Colchester's Michelin Guide restaurants – and what makes them special

In Colchester and some of the city’s surrounding towns and villages, there are several locations which tick all the right boxes – places where chefs master the basics as well as produce innovative dishes which you wouldn’t dare attempt at home.

Surroundings, of course, count for a lot too, and these restaurants have that in spades, according to the Michelin Guide.

Featuring in the Michelin Guide is not as prestigious as having a Michelin Star, but making the famous red book is still an achievement in that it means the restaurant offers exceptionally good food at a moderate price.

Here are the restaraunts in and around Colchseter which the experts say are more than worth a visit.

Kintsu

In February last year, Kintsu was one such restaurant to receive the Bib Gourmand, with the Michelin Guide website describing the North Hill venue as offering “well-crafted and eye-catching modern dishes [which] populate the multi-course tasting menus here”.

“The restaurant is tucked away in a courtyard inside a Grade II listed former barn, with stylish contemporary décor.

Successful – Paul Wendholt, who Grain until October 2021 with business partner Jordan Sidwell, now runs Kintsu (Image: Newsquest)

“For a special treat book a spot at the two-seater chef's table in front of the kitchen, where the chefs finish off some dishes in front of you.”

Church Street Tavern

The Church Street Tavern is another Colchester restaurant to feature in the Michelin Guide, and is already known by some in the city for its Wednesday Wine Club.

An entry on the Michelin Guide website read: “Set down a narrow city centre street, this modern brasserie sits within an attractive 18th century building and is run in a relaxed, efficient manner.

Evolving – the Church Street Tavern launched a new menu in March (Image: N/a)

“The trendy, shabby-chic bar serves cocktails and light bites, while the upstairs restaurant offers British classics with Mediterranean influences.”

The restaurant was opened in 2014, and launched a new menu in March.

The Three Horseshoes

Slightly further out towards Fordham is The Three Horseshoes, which was bought by Moira Edwards in December 2020.

The pub, which expanded earlier this year, is described as having “a huge amount of character”.

In charge – Josh Dawson is the head chef at The Three Horseshoes (Image: Phil Carey)

An entry on the Michelin Guide website read: “The welcoming feel of the inglenook fireplace is matched by the warmth and pride of the service team as they serve a selection of modern British dishes mixed with a few pub classics.

“Great care in the cooking allows strong, complementary flavours to shine through.

“On a summer’s day, make sure you head straight for the terrace.”

Talbooth

Firmly in the CO7 postcode, Talbooth is found about eight miles outside Colchester, in Dedham.

The restaurant was established in 1952 and is a well-known location for foodies who enjoy some of life’s finer things.

Well known – The Talbooth has been a popular restaurant on the banks of the Stour since the 1950s (Image: Newsquest)

An entry from the Michelin Guide read: “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.”

The restaurant is open every day of the week, and this year it will host the annual Oyster Feast whilst Colchester’s Moot Hall undergoes repairs.

The Angel Inn

Out in Stoke-by-Nayland, the Angel Inn is a red-brick pub more than 500 years old and was refurbished last year.

To add to its stellar 2022, it was also crowned the East of England Hotel of the Year by the Sunday Times.

The Michelin Guide website described it in glowing terms.

Celebrated – The Angel Inn was given the title of being the best hotel in the East of England last year by the Sunday Times (Image: Newsquest)

It read: “The stylish restaurant is divided into several rooms – and fans of wooden beams and open fireplaces won’t be disappointed.

“The Spanish-born chef applies some subtle influences from his homeland in the cooking, lending a boldness of colour and flavour to many a dish.

“Equal attention to detail has been applied to the decoration of the bedrooms.”