Unique period one bedroom house in Colchester

Down a narrow city centre street, you'll find this attractive 18th-century building; a restaurant sits upstairs, while below is a trendy bar serving cocktails and light bites. The extensive menu ranges from bruschetta to quesadillas – plus a roast dinner on Sundays, of course – and the kitchen team ensure the dishes are as colourful and joyous as the décor and the atmosphere. The super-friendly, attentive service will really make you feel at home, as will bringing your own bottle on Wednesdays to take advantage of half-price corkage.

From the wooden beams to the antique furniture, there’s a huge amount of character to this spacious pub that sits inside four former cottages. The welcoming feel of the inglenook fireplace is matched by the warmth and pride of the service team as they serve a menu offering something for everyone, from a few pub classics to more inventive dishes. Great care in the cooking allows strong, complementary flavours to shine through, as in a lemon posset dessert with pistachio cream and a great bergamot gel. On a summer’s day, make sure you head straight for the terrace.

This superbly characterful restaurant on the riverbank belongs to the charming Talbooth House hotel; if you’re staying the night, you can be chauffeured over. Inside it has a stylish, rustic-chic design; most tables afford a river view. Cooking has classic roots but is given subtle modern touches.

A characterful yellow inn with an appealing shabby-chic style, located in a picturesque spot in the heart of Constable Country. The highly seasonal menu offers generous Mediterranean-inspired dishes and the well-chosen wine list offers plenty by the glass. Bedrooms are cosy – two have a modern New England style.