Colchester Ghost Tours brings you the other side of Colchester, Essex with your host and guide Derek Wray, a master storyteller who tells of the blood, gore, mayhem and ghosts, and the past that other tours don't reach. Come journey with him through the dark ways of ancient Colchester on the first Thursday of every month, starting at the town hall in High Street, and go in search of the life, love, death and abominable hauntings in their own words. Colchester Ghost Tours last over two hours through Britain's oldest recorded town, and home to Britain's oldest pubs and ghosts, usually ending in a haunted public house for relaxing drinks. There are three tours to choose from, the Town Centre Tour, the Dutch Quarter Tour and the Legend of the Chattering Corpse Tour, come hear the stories, learn the secrets, the history, legends and ghosts of Colchester.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 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

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

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 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

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

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

The Old New Inn Pub simply known as the Pub in Colchester, Essex is a traditional English local at the heart of the community welcoming all. There's a secluded beer garden for sunny days and they have a lounge bar which is the quieter of the two bars with open log fire and comfy seating and the old fashioned public bar with ever changing selection of real ales boasts a pool table, darts and Sky sports and is a popular meeting place. The food menu is available 7 days a week with burger choices, doorstep sandwiches, casserole of the day breaded scampi and chips, chili con carne and more and there's a traditional Sunday Lunch. The Old New Inn Pub has a function room which is free to hire available for parties of up to 25 with big screen TV and food by chef Myles.READ MORE

HA! HA! in Colchester, Essex and other venues offers open plan kitchens and great food and drinks, and a mouthwatering menu is guaranteed to entice and delight. Enjoy fresh, home cooked perfection with choices including spiced poached pear served with blue cheese, caramelised walnuts and roasted red onion salad, or the Moroccan spiced lamb steak, the home made fish cake and more ended with the apple and Frangipane tart, all complemented by a good wine list and premium beers. HA! HA! also offer classic drinks and cocktails, has a coffee machine and caters to Christmas parties and celebrations, come see the chefs whipping up a veritable feast.READ MORE