The Essex Golf & Country Club Hotel

Stay here last night. It’s not a top top notch hotel but was well worth the buck for what we paid. We paid £128 for 2 adults bed & breakfast. Room was very basic but u had access to the gym, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi & swimming pool which was small btw. Food on site was excellent, I had avocado, hummus & poached eggs on sourdough bread which was spot on, then had pie of the day (steak & ale) so much meat in the pie and our breakfast this morning was really good too. It’s a Buffett I had 2 sausages, 2 eggs, 2 bacon, hash brown & beans. Sausages were butchers sausages…..👌 they also had fresh orange & lovely fresh bread.

Nice twin room, thankful to find the windows open and a fan on when we arrived. Check in was ok but no information about breakfast etc was given. Slept ok considering we were on the ground floor in the carpark with men shouting outside in the carpark, one of whom was there when we got back from a concert, sitting in the carpark just wearing underpants. Appreciated the tea and coffee facilities but there was only one spoon, and only one sachet of hot chocolate. Shower was nice, everything was very clean and comfortable. Breakfast was not good at all. The menu in the room makes it look like breakfast is excellent but that's not the breakfast that's included in the room rate we had. There's no fruit or pastries and the cooked food is very limited and lord knows how long it sits under the lights waiting to be eaten. It was all dried up. Fried eggs sitting like that are never good. The coffee machine wasn't working properly. The swimming pool, steam room, and health and fitness area is great and the changing rooms are really lovely. If the breakfast was better I would have scored this place a 5.

Went with my wife and friends to their daughters 40th birthday party. Was told at reception that there was no possibility that our room could be free even a few minutes before 3pm. Waited until 2.40pm then had to join the queue of guests being given their room keys. At 10.10pm we had to leave the disco as we could not hear each other talk so went into the bar and ordered a capuccino and, before I could complete my order, I was told that I could not have it as coffee machine was switched off and would take an hour to switch back on? Young girl behind bar told me to go back to the bar at the event (disco) and order my coffee there. I did this but was told by the sole bar staff member that they doid not have a coffee machine and that I could order it at the bar. I returned to the bar but was again refused the coffee. No explanation was given for sending me to the events room. After a conversation with bar staff that resolved nothing, I asked to see manager and he was called by bar staff. After 35 minutes I spoke to a man wearing a uniform and asked where I could find the manager and he identified himself as that person. When I asked why he could not have identified himself as the bar manager he told me that he had never done that in his life. The whole conversation with him was bizarre particularly his version of events as told him by his bar staff - mostly inaccurate at best and lies at worst but he refused to speak to my friends to hear their version. The service by staff was disgraceful, unprofessional and unhelpful. I should mention that I was very surprised that, on the hottest day of the year, on entering my room I found the windows closed, a desk fan on and the radiator on making the room more like a sauna than a bedroom. The notice in the bathroom telling guests to close the bathroom door when having a shower as steam set off the fire alarms, was not helped by the fact that the small wall extract fan did not work. Breakfast at 7.30am (I really wanted to leave soon) was a joke as no cooked food arrived until 8.00am and no milk had been put into coffee machine so there was a queue there until remedied.

I stayed here for three nights on a work trip and left feeling refreshed, relaxed, and happy to return. My colleagues were in alternative accommodation as the hotel was fully booked; luckily, I booked in advance. I was allocated a ground-floor, golf-facing room. While initially a bit uneasy about the steady stream of golfers passing by my window, I quickly realised they were too focused on their game (and their friends) than on any of the rooms they were passing by on foot or in a buggy. It turned out to be quite a peaceful setting, and honestly, I was slightly envious of everyone enjoying their leisure time midweek! The grounds are beautiful, and the sunshine made it even better. The terrace was an absolute delight—ideal for breakfast, lunch, or a well-earned glass of wine in the evening. And if you enjoy a bit of plane spotting, the occasional Spitfire overhead is a fabulous sight. The pool and spa were highlights. I swam every morning before breakfast and again in the evenings. The spa bubbles were fantastic for an impromptu back massage. The steam room and sauna are shared spaces, which I prefer to be women-only, especially travelling solo, so I gave those a miss. I also hired the boardroom for a half-day meeting. It was well-presented and had everything I needed—except water, which I had to request. That struck me as an odd omission for a meeting space, but otherwise, no complaints. Breakfast was lovely. I tried the full English once—tasty and exactly as you'd expect—but the standout for me was the poached egg and avocado on sourdough (with smoked salmon which I added). So good, I had it again the next day! Lunch was equally enjoyable: I ordered the chicken Caesar salad twice because it was just that good (and yes, I forgot to take a photo both times). I chose to eat out for dinner, so I can’t comment on that. The room itself was clean and comfortable, though a little more minimal than expected—no water bottles, fridge, or even a glass in the bathroom for my toothbrush. I only had one set of towels and noticed my teacups weren't replaced daily. Small things, easily overlooked, especially given the quality of service. Speaking of service, the staff were lovely across the board. Every interaction was friendly, helpful, and professional. It's clear that hospitality is taken seriously here, and I felt genuinely welcome throughout my stay. I arrived by train and took a taxi, just a bit of a heads up, there are no big taxi companies in the area, you need to use local contractors and some only use cash. No cash machines at the hotel, you will need to ask your taxi to stop during your journey. I can recommend Earls Colne Cars, Ben and his wife Siobhan are helpful and so lovely, they gave my trip a very special edge. The hotel will provide you with a list. Despite a few minor quirks, this was a thoroughly enjoyable stay. I felt at ease, got my work done, and even managed a bit of self-care in the spa. I've already recommended it to colleague

We enjoyed our stay at The Essex. Very pleasant hotel with a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere in the restaurant and club facilities. Room was nice and clean. Was especially nice that we were able to use the pool and spa facilities for the rest of the day after our check out time. Staff were very helpful and friendly.

As a lone female business traveller, it felt safe, welcoming, comfortable, and perfect. The amenities are fabulous, there are places to relax as a lone traveller, food is really good, customer service is fab as the staff are nice, I loved this hotel, great place to base yourself if you are travelling for work and on your own.