The Bakers Arms — Restaurant in Chelmsford

I tried to book a table on line last year & when arrived with a party of 6 was told there was not a table available and got an explanation which I accepted. I then booked again and had a lovely meal in which we decided to return on another 4 occasions. I booked again on line hoping to get a table for my 24th anniversary in which the booking was successful for about 2 hours. I then received a text message saying sorry we are fully booked but you could have a table at the bar. The pub is not the biggest the bar being quite small & not the most romantic setting for a anniversary. I asked if a table would be available on Saturday which to my delight it was. We turned up Saturday evening to first be told I hadn't made a booking in which I started looking through my phone for the text messages in which the staff member said yes there is a table but we can not serve you as our extractor fan is broken. I Know these things happen but a simple text message to your first serving that evening to let them know that it would be cancelled or that there will be a delay even if the incident happened 10, 15 or 20 minutes before hand. So on the basis that there on line bookings are still pointless & that the staff do not communicate to customers or seem to have no empathy towards your evening being ruined. We were planning on that evening to book a table for 6 for my sons birthday on Monday but I don't trust that will happen as we have no faith in actually being able to have a simple meal in a local pub. They really do need to get themselves organised and offer a better customer service especially being in the...

We recently had a delightful lunch to celebrate my mum's 70th birthday, surrounded by cherished friends and family. Joining us were my oldest school friend, her lovely daughter, and both our mums. The atmosphere was filled with warmth and laughter as we reminisced about old times and created new memories.

The restaurant provided a cozy and inviting ambiance, perfect for our special celebration. The staff were incredibly attentive and made sure we had everything we needed, adding to the overall pleasant experience.

The menu was a hit with everyone. Some of Us had the Caesar salad, which was perfectly balanced with just the right amount of dressing, the pork and cider pie was a hearty delight, with tender meat and a rich, flavorful gravy that complemented the crust beautifully. The cheese and red onion jacket potato was a comforting choice, with the creamy cheese and sweet onion melding together wonderfully (its a firm favourite!).

Each dish was perfectly prepared and added to the joy of our gathering. The presentation was lovely, and the portions were generous, ensuring that everyone left satisfied.

Overall, it was a memorable day, made even more special by the presence of lifelong friends. Celebrating such a significant milestone with those who have been part of our journey for so long was truly heartwarming. The restaurant provided the perfect setting for this joyous occasion, and we couldn't have asked for a...

My Mum booked a table back in April for a family get together and was required to pay deposit of £5 per head which worked out at £60. Unfortunatley a number of us went down with Covid a few days before so we decided to cancel. My Mum phoned up to cancel and get the deposit back and was told she could hold the deposit over for a later date. Mum explained that getting our family together is not always easy and it could be up to 6 months. She was told that this was fine. When she tried to rearrange for early September she was told there was no record of this and showing a bank statement of the £60 payment was not proof of deposit. They took the booking and said they would check on social media to see if anyone had any recollection of the booking and didn't take a further deposit. They said they would let us know. On the morning of the booking they contacted us saying they had been trying to contact us all week (they hadn't we checked the phone log) because they had received no deposit. My Mum explained the situation and was virtually accused of lying. They then said as a goodwill gesture they would take £20 off the table which seemed a bit strange since they had just implied she was making the whole thing up. We took our custom elsewhere although we've paid £60 for essentially nothing and the whole thing has been dealt with very badly. Won't be going...