First Impression
Situated just outside of the charming Essex town of Saffron Walden sits The Cricketers in Clavering. The pub is part of the Chestnut Collection who own multiple pubs with rooms around East Anglia. I have had the pleasure of staying at one of their other properties before and dined at a few others and they are always exceptional. One of the best things about the Chestnut Collection is that they are extremely dog friendly. They allow dogs in their rooms as well as anywhere in the restaurant and bar and they even do a dog menu full of yummy treats and food for your four-legged friend.
Interiors
The pub had recently been renovated when we stayed and you could tell by the contemporary touches and the gastro pub style that flowed from the bar to the restaurant. They beautifully mix the old with the new by keeping in character features such as the beams and seamlessly mix this with modern soft furnishing and lighting. One touch I particularly loved was the cricket ball room keys which played homeage to the name of the pub so nicely.
Room
We stayed in one of their ‘Best Rooms’ which features an unbelievably huge and cosy bed that was more than big enough for two. The fabulous floral wallpaper created a striking back drop for the bed and dressing table which instantly catches your eye when you step into the room. The bathroom comes with a bath and my favorite Bramley products for a touch of luxury. The rooms are all individually decorated and have a boutique style to them which creates a sophisticated but home from home feeling. So no matter what room you pick for your stay you will have a wonderful time.
Dining
The Cricketers food is pub grub at its finest. While we sipped on our drinks we were treated to some bread with oil and balsamic which was delicious. We decided to go straight for main courses and picked the risotto and fish and chips which both were great. We made sure to save room for pudding and shared both the cheese board and chocolate brownie which was one of the best I had had for a long time. The next morning we couldn’t wait to get back for breakfast which didn’t disappoint. They have a selection of bread, pastries and other continental treats that you can help yourself too, as well as hot cooked breakfast’s as well. Morris was also treated with sausage and gravy for his dinner and sausage and scrambled eggs for breakfast.
Overall Impression
If you want a cosy retreat where you only have to stumble across the road for some delicious local drink and home made food, it doesn’t get much better than this. All of the food we had over our stay was incredible and only made us want to head to more of their pubs during our staycation in East Anglia. If you have a dog this is a wonderful place to come as you can switch off and relax knowing they are super dog friendly, just be prepared for your dog to get lots of cuddles and attention. Check out their packages for some offers whether bringing the dog, wanting a last minute retreat or a romantic getaway.
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