The Essex Arms

The Essex Arms is a cosy pub with fireplaces and comfortable chairs. It's a good place to visit with families and has a welcoming and homely atmosphere. Aesthetically, it is by far my favourite pub in the area and well worth the 30 minute walk from home.

The food is fairly standard pub grub and tends to be slightly overdone and dry, and sometimes a bit small in terms of portions, although the portion size was decent this visit.

The staff are friendly and helpful but the pub can sometimes be very busy and appeared to be understaffed on this occasion. It took a long time to be served at the bar and the staff appeared stressed.

We have visited here for a pub quiz several times in the past and enjoyed this. Overall, it is a good establishment for decor and atmosphere.

Went to a friends birthday here and the pub-supplied buffet was awesome. Not one Aldi dipper in sight. Hand made prawn sarnies in thick bread, black pepper chicken thingies but I can’t remember how many of those cheeky toad-in-the-hole bad boys I ate! Brilliant food by brilliant staff. Thank you!

Second time we went here ordering via the app. First time it worked well but this time took 30 mins for drinks orders to come out, Two hours for mains and desserts. If you go inside and offer to bring things out the manager is very rude and accuses you of not ordering things. Also the little sheds outside aren't very clean. If we go back won't bother with the app. Shame because the food was quite good when it eventually came.

The Watford and Surrounding area bereavement support group use this location for a meetup at 11.00 on the last Sunday of the month. We have found this to be the perfect place to have a coffee and a chat with others going through the same life-changing challenges we all face when losing a loved one. The staff here are very friendly and always make us feel welcome.

Great but empty when I visited but it was early afternoon. I'd like to add that I've been drinking here for nearly 30 years on an off. It's always been an enjoyable experience

Lady said they don’t have straws cos of covid (?? Surely straws are more hygienic? 😂)
Cocktails taste of water
Then I ordered avocado and it didn’t come with the food had to ask for it
Then it came and it looked like leftovers from another person’s plate (see pic)
Prices are decent but 🤷🏼‍♀️

Christmas day dinner can only be described as a disaster. Understaffed and poor service. Food looked like it had been thrown on the plate and one bowl of veg between eight people. Bread missing from soup, desserts came at different times to rest of table. When served told to move out of the way so they could put plates down. Arguments between staff and other customers. Customers told to shut up and get on with their meal. Won't be going back next year that's for sure! Definitely not worth the money paid.

Lovely food, welcoming staff, very clean and lots of open space. Very nice beer garden.

Sometimes it's really nice to put an audiobook on and enjoy a lovely Sunday roast.

Three courses for £15 and the food is really good so definitely worth.