Rose Inn, Southminster

This is a small roadside pub between Southminster and Burnham-On-Crouch. Owned by Grays, it is 'original'. There are two small bar areas, joined by an arch in front of the bar, with a couple of tables in each, and a small conservatory leading to the garden. Real ales are available with a couple on hand pump, and two more stored at the back of the bar and gravity served. These are the good parts. There are some not so good parts. The gravity served Greene King IPA was expensive and not that good. The traditional fireplace has a large screen television sitting on top of it. The garden has some nice furniture in it, but it is scruffy with an unsafe step in between it and the conservatory. The most annoying part were the pompous customers, including one who was sitting on a bar stool between the areas, so you had to turn sideways to get past him. They seem to treat the place as their personal dining room. I appreciate that you have to keep the regular customers happy when you are running a small pub on a main road, but it does not make it welcoming for visitors. We will not be returning.