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

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

The Britannia Gurkha Restaurant and Bar in Colchester, Essex offers freshly prepared Gurkha curry in the restaurant including choices of Fish, lamb, vegetable and dal, steamed rice, Gurkha Roti and tomato chutney, and starters include papadoms, tamarind chutney, aloodum, egg Pakora and mint chutney. There's a set menu which changes daily and they regularly host events with live entertainment once a month. The Bar area at the Britannia Gurkha Restaurant and Bar is friendly and traditional boasting a large seating area and pool table, dart boards, game machines and a juke box, plus there's a beer garden at the back and covered smoking area. They offer an excellent venue and welcome families and the bar is fully stocked with spirits and bottles and a full wine list, come enjoy.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

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

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

The Mercury Theatre of Colchester, Essex is one of the leading performing arts and producing theatres in the country, and their aim is to put theatre at the heart of the community. The main theatre and studio theatre combined reach and audience of 586 people, and they do on-site productions and their workshop facilities create sets, props and costumes for in-house productions and touring companies, this welcoming theatre also offers award winning customer service, and they nurture new talent in all areas of theatre. The Mercury Theatre is also available for venue hire, and they offer a comfortable and versatile space ideal for meetings, conferences, drink receptions and events, and spaces for hire include the main theatre and studio theatre, the bar and digby gallery. Come view the exceptional quality of the theatre's homegrown work by a talented team, or get involved.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 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

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