Mersea Island Vineyard

The Easter beer festival was excellent, with a great beer selection, really good food options and fun music. It’s a lovely spot overlooking the vines. I think they’re missing an opportunity by not putting on a summer festival or a harvest festival too. They could do really well with one.

I enjoyed the sausage baguette with fried egg, it was filling and very good. The cafe is tucked away in Mersea Island Vineyard and has a comfortable, airy feel. Staff were attentive and friendly. There were plenty of cooked dishes and sandwiches on the menu. I hadn’t got around to drinking my coffee when a staff member kindly checked if it was okay and offered to replace it. A lovely gesture. I’ll be back.

We tried the wine tasting ensemble for £5 and the island gold ale, though the ale wasn’t really to my taste. I picked up a few other things to try later. The cafe food looked good; I only had a jacket potato, but it was lovely. There’s local produce to browse in the cafe shop, and you can park here before heading in. Definitely recommend this little vineyard.

The Sunday Roast is very popular, so you’ll need to reserve, but it’s well worth it. They don’t serve breakfast. The home-cooked menu is good value, and the food is excellent for both quality and portion size. Staff are consistently pleasant and efficient. It’s become popular enough that tables get reserved even during the week. There’s ample parking, and it’s suitable for disabled guests.