Good fun! Great night out! Good prices! Good staff! As well…read moreas the bingo they have the usual slots etc.

Romford Dog Stadium has always been a good evening out. I've been here with friends a few times and…read moreit's always great fun! I'm not a big gambler so I always only put £2 on per race. It's a nice place to come with friends and I also see lots of families here. Drinks are cheap, good bar selection and there's food available if you get a bit hungry. Always a friendly atmosphere. Entry fee is low but luckily for me I've never had to pay entry as I know a few people who work there, so I get on the VIP list ;) Staff are quite pleasant (even when I told the guy on the betting booth that he looks like Frodo Baggins from LOTR) and will have to organise a evening here again soon!

Well, where to begin. In terms of cultural experiences, this is definitely an interesting…read moreexperience! I guess that I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but the drinks were cheap (two beers and two mixed drinks for ten pounds). To view the races you either have to stand outside or watch it on the screen inside. The betting lines were quite short even on a Saturday night. It's not exactly a clean venue, but what can one expect? It's the kind of place that serves drinks in plastic cups and has small children about well into the night! While we had a good evening, I wouldn't make this a regular occurrence. Though if you want to experience Essex life or a different side to English culture, this is an interesting place!

This is a lovely little theatre in the West End of Chelmsford. The staff are friendly and helpful…read moreand there is a wide range of productions throughout the year. There is a bar plus they sell the usual icecream and sweets etc. The pantomime is normally pretty good each year although very rarely is anyone famous in it. This years (2008-9) was disappointing however. There is a carpark next door, but whereas it used to be free after 6pm, you now have to pay.

A really nice friendly, family theatre. We have been here several times for the smaller childrens…read moreshows which have taken place in the smaller theatre to the side - all have been fantastic and the children have enjoyed, resonably priced. We have also seen the pantomine for the last three years and again everyone has been brilliant. We find because it is a smaller theatre you feel more part of the show and the children can see more and not feel overwhelmed. The prices for ice-creams and sweets are also more resonable compared with large theatres/cinemas. Carpark to the side and if after hours is only £1.

Churchill Gardens are gorgeous. You can get to them from off the high street, by the Churchill…read moreTheatre, or from the entrance located near Bromley Parish Church. The gardens are basin shaped with a rabbit warren of paths leading you down to the ponds where you can find duck, geese and some tame but neurotic squirrels. I really enjoy the views from higher up near the entrances; you can see over into the Shortlands area of Bromley. There's a whole load of benches dotted around the gardens and a kind of roman patio area too. This isn't really a picnic place; more of a ramble around spot. Really quaint and pretty.

For a local theatre, this is a great venue. Although ticket prices aren't cheap, you can get a…read morecultured night out and save on train fares and the expense of drinks in London. A huge variety of shows play here, from Christmas pantomimes to the comedy to opera. The seats are comfortable and spacious and the quality of the performances is usually high. Unfortunately, shows aren't on all year round but the website is kept up to date so it's always worth a look when planning a night out. Get on the mailing list for regular updates. Discounts are available for friends of the theatre.

Great little theatre in honour of Bob Hope who was born in Eltham. Once a year it opens it's doors…read morefor free to locals for a free tour and historical information. We went on this tour in the summer and it really was worthwhile, it has a lot of memorabilia about Bob Hope, a great bar and coffee area with a bronze bust of Bob himself and a plaque on the wall to show he visited. The auditorium is light and airy, there's a small stage but it puts on great shows all year and is run by volunteers.

Lovely Theatre with an interesting connection to Mr Bob Hope. I've seen 3 plays and 4 pantos here…read moreand all have been good! Lovely building with friendly staff. Worth a visit for sure.

So glad to know that a great theatre like this is placed in the middle of Stratford. Only a 4 min…read morewalking distance from the station and soon to be 'Olympic stadium'. They have many musical, performances and exhibitions to offer. They also have a pub style bar that holds free events in the evenings and weekends. The bar is also known as Caribbean flavours which serves great Caribbean food at reasonable prices. Stratford theatre royal is a great place to go with friends and family. There is also a cinema and a few restaurants next door.

The Stratford Royal Theatre is a local gem for a myriad of reasons- I have seen a handful of…read moreproductions here over the past two years, ranging from pantomimes, new shows and retelling of classic stories, and all had high production values with a solid cast and engaging storytelling . Tickets are affordable and discounts are offered to Newham residents or occasionally online through deal websites such as Groupon or Amazon Local. The Victorian theatre is very charming and boasts a lot of character and the ushers and staff have always been extremely helpful and friendly. The theatre bar is a bit of a local secret- it serves a fantastic menu of Caribbean food that comes out of the kitchen quickly, hot and packed with flavour. All dishes offer great value for money for either lunch or dinner; there's also an expansive kids menu and freshly baked cakes on display daily. This is possibly the best theatre kitchen in London for a relaxed meal (provided you avoid the surge of theatre-goers ordering from the menu before an evening performance!). The atmosphere is colourful and relaxed- the bar is decked out with patio style rattan furniture and a few large booths as well. In the summer, there is a good outdoor space that spills out on to a square that is secluded from the high street. The theatre attracts a wide demographic of people for the productions and in the bar, so you get a real sense of community and a buzzing atmosphere whether you're there for a show or are just popping in for a drink after work. There are lots of weekly events that take place in the bar, including an extended happy hour on Thursday nights and various live performances throughout the week. Since moving to Stratford three years ago, the bar has really stepped up to offer more consistent service and has put in the effort to redesign their menus for a more polished look. This is a great little corner in Stratford that is worth a visit for a few drinks, its vibrant food and atmosphere and the quality and variety of productions. It will also be hosting a temporary theatre space called The Red Crate in collaboration with the National Theatre during the 2015-2016 season, which will double the size of its programme listings.

This is nice little local museum with free entry open every day of the week but only a half day on…read moreSunday. It is in an old house so you go through lots of small rooms. There is the story of Chelmsford in one room and lots of local natural history finds in another including rather a lot of taxidermy and a bee hive with clear sides so you can see the bees. There are also period rooms that are quite fun to look at and if you take someone old with you you can hear them go 'we use to have one of those' about a hundred times. There is no cafe and the toilets are the parks one outside that do not feel very safe and are rather dirty.

This museum is located on the outskirts of Chelmsford, at the end of busy Moulsham Street. There is…read moresome parking just past the entrance. Although the grounds are attractive and very well maintained I would personally use the museum toilets rather than those outside. The museum has a good section dedicated to the Essex Regiment as well as a Victorian kitchen and the story of Chelmsford on the ground floor. Admission is free although they do charge for souveneirs and special events. On the upper floor are exhibits showing kitchens from the past, old coins and a room dedicated to the current visiting exhibition. Please be aware that the museum has restricted opening times and is currently undergoing renovation. Call for more information.

The Churchill Theatre is actually quite nice inside and very roomy. Much larger than how it looks…read morefrom the outside on the pedestrianised High Street in Bromley town centre. The seats are comfy with a lot of leg room and great views from the Circle. The staff are very friendly too. Went to see Keep Dancing. It was a very entertaining night out, with special guests from Strictly Come Dancing, Lisa Riley and Robin Windsor. Good music and good dancing. I also liked that it finished at 9.30pm giving you plenty of time to get home if you have a long way to go.

Came here to see The Producers. The venue is in the middle of Bromley High Street, so you can't…read moremiss it! The venue itself doesn't look much from the outside but it's lovely inside, with a number of bars. The staff were also friendly and helpful. The auditorium is lovely, and the seats were very comfortable. There is a good selection of eateries for pre/post show meals (most within 5/10min walking distance to the venue).