The Vine, Braintree

Official site of the Vine with menu and event details - www.thevine-greatbardfield.com

Official site of the Vine with menu and event details - www.thevine-greatbardfield.com

This ex Ridleys (now Greene King) house was once easily the busiest pub in Bardfield but the roles are now reversed with the Bell proving far more popular. The front bar, now back to being the saloon after a period when it changed to being the public bar, does not seem to attract much custom at all. The rear room, back to its proper role of public bar, fares a little better. Much space is given over to the pool table, but there is still ample seating. There are some interesting old photos on the wall, apparently retrieved from the cellar. GK IPA was acceptable and Old Speckled Hen perfectly fine on my visits. It's hard to see what the Vine is doing wrong, but being so quiet it does lack a bit of atmosphere. Perhaps a basic good value menu served into the evenings and some interesting guest real ales would help.