Lunch. We were not given a great table - the elderly waitresses kept bumping into my chair everytime they passed. Although the waitresses were friendly enough I don't think they were very professional. They kept interrupting at important family moments - like when we were taking photos or handing out presents. The food was awful. I was suprised and disappointed. My main course (roast lamb) was luke warm and tasteless - no gravy and a puny version of mint sauce. The roast potatoes were a joke. And don't get me started on the starter... but since you ask the Goats cheese crotin and cranberry tart was very bad. It tasted like someone had poured some cranberry suace out of a jar into a tart and plonked a piece of cheese on top. Far too much cranberry and little else. It would have been better as a dessert. We arrived at the Cricketers Arms in Rickling Green by accident, to start with, whuich is about 7 minutes drive away. I really wished we had gone there, as it seemed much nicer. All they are doing is trading off Jamie Oliver's name, and they think that will carry them. It won't. It is not enough. ]]> Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:48:29 +0000 305-554 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-cricketers-arms-rickling-green-essex.html Great place stunning decor and a real piece of English Life. Food and drink perfect along with the service, well worth a drive out on any day, but Sundays are great! ]]> Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:00:24 +0100 159-479 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-cricketers-clavering-essex.html We had my mother's 80th birthday and parent's Diamond Wedding lunches there and it was fantastic, absolutely perfect for both, great food and service, and lovely informal atmosphere for this type of family occasion. On top of which you can buy signed copies of Jamie's books. ]]> Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:07:41 +0100 334-460 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-queens-head-littlebury-essex.html Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:21:41 +0100 334-378 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-queens-head-littlebury-essex.html
Great Selection of Wine and Beers and Log Fires for the winter and the best enclosed Garden in the area for the Summer.

Family Run Pub with lots of special events to raise money for Essex Air Ambulance.

Half a mile from Audley End House and Saffron Walden and also has 7 excelent rooms for booking within in 20 minutes of Stansted and Cambridge and close to Newmarket Races - Great Location.

Highly reccomended ]]> Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:18:48 +0000 245-224 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-olive-tree-bishops-stortford-essex.html The staff are always welcoming, courteous and efficient, whether you're looking for a quick lunch, or you want to make a night of it !!!
You can always find 'regulars' in the restaurant which is an indication of the Olive Tree's local popularity.
As a vegetarian, it's not always easy to find a choice of good food, but the Olive Tree never fails to delight me!
My carnivorous friends tell me the rest of the menu is equally as tasty and the Lamb Shank is (apparently) to die for !!
What are you waiting for ? ]]> Tue, 13 May 2008 12:59:44 +0100 144-208 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/stansted-venues/stansted-restaurants/the-ash-stansted-essex.html At first The Ash looks really appealing however, it is not recommended for those with a next day flight from Stansted as the incessant racket emanating from the disco in the Marquee erected in the grounds of the pub keeps you awake all night and the rooms shake from the noise level of the disco (the noise of the airplanes landing and taking off is actually a relief from the music).

The food was mediocre. I'm sure its a good venue for a party though!

Stick to the Hilton, the parking is safe and secure and you are ulikely to be assaulted by the staff. ]]> Thu, 01 May 2008 20:06:13 +0100