Fliss from @upupandawaytheuk reviews her stay at The Cricketers in Clavering, Essex
FIRST IMPRESSION
Situated just outside of the charming Essex town of Saffron Walden, sits The Cricketers in Clavering. The pub is part of Chestnut, who own multiple pubs with rooms around East Anglia. I have had the pleasure of staying at one of their other inns before and dined at a few others and they are always exceptional. One of the best things about Chestnut is that they are extremely dog friendly. They allow dogs in their rooms as well as anywhere in the restaurant and bar and they even do a dog menu full of yummy treats and food for your four-legged friend.
INTERIORS
The pub has recently been renovated, clear by the contemporary touches and the style flowed from the bar to the restaurant. They beautifully mix the old with the new by keeping in character features such as the beams and seamlessly mix this with modern soft furnishing and lighting. One touch I particularly loved was the cricket ball room keys which played homage to the name of the pub so nicely.
BEDROOMS
We stayed in one of their ‘Best Rooms’ which features an unbelievably huge and cosy bed that was more than big enough for two. The fabulous floral wallpaper created a striking backdrop for the bed and dressing table which instantly catches your eye when you step into the room. The bathroom comes with a bath and my favourite Bramley products for a touch of luxury. The rooms are all individually decorated and have a boutique style to them which creates a sophisticated, but home from home feeling. So no matter what room you pick for your stay, you will have a wonderful time.
FOOD
The Cricketers food is pub grub at its finest. While we sipped on our drinks we were treated to some bread with oil and balsamic which was delicious. We decided to go straight for main courses and picked the risotto and fish and chips which both were great. We made sure to save room for pudding and shared both the cheese board and chocolate brownie which was one of the best I had had for a long time. The next morning we couldn’t wait to get back for breakfast which didn’t disappoint. They have a selection of bread, pastries and other continental treats that you can help yourself too, as well as hot cooked breakfasts as well. Morris was also treated with sausage and gravy for his dinner and sausage and scrambled eggs for breakfast.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
If you want a cosy retreat where you only have to stumble across the road for some delicious local drink and homemade food, it doesn’t get much better than this. All of the food we had over our stay was incredible and only made us want to head to more of their pubs during our staycation in East Anglia. If you have a dog this is a wonderful place to come as you can switch off and relax knowing they are super dog friendly, just be prepared for your dog to get lots of cuddles and attention. Check out their packages for some offers whether bringing the dog, wanting a last-minute retreat or a romantic getaway.
Up, Up and Away and The UK, Chestnut Brand Ambassador
Fliss is a travel and lifestyle blogger, sharing all things from UK staycations, lifestyle and dream destinations abroad.
Check out Fliss's blog www.upupandawayandtheuk.com
Follow her on Instagram @upupandawayandtheuk
A LITTLE ABOUT THE CRICKETERS
Our bar and dining areas have been sympathetically updated, reimagined spaces, inspired by the original 16th century fabric of the building. Brickwork and beams complimented by copper, wood paneling and gentle colours and textures. Our bedrooms, also refreshed, bringing the Essex countryside, inside with floral and botanical inspired fabrics, papers and paints.
Take a closer look at The Cricketers and our stay packages, including Dinner, Bed, and Breakfast and our dog-friendly, Muddy Paws Stay by clicking here.
Visit our doggy destination for discovering Chestnut pubs through the eyes of our favourite furry pals, Chestmutts.