The Kings Arms, Colchester

This is a gastro-style Greene King pub, just outside the town centre. The pastel colour scheme, both inside and out, and the bare floorboards make the place feel like an unbranded gastro chain pub and the cheap food menus and large number of diners suggest that food is the main pull factor. The interior is split level, with a raised bar area which has a wide space for vertical drinking as well as a few high stools along drinking ledges. On the lower level there are two carpeted rooms with standard tables and chairs, which were all taken by 17:00 on a Friday afternoon. Newspapers were available attached to large sticks, presumably to stop people walking out with them and easy listening music was quietly playing in the background. Three ales were on when I visited - Greene King IPA and London Glory and Hardy and Hanson Old Trip (£3.00), despite there being six available pumps. The taps offered Aspall Cider and Estrella and Peroni lagers among others. My pint of Old Trip was served too cold. The pub has a very clean cut feel to it and therefore felt pretty bland to me. It was packed with young professionals, who I guess would be a big part of this place's target market, but I'm afraid it didn't do much for me and I doubt I would return given better pubs a short distance away.