The Bull, Brook Street, Brentwood

With its white washed exterior and dark wood window surrounds the Bull is a decent looking enough roadside pub just off Junction 28 of the M25 on the A1023 into Brentwood. It advertises itself as a Country Pub and Kitchen, which is correct in one way in that it does seem to have a focus on food but you need a fairly active imagination to consider this a country pub. It is a fairly large space internally and clearly formerly a mult roomed pub, but now three distinct connected areas. Entering the main door leads into the central section where the bar serving area is. There is a couple of settee style seating around this area but it is mainly open. Then to the left is a slightly elevated area with more seating and to the right is a formal restaurant section. The restaurant section looks a lot bigger than it actually is by the good use of a mirrored far wall. The restaurant menu looked decent and not overly expensive but we ate off the bar menu and the Club and BLT sandwiches we had were very good, served with chunky chips in a metal basket, which is about as Gastro as I like it. On the drinks side, there were the usual chrome pump lager and Guinness offerings. The bar top also has three hand pumps, but one was unclipped and the other two were the less than inspiring choice of Courage Best and Directors. But my pint of Best was perfectly fine to wash down the chips. Wasn’t that busy on the Monday lunchtime I visited but still efficient and friendly service from the uniformed bar staff, especially from the cheery Essex lass who served me. Not one I would search out, but certainly fulfilled the need for a food and drink break close to this section of the M25.

Official site of the Bull - thebullbrentwood.com

Official site of the Bull - thebullbrentwood.com