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

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 Victoria Inn is a proper pub located in Colchester, Essex and offers an award winning experience in this 17th century Grade II listed building. With a traditional friendly pub atmosphere and function room, this freehouse welcomes all and they are renowned for their fine ales, perries and real cider and even have a dedicated craft ale pump. The Victoria Inn has a real fire in winter, comfortable sofa area, a sheltered courtyard and a covered converted stable block with comfortable conservatory style seating. They welcome you any night of the week to enjoy a visit to a real local pub and regularly host live music and events.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

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 George Hotel Colchester is a 500 year old coaching inn that resonates with history in the heart of historic Colchester, Essex right on the high street, close to Colchester Castle. Boasting choices of executive, superior family, classic double, twin, single and mini double room choices, all individually decorated to a high standard, a fabulous stay awaits both the leisure and business guest. There's a stylish lounge bar with original features, and a Courtyard Brasserie serving English dishes and regional specialties by talented chefs for a memorable dining experience. The George Hotel Colchester is also the perfect venue and setting for private dining and functions in bespoke function rooms and they cater to parties, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, retirements, Bar Mitzvahs and other special occasions, complete with banqueting and events coordinator. 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 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 Headgate Theatre is the home of amateur theatre in Colchester, Essex with a variety of spaces and is a very adaptable multi purpose building as they say, with disability access and excellent facilities. There auditorium is perfect as a performing space or meetings and conferences, and the Hervey Benham Rehearsal Studio is ideal for activities including dance classes and rehearsals and appeals to actors, musicians and dancers, there's also the Bar Lounge or kitchen tearoom area available for hire or as a smaller venue. The Headgate Theatre an excellent calendar of events including drama, musicals, plays and more, and they off Kids acting and theatre skills programmes and The Stephanie Cook School of dance offers classes in ballet, tap, modern and contemporary. It's all here and more, come see what's on at the Headgate Theatre.READ MORE

Colchester Camping and Caravan Park in Colchester, Essex welcomes you to this wonderful setting just outside the historic town, and this family owned and run touring site caters to caravans, motorcaravans, tents and trailer tents. The have secure alarmed storage facilities for tour caravans and motorcaravans, plus offer a number of seasonal onsite pitches. The well managed Colchester Camping and Caravan Park has quality facilities including free showers and hot water, hook-ups, hard standings, a play area and laundry, as well as convenience grocery and caravan accessory shop. They are ideally located next to a parkland and nature reserve, and boast 251 touring caravan or camping pitches, come for a fabulous stay.READ MORE