Best Pubs in Essex

Looking for the best pubs in Essex? Estuary inns, medieval market-town locals, and Thames-side beer gardens across the county. From long-established locals to busy market-town inns, drinking out across Essex reflects the character of England. Whether you want real ale, pub food, or a quiet corner for a pint, the county's top hostelries are a fine introduction to the area.

Highly recommended Pubs in Essex

Our editors' hand-picked stand-outs from across Essex. Explore the full guides and find your next favourite local.

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Best pubs in Essex by town

Best Pubs in Aveley

Essex

Thurrock village pubs, estuary locals, and quiet drinking spots between Purfleet and Grays.

Best Pubs in Basildon

Essex

New-town locals, festival pubs, and High Street drinking spots serving Basildon's growing commuter community.

Best Pubs in Billericay

Essex

Commuter-town pubs, High Street inns, and Basildon-border locals popular with London workers.

Best Pubs in Boreham

Essex

Chelmsford commuter pubs, village inns, and countryside locals between the city and the A12.

Best Pubs in Braintree

Essex

Market-town inns, Freeport-adjacent locals, and countryside pubs on the edge of Constable country.

Best Pubs in Brentwood

Essex

Racecourse pubs, High Street inns, and well-heeled locals serving Brentwood's commuter crowd.

Best Pubs in Brightlingsea

Essex

Colne estuary pubs, sailing-club bars, and seaside locals in Essex's only Cinque Port.

Best Pubs in Buckhurst Hill

Essex

Epping Forest edge pubs, High Road inns, and Central line locals on the Essex-London border.

Best Pubs in Burnham-on-Crouch

Essex

Crouch estuary pubs, yacht-harbour bars, and sailing-town locals on the Dengie coast.

Best Pubs in Canvey Island

Essex

Island pubs, sea-wall locals, and classic Essex drinking spots with views across the Thames Estuary.

Best Pubs in Castle Hedingham

Essex

Norman castle village pubs, Colne Valley inns, and north Essex countryside locals.

Best Pubs in Chadwell St Mary

Essex

Thurrock estuary locals, commuter pubs, and riverside drinking spots near Tilbury and Grays.

Best Pubs in Chelmsford

Essex

Essex's county city mixes market-town heritage with a thriving real ale scene, especially around Moulsham Street and the railway arches near the station.

Best Pubs in Chigwell

Essex

Affluent Essex locals, golf-club bars, and Central line commuter pubs on the edge of Epping Forest.

Best Pubs in Chipping Ongar

Essex

Epping Forest border pubs, High Street inns, and rural Essex locals on the old coaching road.

Best Pubs in Clacton-on-Sea

Essex

Seaside pier pubs, holiday bars, and year-round locals along Clacton's classic Essex coast.

Best Pubs in Coggeshall

Essex

Wool-town inns, abbey-village pubs, and mid-Essex locals with timber-framed charm.

Best Pubs in Colchester

Essex

Roman garrison town pubs, historic high-street inns, and strong cask-ale tradition in Britain's oldest recorded town.

Best Pubs in Corringham

Essex

Thurrock peninsula pubs, marsh locals, and estuary drinking spots near Stanford-le-Hope.

Best Pubs in Danbury

Essex

Village inns, Chelmsford commuter pubs, and ridge-top locals with views across the Blackwater.

Best Pubs in Dedham

Essex

Constable Country inns, riverside pubs, and art-trail drinking spots on the Essex-Suffolk border.

Best Pubs in Earls Colne

Essex

Colne Valley market pubs, High Street inns, and north-west Essex real-ale locals.

Best Pubs in East Tilbury

Essex

Thurrock marsh pubs, Bata estate locals, and riverside drinking spots on the Thames foreshore.

Best Pubs in Epping

Essex

Forest-edge inns, market-town pubs, and Epping Forest gateway locals on the Essex-London border.

Best Pubs in Finchingfield

Essex

Picture-postcard village pubs, duck-pond inns, and rural Essex drinking rooms.

Best Pubs in Frinton-on-Sea

Essex

Genteel seaside pubs, Esplanade locals, and quiet Tendring coast bars with a restrained resort feel.

Best Pubs in Galleywood

Essex

Chelmsford fringe pubs, racecourse locals, and commuter-belt inns south of the city.

Best Pubs in Grays

Essex

Thurrock riverside pubs, town-centre locals, and estuary drinking spots close to the Dartford crossing.

Best Pubs in Great Baddow

Essex

Chelmsford suburb pubs, High Street locals, and riverside bars on the Chelmer.

Best Pubs in Great Dunmow

Essex

Flitch country inns, market-town pubs, and Uttlesford locals steeped in medieval Essex tradition.

Best Pubs in Great Notley

Essex

Braintree new-town pubs, community locals, and A120 corridor drinking spots in mid-Essex.

Best Pubs in Great Wakering

Essex

Rochford marsh pubs, seaside locals, and Thames Estuary drinking spots near Shoeburyness.

Best Pubs in Hadleigh

Essex

Castle Point locals, High Street inns, and Benfleet-border pubs in south Essex.

Best Pubs in Halstead

Essex

North Essex market pubs, wool-town inns, and Constable-border locals in the Colne valley.

Best Pubs in Harlow

Essex

New-town pubs, social clubs, and High Street bars shaped by Harlow's post-war planned community.

