Best Gastro Pubs in Halstead

A recommendation from the Michelin Guide App. A quiet lunch date with my wife, we had the set menu which was a selection from the main menu, The tempura prawns, haddock and Crumble were fantastic, Truffle triple cooked chips were not overpowering as is the case with many truffle options elsewhere. The whipped Stilton and sourdough was devine followed by the gammon, topped with the perfect egg. All of the staff we encountered were welcoming, caring which was a breath of fresh air , as nothing was too much trouble. A great first visit.

Quite fantastic lunch out with friends. Our favourite place. Staff wonderful, menu wonderful, food spectacular. And a guest with allergies well catered for by well informed staff. Joy

We booked the Axe and Compasses to catch up with friends and have a nice dinner out. It was our first time there and we were not disappointed. The food was excellent, with generous portions, as was the service; our two servers were both friendly and professional, and a credit to the pub. Consensus was that everything tasted great, but special mention to the pork belly dish with black pudding mash that my friend ordered, it looked superb and the report back was that it was delicious! It was a bit quiet in term of ambience, we were the only diners in the restaurant area for most of the night, but it was a very cold evening, so people may have just not have been going out much. We will definitely plan to come back, lovely experience all round.

The food was good, the service was minimal as only had lunch. I am more than happy that the Kings Arms is back in action and serving food, however, it seemed evident that we went for Friday Lunch they are struggling for customers. This may be because it is January, however, I believe they need to look at their pricing as this may be a factor. With the Popular Angel very nearby with easy access and parking, they are offering food at a slightly lower price than the Arms- burgers being one example. The Arms are charging additional for cheese and bacon - can understand the bacon but not the cheese. Pizzas are a pound or so cheaper and finally charging £5 for a pint of Diet Coke is extreme. I want the Kings Arms to be successful and so my feedback is meant to be constructive- either drop prices slightly and take the hit or maybe look at more economical ingredients to bring down costs. Good luck the Arms - I’m fully behind you but will struggle to pay over £50 for two lunch meals and two soft drinks in the future.

Friendly staff, lovely surroundings and good menu choice