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

The Lexden Crown in Colchester, Essex offers an exceptional dining experience where the tradition of hospitality dates all the way back to 1851, and the perfect blend of traditional English pub and contemporary bistro awaits in this refurbished 17th century building. Open for lunch and dinner seven days week, they have a sunny walled garden and the beautifully refurbished 17th century building is warm and welcoming and great for dining and drinking in relaxed surrounds. There are daily chefs specials and a menu that changes with the seasons offers traditional meals from fresh locally sourced produce. The Lexden Crown is available for events and private hire, and is ideal for Christenings, birthday parties, wedding receptions corporate events and wakes.READ MORE

Castle Road Cottages are ideally located in the heart of Colchester, Essex offering a high quality self catering stay with the perfect blend of stylish accommodation and a good location as they say. They ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible with fine quality towels and bed linen, complementary tea and ground coffee as well as fresh fruit to welcome you. Hope Cottage, a one time Quaker bakehouse is the perfect retreat for couples and boasts an intimate atmosphere, snug lounge and cosy kitchen breakfast room and much more with upstairs Edwardian elegance. The 6 Castle Road Cottage is a classic Victorian artisan cottage with lovingly restored period details including cast iron fireplaces, antique furnishings, pretty back garden and much more ideal for three to four guests. Castle Road Cottages true delights in beautiful surrounds, come for a magical stay. 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

The Colchester Zoo offers an award winning experience with over 270 species over 60 acres of beautiful parklands and lakes, and is constantly developing. Come for an action packed visit into the magnificent world of these animals, see white rhinos, maybe even feed the elephants and giraffes, there's ostrich and kudu a roaming at Kingdom of the wild, and even an underwater walk at the tunnel of the Playa Patagonia sealion pool, as well as Komodo Dragons and many daily displays, and the road train, the Lost Madagascar Express will take you on a magical ride. The Colchester Zoo has a Butterfly Glade with free flying butterflies, a state of the art enclosure housing two beautiful sun bears, a tropical walkthrough with lorikeets, plus the sensation station where you can handle some scaly species and furry friends. The Colchester Zoo offers an excellent visitor experience, and they have delicious food outlets, two souvenir gift shops with unique products and so much more, come for a memorable day out.READ MORE

The Red Dog Cafe and Restaurant in Colchester, Essex offers a wonderful dining experience, with the cafe separate from the restaurant in the Inworth Barn serving an extensive selection of full day breakfasts and snacks with full table service, and is historic and rustic with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams. The restaurant in the Prince of Wales freehouse boasts a contemporary a la carte menu and is most famous for it's steaks and prime beef burgers, they also have a stunning wine selection. The Red Dog Cafe and Restaurant hosts regular events and have a fabulous Christmas menu every season. They specialise in small parties and groups and will design a menu that suits from the basic buffet to the burger bar, a fantastic dining experience with delicious menu awaits.READ MORE

Bistro and Bar Below in Colchester, Essex is a restaurant and wine bar offering an excellent venue to dine on sumptuous home made meals and put a British twist on bistro food for the ultimate indulgence in relaxing surrounds. The basement bar is fully air conditioned and offers tasty and traditional favourites in one of the finest Grade II listed buildings in Colchester. The Function room is part of the restaurant but can be booked as a separate corporate venue and they can supply everything you need for your business meeting. Bistro and Bar Below also boasts the Salon Privee for romantic private dining and can seat 4-6 patrons. Come for an unsurpassed dining and drinking experience in stunning surrounds.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

Qube is a boutique bar and nightclub in Colchester, Essex housed over two floors and boasting it's own bijou outdoor space. Bespoke furnishings and an island bar feature on the ground floor, while the first floor has intimate booths and a new exclusive club with stunning interior, sophisticated charm and ultra chic vibe as they say. Qube offers table service, shared plates, excellent cocktails and an extensive drinks menu, plus their are antipasti boards and a range of VIP packages. Come for an unforgettable occasion, delectable food menu, premium drinks, champagnes, wines, and the ultimate late night party venue, it's all here, the first floor is also available for private hire for exclusive functions and corporate events.READ MORE

The Foundry Arms in Colchester, Essex is a family friendly freehouse with a warm welcome, originally a beer house, the name is associated with the foundry workers from days of old. This is a great venue for families with kids, and there's a beer garden, comfortable sofas and the bar in a welcoming environment for a relaxing drink with family and friends. The Foundry Arms landlord and lady have a dream to restore the venue to it's former glory and look forward to meeting you soon. READ MORE