Angry landlords have hit out at a new guide recommending just one pub in south Essex.

The Les Routiers Pubs and Inns Guide has picked out the Bell Inn and Hill House, in Horndon-on-the-Hill, as the area's sole pub of note.

Made it - John and Christine Vereker's Bell pub is in the guide Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

The guide aims to pick out pubs providing good home-cooked food, good ales and wines.

The Bell Inn and Hill House has been a pub for 600 years.

It is run by John and Christine Vereker, but has been owned by the family since 1938.

Other pub owners, though, were unhappy about the lack of representation.

Del McGill, of the Nags Head in Ramsden Heath, said: "I'd put my pub up against any in this guide."

Published Friday, June 6, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Echo