Hoop at Stock — Restaurant in Chelmsford

A truly delightful pub & restaurant in the heart of a small village with a great local feel . This is probably the best way to describe this place . Situated in the village of Stock in Ingatestone this local pub was a really great way to spend the afternoon. Although I new the area I didn't really know about this place until the Essex. Feast book was published and saw that they were in it I then made a few enquiries to which I was advised to pay them a visit so on Sunday of we went. On our arrival we decided to have a drink in the bar where they have a good selection of Real Ales and you immediately sense the great local atmosphere and friendly nature which is continued with the staff who's greeting is warm and friendly. There is plenty of room in the bar area for eating you just have to wait for a free table or as we did you can book a table in the Oak Room Restaurant which is situated upstairs where the friendliness of the place extends. On a Sunday they offer a 3 course lunch for £25 which turned out to be excellent value for money. We were then seated and started to look at the menu and even though offer about half a dozen other main dishes I think having seen the roast dinners in the bar it was going to be an easy decision. We started with the Citrus Cured Salmon and the Scotch Egg & Sausage Roll both very tasty Then it was time for the mains and yes we both had a fantastic roast dinner and without doubt one of the best I've had for a long while the Pork was a lovely thick cut which was juicy and tender with fantastic Crackling and the Beef was also perfectly cooked as were the accompaniments definitely a hearty roast dinner worth the visit by itself Before we ventured on to desserts a rest was needed and looking at the desserts it was hard to choose but after getting the advice of each one we decided to have the Apple & Pear Tart & I just had to have the Bread & Butter Pudding both served with thick custard and Clotted Cream Ice Cream and as like the previous courses were amazing and a great way to finish before relaxing with a coffee Well I can honestly say I'll be paying more visits to the Hoop and especially would like to attend one of there Tasting Menu evenings. So if really good pub food with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere then this is a place I would...

Came in today for a ladies who lunch date. 3 of us regular ladies who like dining out, all in our 70s. Skate wing was ordered by one of our party and she loved it. I ordered fish and chips which was adequate but I don't think justified a £20 price tag. But my other friend ordered a pork loin (without the sauce). I knew when it arrived she's wasn't going to like it. It looked dry as old boots and because of the speed it came from the kitchen it had to be pre cooked. She tried it but it wasn't eatable so she'd told there waitress, who took it back to the kitchen. A young lady came out and told me friend that it was dry because she asked not to have the sauce on it. She also said the kitchen staff had all tried it and they all thought it was fine. Now I don't expect 3 senior ladies, one of whom was married to a chef, to be told how a pork loin should be cooked. She spoke down to us, insinuating we didn't know what we were talking about and my friend was offered no apology. however she did offer to replace it with something else. So my friend had the skate as instead. We had finished our meals by the time her second choice came out, but by then the lunch was spoiled and she didn't enjoy her meal. We were so looking forward to this visit as we had been recommended, but due to the attitude of this staff member, and only for that reason, we will not be returning. The rest of the food was fine, desserts were lovely. The front of house staff were lovely and attentive. It's a bit pricey, but it's in a stunning village. £134.00 for 2 courses and 2 wines and 2 coffees. This included a12% discretionary service charge, which we would have removed had it not been for the other staff being very nice. A lovely lunch spoilt by one member of staffs attitude to a...

Popped in for a pizza as we live 5 minutes walk away. Extremely busy as always. Couldn’t get a table and was told when we mistakenly thought one of the three tables that was vacant was free to get away from the table as someone is sitting there in seconds. We had to order takeaway pizzas and while they was being cooked we had a beer then another. After 30 minutes the pizzas were done all in all 45 minutes and the tables was still empty. The waitress was not friendly nor professional in her job didn’t advise us didn’t offer any other service to us. After leaving I went back as I forgot my phone only to see the same waitress greeting and hugging two friends her were placed at the table we was told to get off. Luckily they are so busy they can pick & choose the pizza was average my shandy was 90% lemonade disappointing!

It’s a shame that an establishment can not take credible feedback and has to resort to lying and insulting a customer. At no time did we refuse to leave the table the young girl that came to us and said that she would see if the table was free. She didn’t return but the older lady did who was rude as much as you deny this. You took this review as an attack and came back with a staff meeting reviewing CCTV which you seem to have a camera set on every table I take it that includes sound. I don’t think I would like such intrusion while have a pub lunch...