This is fast becoming a very good local pub,with friendly staff . I is on the village green, with…read moreparking at rear The management appear to be making great efforts to create a good atmosphere,with great food (at reasonable prices ) . I think they are doing a great job Steve B 18/10/2009

"the royal oak" a 5 min walk from ockendon station. my first impression on looking at this "ye…read moreolde" pub was well presented and clean, upon going inside initially it was dark. a very clean refurbished pub with a marble bar and exceptionally clean and pleasant surroundings. the bar staff were very welcoming and greeted me with a smile, they were attentive and made me feel as though they had known me for years. the beer garden has a relaxed tone about it with parasols and seating for over 100, the grass and border flowers are immaculate, whilst i was there, there was a wedding party in the other side (the restaurant) the food i hear is superb and well worth a visit on a sunday.. my overall impression is this is a place you can bring your wife/ partner to and will both be impressed at the attention to detail and warm friendly atmosphere... terry h (an impressed member of the public) 08/october/2013

The only pub in the village and a good one too. Plenty of local trade but welcoming to strangers…read more Has a very large car park and a huge beer garden with pond. At the rear of the pub is a games room, which also doubles as a dining area for the great food this pub serves. the barstaff are friendly and polite and take debit cards with cashback!! Sky Tv available for sports. Child friendly.All in all a great pub

Beautiful little heritage pub, the kitchen is a real gem. Very popular with the locals, and for…read moregood reason. The supper menu is a bargain at around £13-15 for two courses, and two courses is definitely all you need! Everything comes out hot and well presented. But be sure to book ahead, and come hungry. Can't wait to come back, and try the very pretty 'honey Charlotte' desert.

Visited here twice,excellent value for money.Friendly staff, recommend the lamb chops good choice…read moreof beers and a big beer garden to enjoy those hot summer days

The Windmill is a nice old fashioned local style pub which attracts the same crowd week in week…read moreout, it has an excellent beer garden in the summer and all the staff are really friendly.

Following a change of management, the new landlord is nowhere near as friendly and/or professional…read moreas the previous licensee. An air of aloofness verging on arrogance now exists behind the bar, and it's even rubbing off on the staff, who used to be far friendlier. Not good.

Right, although I'm on the Newcastle Elite Squad of Yelpers and very proud of what the Toon has to…read moreoffer, I think I may have found a place which would make me up-sticks tomorrow and move to Essex. Yep, seriously - Essex... I know! However, the Bell Inn at Horndon on the Hill is truly something else. Totally not what I was expecting to find a few miles from Lakeside shopping centre (which is work-related, the reason I found myself in this part of the country, just in case you were wondering...) The location is a 15th Century coaching inn overlooking the hills down to the Thames Estuary. As you go into the main pub area, which leads through to the restaurant, you step into an authentic English country pub atmosphere, low wood beams, open fire, numerous ales on tap (the local pale ale we had was excellent), random brass items on the wall, but all done properly and not in the faux manner you get in some pubs. What really sets this place apart is the food. Wowser, this was superb. When we mentioned to colleagues that we were going here, everyone said we would not be disappointed and they were not wrong. The menu changes regularly to reflect seasonal produce (a big tick in my book) and the quality of ingredients and level of cooking was top notch. Starter was English asparagus wrapped in parma ham served with the richest hollandaise I've had in a long time. The main was a breast of guinea-fowl, served with various veg, each individual item cooked to perfection. To finish was a dark chocolate cheesecake with hazlenut ice cream. Each course went down a treat, I was actually a little sorry to finish as it was that good. All served by very friendly and professional waiting staff, their attention to detail was second-to-none. You know when somewhere gets it right on the money, well this place has got it and then some. It comes as no surprise to learn that The Bell has won numerous industry awards including being on The Sunday Times Food List as one of the 10 best gastropubs in the UK. So if you ever, ever, ever find yourself 'dahn sahrf' anytime soon, get yourself along the A13 and make a reservation here. Oh and they also do accommodation here, sadly this was fully booked on the night of our visit. However, I'm back down to Lakeside next month and you know where I'll be staying this time...

An excellent dining room which is open on Mondays as well. It has never failed \to please…read more Adrian Winbow

I would rate this as one of the best pubs in Grays great staff, very clean, good food served lunch…read moretimes, good choice of beers, ideal for real ale fans, big beer garden

Great pub, so many beers to choose from and regular beer festivals, staff and customers very…read morefriendly, a miracle to what the place was once like, Chris and Mrs are superb hosts and keep the pub clean welcoming Seafood stall outside too if you are peckish so you really cant go wrong!

Was here for a work dinner. Location was walking distance from hotel, nice little lake you can walk…read morearound. Very nice view. Had the fish n chips, very tasty and huge portions. Definitely recommend

Menu offers a good variety, and food was good. We sat outside - tried the fish pie with peas and…read morecarrots, of which the poor little peas and carrots looked a bit worn out, the fish pie was good. Service was friendly but rushed.

Best pub in Grays to eat and drink outside. Standard pub fare, but well done and service with a…read moresmile.

I really like this pub as it is near some lovely walks, and you can sit outside with your dog after…read moreor before a walk. They always seem to have offers on food and if you sign up to their website you get the offers sent to you. The few times that I have ate there I have always had a pleasant meal. There is a small car park to the side of the pub, and in the grounds they have a small play area for children. The pub is set in a lovely little village called North Stifford which is very picturesque.

Amazing food and service, always made to feel welcome great value for the quality and portions…read morehighly recommend the mixed roast! You won't be disappointed!

The Shepherd & Dog was just.a pub which was very popular but I never had the inclination to drink…read morethere. That was then but now it's been revamped into a restaurant that serves dishes that are of very high quality. Their Sunday roasts are good value with plenty if taste. The staff are friendly, polite and extremely efficient. Customers do like to dress up when they dine here and I don't blame them. As it does add to the ambience

Great to find a pub that has a good restaurant but with a bar where you can walk in for a pint…read more Shame it is so far away from where we live or I would be in there almost every evening. We booked for Sunday lunch with some friends. A pub that was half way between us. We walked in to a very friendly atmosphere. We noticed that the restaurant was ready laid and apart from the bar. Immediately we sat down drinks order was taken and, what seemed immediately, drinks arrived. Great service, so far. We all ordered their Sunday roast. Choice of four or five meats. The plates of food arrived, the HOT plates. Now that was a nice change. Normally it is on cold plates. Kept the food hot throughout the eating. The plates were overflowing with delicious meats, numerous vegetables, real roast potatoes and a large Yorkshire pud. So much that a few of us never did finish it all. Coffee was delicious, well after that meal we couldn't face a dessert. Service was brilliant and friendly, yet professional. Would I go back again. A definite YES.

A great pub with attentive bar staff and a landlord who keeps a beady eye to ensure prompt…read moreservice. The beer is always good and shows that they take care and pride in the maintenance of the beer lines. Food is typical pub food, it's not a gastro pub and doesn't pretend to be. Portions sizes are reasonable as are the prices, food is always served hot and prompt. The real jewel in the crown though is the beer garden, a raised patio gives way to a nice lawned play area perfect for kids and all surrounded by trees that border the fields it sits within. Dogs are allowed but obviously kept on leads. Slightly off the beaten track but worth finding, especially on a hot summers day.