Best Pubs in Harwich

Essex

Harbour pubs, ferry-port inns, and maritime locals on the Stour and Orwell estuaries.

Best Pubs in Heybridge

Essex

Maldon creek pubs, sea-lock locals, and Blackwater estuary drinking spots.

Best Pubs in Holland-on-Sea

Essex

Quiet seaside locals, coast pubs, and Tendring shore drinking spots between Clacton and Frinton.

Best Pubs in Hullbridge

Essex

Crouch estuary locals, riverside pubs, and quiet Essex drinking spots popular with boat owners.

Best Pubs in Ingatestone

Essex

Brentwood corridor inns, village pubs, and A12-side locals in rolling mid-Essex countryside.

Best Pubs in Jaywick

Essex

Seaside estate pubs, coast locals, and no-frills Essex drinking spots on the Tendring shore.

Best Pubs in Kelvedon

Essex

Colchester corridor pubs, railway locals, and north Essex drinking spots on the A12.

Best Pubs in Leigh-on-Sea

Essex

Old town pubs, cockle-shed locals, and estuary inns in Southend's historic fishing quarter.

Best Pubs in Loughton

Essex

Epping Forest edge pubs, High Road inns, and village locals on the Central line fringe.

Best Pubs in Maldon

Essex

Blackwater estuary pubs, Hythe Quay inns, and salt-marsh locals famous for Maldon mudflat views.

Best Pubs in Manningtree

Essex

Stour valley pubs, Constable country inns, and Tendring border locals in England's smallest town.

Best Pubs in North Weald

Essex

Airfield heritage pubs, Epping Forest fringe inns, and rural north Essex locals.

Best Pubs in Orsett

Essex

Thurrock village pubs, crossroads inns, and countryside locals between Brentwood and the Thames.

Best Pubs in Pitsea

Essex

Basildon district pubs, market locals, and south Essex drinking spots around the A13 corridor.

Best Pubs in Purfleet-on-Thames

Essex

Thames-side pubs, warehouse locals, and Thurrock riverside drinking spots below the QEII Bridge.

Best Pubs in Rayleigh

Essex

Market-town inns, High Street locals, and friendly neighbourhood pubs in the heart of Rochford district.

Best Pubs in Rochford

Essex

Market-square inns, district locals, and quiet Essex pubs near the old roach fishing trade.

Best Pubs in Saffron Walden

Essex

Uttlesford market pubs, historic inns, and countryside locals beneath the Audley End estate.

Best Pubs in Shoeburyness

Essex

Garrison pubs, coast locals, and Thames Estuary drinking spots at the end of the Southend line.

Best Pubs in South Benfleet

Essex

Estuary-side locals, village pubs, and easy-going Essex drinking spots near Hadleigh and the creek.

Best Pubs in South Ockendon

Essex

Thurrock commuter pubs, estate locals, and no-nonsense Essex bars on the London fringe.

Best Pubs in South Woodham Ferrers

Essex

Planned-town pubs, community locals, and Chelmsford commuter drinking spots around the town square.

Best Pubs in Southend-on-Sea

Essex

Seaside arches pubs, golden-mile bars, and old-town locals along the Thames Estuary front.

Best Pubs in Southminster

Essex

Dengie peninsula pubs, High Street inns, and remote Essex coastal locals.

Best Pubs in Stanford-le-Hope

Essex

Thurrock estuary pubs, railway locals, and working-class drinking spots with strong community character.

Best Pubs in Stansted Mountfitchet

Essex

Uttlesford market pubs, castle-village inns, and airport-corridor locals on the M11 fringe.

Best Pubs in Thaxted

Essex

Uttlesford windmill pubs, medieval market inns, and north Essex locals steeped in Morris dancing tradition.

Best Pubs in Theydon Bois

Essex

Epping Forest village pubs, Green Man inns, and Central line fringe locals.

Best Pubs in Thundersley

Essex

Residential locals and traditional Essex pubs tucked among the woods and commuter streets of Castle Point.

Best Pubs in Tilbury

Essex

Docks pubs, Thames-side locals, and industrial Essex drinking spots with deep port heritage.

Best Pubs in Tiptree

Essex

Jam-country pubs, village inns, and mid-Essex locals famous for Wilkin & Sons and surrounding farmland.

Best Pubs in Walton-on-the-Naze

Essex

Seaside holiday pubs, pier-adjacent bars, and Tendring coast locals with classic resort character.

Best Pubs in West Mersea

Essex

Oyster fleet pubs, harbour inns, and island locals famous for Mersea's seafood and sailing crowd.

Best Pubs in West Thurrock

Essex

Thurrock lakeside pubs, retail-park locals, and Thames gateway drinking spots.

Best Pubs in Westcliff-on-Sea

Essex

Cliff-top pubs, seafront bars, and Southend locals with views across the Estuary to Kent.

Best Pubs in Wickford

Essex

Town-centre locals, railway-side pubs, and neighbourhood bars in south Essex commuter territory.

Best Pubs in Witham

Essex

Braintree valley pubs, High Street inns, and mid-Essex locals with a proper market-town feel.

Best Pubs in Wivenhoe

Essex

Colne riverside pubs, university-adjacent locals, and sailing-town inns below the Wivenhoe dam.

Best Pubs in Writtle

Essex

Chelmsford village pubs, green-common locals, and agricultural Essex inns on the River Wid.