Dedham Vale Vineyard in Colchester, Essex produces six styles of award winning wines set in 40 acres of rolling English countryside, they also have a proprietary cider and signature fruit liqueurs. There's an on-line shop if you can't visit personally, and during wet walnut season, the Wet Walnut & Vineyard Shop, Trail and Tasting Barn are open seven days a week. The Dedham Vale Vineyard Trail welcomes you on a self conducted tour, to see how the grapes become wine in a bottle, with wine tasting and the Grand Tour and Tasting welcomes you on a full English wine experience with guided tour and tasting from their expert winemakers followed by afternoon tea or lunch in the Tasting Barn, plus there are group tours available in this idyllic setting with catering as required.READ MORE

The Minories Galleries in Colchester, Essex is located in an A listed Georgian building, and is a public contemporary art gallery run by the Colchester School of Art providing contemporary art and design. With a proud history dating back to 1885, they year the orginal art school was founded, today their focus is on developing and environment where the imagination can flourish in studios and workshops. The Minories Galleries showcases exhibitions and hosts events, and offer workshop facilities in ceramics, textiles, printmaking, photographic darkrooms, fashion construction, Mac suites, and wood, metal and plastics, and each course has it's own dedicated studio space.READ MORE

Firstsite offers contemporary visual arts in Colchester, Essex and their programme includes projects, exhibitions and publications by established and emerging artists, they also offer extensive learning opportunities and artists' support initiatives. They have since 1994 supported and invested in artists across the Eastern region, and now have a spectacular new building with front portico rising to 11 metres high comprising exhibition space, gallery spaces, a shop selling creative gifts, and a restaurant all lit throughout with natural light. Firstsite also has a state of the art auditorium which comfortable seats 190 people, and the venue is available for hire and is ideal for conferences, presentations, and product launches as well as celebrations, club and society meetings and private parties with a stunning backdrop.READ MORE

The Beth Chatto Gardens in Colchester, Essex is an informal garden harmonising with the surrounding countryside and was transformed from an overgrown wasteland. Come view the art of planting at its best, and they began all the way back in 1960, you can even shop at the on-line nursery and enjoy plants from them in your own garden, they have over 2000 plants of good quality that they send out year round. The Beth Chatto Gardens offers excellent events and courses, and the gardens and nursery cover roughly 7 acres, plus they are open year round, and they welcome coaches and groups. Come view the world famous Gravel Garden, the Water Gardens, the pind and Scree Gardens, small raised beds and Woodland as well as reservoir Garden, it's all here. The tearoom offers a selection of breakfasts and light lunches with hot daily specials, homemade cakes, freshly ground coffee and specialty teas, and is the venue for workshops and events throughout the year.READ MORE

Sorano's Ristorante in Thorrington, Colchester, Essex brings you the Italian divine with tradition and passion and you will always feel at home at this family run Italian restaurant and experience attentive service. The menu offers hot and cold starter choices exquisite fish, pasta and risotto and side dishes, and they are open for breakfast from English to other choices, as well as lunch and dinner and have a bambini menu, and leave space for mouthwatering desserts. Sorano's Ristorante regularly host not to be missed events and come highly recommended, come for a fabulous dining experience of Italian delights.READ MORE

The Rose and Crown in Colchester, Essex is located in the oldest recorded town in England boasting 39 luxurious rooms with en-suites, free high speed WIFI, complimentary tea and coffee, freeview and all the luxuries one would expect from a 3-star hotel and more. With a formal restaurant and Tudor Bar Brasserie, classic yet modern cuisine prevails in a stylish yet comfortable setting steeped in history with oak beamed walls and a log fire. The Rose and Crown offers conference facilities in 14th century surrounds with all the necessary audio visual equipment, free parking and WIFI, and corporate stays. This is also the perfect wedding venue with a beautiful historic setting, a wedding co-ordinator, and happily ever after days for a wedding which is anything but ordinary, come say I do in magical surrounds.READ MORE

The Brook Red Lion Hotel in Colchester, Essex welcomes you to a historical and magical stay in this Grade 1 listed building dating all the way back to 1465, and is one of the oldest inns in England, right in the centre of town. Enjoy magnificent Tudor features and exposed wooden beams, warm red and gold fabrics and 3-star luxury in the 24 individually furnished rooms with all the amenities of a modern hotel. The Red Lion Brasserie in the unique setting of this medieval hotel offers exquisite dining choices with fine wines for lunch and dinner with many original features and a special atmosphere. The Brook Red Lion Hotel also boasts function and event rooms with natural daylight, free WIFI and LCD projectors and more, and is the perfect venue wedding receptions, banquets, business meetings and celebrations in this spectacular Tudor hotel.READ MORE

Trotters Bar and Kitchen in the heart of Colchester, Essex is small and cosy offering a variety of draught beers, wines and cocktails with a great menu for breakfast and lunch, and they are the ideal party venue for anything from 20-100 people. They also have convenient on-line ordering for take aways, and offer freshly made coffees and orange juice, and menu items include full or Small English breakfasts, a healthy starts, sandwiches and toast, and for lunch there are sandwiches and baguettes, jacket potatoes, soups, omelettes, wraps, lasagne, chili con carne, cheesy chips, a Mexican chicken salad and more. Trotters Bar and Kitchen is also great for office and Christmas parties, drinks events, Summer barbeques, business meetings, anniversary parties and more, and they have free WIFI.READ MORE

Go Bananas in Colchester, Essex offer's a jungle's worth of adventure and fun as they say, and welcomes all young adventurers with something for every little monkey to enjoy, exlore and conquer. There's and Aztec Ruins adventure area with challenges and 3 levels to conquer, many sites and Funky Monkey's jungle home, they also have a lane water Astra slide, wobbly planks, stepping stones and a swing through the ruins. Tiny Town is a mini version of the Aztec Adventure for young one's aged 4 and under and here toddler rule, assisting with challenges they may face in the future. The Go Bananas cafe offers excellent meals, snacks and coffee as well as a wide range of children's meals, free WIFI and homemade cake. There's an after school club, and this is the perfect venue for children or adult parties where the fun never ends, with many kiddies packages and choices, or the ideal adult venue for corporate events, birthdays, hen nights, stag nights, team building and much more.READ MORE

Il Padrino meaning The Godfather is located in Colchester, Essex and is a wonderful Italian restaurant with mouthwatering food offering great value for money in a relaxed atmosphere, it's everything you want for great dining out. Open for lunch and dinner with head chef and owner Fausto, this 70-seat restaurant offers an intimate atmosphere over three floors, with open plan kitchen on the ground floor where the meals are prepared. Il Padrino offers an exquisite a la carte menu and there's a mouthwatering selection of fish and seafood specials on the blackboards. They also have brunch dishes, starters, pasta and rice dishes, chef's salads and drinks, and will create a menu specifically for groups, come experience the Italian divine.READ MORE