The Maypole — Restaurant in Uttlesford

Our first visit to The Maypole certainly won't be our last.

Excellent food made with locally sourced produce (the pig farm, Priors Hall, is only a couple of miles away - and provided excellent meat). The chips were good, the burger was divine, the rack of ribs amazing (and massive!) and most things come in smaller portions for children, too: sausage, mash and peas for our little one this occasion. All washed down with an excellent bottle of red (and a J2O!). It came to a little over £60 which might seem expensive for the area but it was definitely worth it.

There's a good selection of beers, best enjoyed in the great back garden, overflowing with flowers, pub signs and ornaments. Little nooks and crannies to sit in, making it feel cozy, even when they're are many others there. Dogs are allowed on leads, and (as always should be the case) children must be supervised. The inside has more of a feel of a restaurant than a pub, but then again I guess this is more of a 'gastro-pub' than a boozer. The toilets were clean and there is a car-park..... regulars and passers-by alike are welcome here!

Best of all, though, were the staff. Best friendly and service was quick. They seem to like being there, which always helps. Admittedly it was a quiet Monday night, but they all took the time to chat to us, and not just about the food! Harry, especially, deserves a shout-out: this young man will go far in life!

We'll most definitely be back....

Right, where to start? Recommended so many times, actually got time to visit. Drive up and park. Outside space so welcoming. When summer finally start, a perfect place to be. You can see a lot of thought has gone into the layout. Sit down outside, go in order drinks to mull over the (very extensive) menu. Lady behind the bar straight on it. Soooooo polite. Drinks served and the the waitress comes out with the menu. Looks so much better in the “flesh”, actually throws us as to what to have! Such a selection. Decide on options and OMG perfect. So, so nice to (in these days) get proper home cooked food. We (as in my wife and I) are so used to “chain pub food”. Not here. Long gone are the days when you arrive and are told of the limited items on the menu as they are sold out, no mass produced frozen products waiting to be re-heated. The staff are so attentive, a real family run place. The lunch offer was/is amazing, spoilt for choice. The kitchen got the food out piping hot and true to taste. And the cost, so competitive in the current climate. All in all a fantastic place well worth the visit. But please, book in, we were a walk in and were very lucky. Cheers to Dean for the recommendation and of course, all the staff, management, front of house and kitchen (often overlooked)!!!!! Bleeding...

I was a member of a U3A Church visiting group visiting Thaxted midweek. Requiring a lunch after our exhausting church visit, we had booked some tables at the Maypole well in advance of our visit to accommodate approx 30 people. The Maypole gave us a fixed but varied menu at a fixed price for two courses and we all made our choices in advance. On arrival at the pub at the due time, we received a very warm welcome. I was particularly enthused by the choice of draught ales! The whole ambience of the pub was comfortable and relaxing. I had chosen the salmon which came with a sauce and plenty of potatoes, french beans and carrots. Often there is a shortage of vegetables, but not at the Maypole! Others around me had chosen vegetable tart and sausage and mash which they pronounced as excellent. My dessert was apple crumble and custard, and my wife had a massive slice of delicious cheesecake which she declared to be very tasty indeed! Coffees and teas including fruit teas were then supplied to wash it all down before we ventured out again to explore the Guildhall. Our group visit a a different church each month followed by a lunch at a nearby hostelry. I must say that the Maypole is probably amongst the very best where we have dined. If ever in Thaxted again, I shall make a beeline for...