The Bell Inn

The lighting was quite dim, which made the menu hard to read and photos difficult to take. Even so, we were very pleased with our meal and would happily return. The truffle mushroom soup was smooth and fragrant, the main was beautifully presented, full of flavour and cooked just right, and the desserts were very well done too. We came to the pub restaurant with our neighbours, and it was busy, so booking ahead was a good idea. We liked the traditional English building and décor. The staff were professional and friendly, showed us to our reserved table, and brought the menus promptly. Food and drinks arrived in good time.

In Room 20, the Super King Room, early check-in was arranged and communication was good. The room was spacious and very clean, with a nice mix of historic character and contemporary touches. Breakfast at the Ostlers restaurant next to the pub/inn was excellent. The one problem was the pull blind on a window that wouldn’t close all the way. A bright floodlight in the adjacent car park stayed on all night, and both it and the morning sunlight lit up the room. I mentioned it to Reception when I checked out.

The inn has a great old-world feel, with exposed beams and lots of character in both the rooms and bar. It was busy and had a lovely atmosphere, even in the middle of the afternoon. Free parking is available for residents right outside the room, though getting between the buildings takes some confident driving. You’ll see what I mean! Glad I left the SUV at home. We stopped overnight, having booked in advance, and our ground-floor room was at the rear of the restaurant by the parking. It was large, with a big shower and a comfortable bed. Check-in was easy, and reception was very friendly. The location is absolutely perfect for an overnight stop on the way to Tilbury port.

A big thank you to Emma, who took my call and arranged a Sunday roast for our family at short notice, even though the place was very busy. When we arrived, a lovely man and woman welcomed us warmly. Sorry I didn’t get their names, but they’ll know who they are. The man was so attentive, checking that we were enjoying our meal and explaining in detail to our grandson, who’s just under 3 years old, what the juice he was drinking was made from. The smiling woman who served our meal also made sure we knew to ask if we needed anything else. The whole team made my family feel welcome, and we loved the place and the amazing food. Thanks as well to the Chef and his team, who must work very hard behind the scenes to give guests a lovely dining experience. We’ll definitely visit again. As the gentleman said, there’s no excuse since I live only in Chafford Hundred.