The Fox & Fiddler, Colchester

Decent pub just along from the Spoons. 2 Mighty Oak beers on when I called, Captain Bob and Jesters. I went for the latter which was fine. Happy to have called in.

Mighty Oak Maldon Gold, English Oak, IPA, & Mixed Doubles (a confusing pumpclip helpfully annotated with a sticker indicating ‘blonde'), one pump unclipped. The Maldon Gold was excellent value at £2.20 ‘all day, every day', and this meant the cheapest 4-pint round of the day at £9.70. The front bar has marble-topped tables & rather strange leather seating & sofas where one would expect more traditional wood furnishings but, that aside, I like the place & the guv is a courteous & genial host. I don't recall all the 3-Para photos last visit, was I asleep? 9 March 2008 Another pub added to our crawl on local recommendation, and rightly so. Very friendly greeting and service at the bar, Mighty Oak Burntwood, Maldon Gold, Everyman an Emporer, English Oak, and the fabulous In Seine. Pub arranged in 3 sections with bar and seating at the front, a lovely beamed room to the rear entirely occupied by a huge square table around which is seating for 12-15, and in between more seating in a dining room style. The rear two sections are separated by a large chimney breast. I fear the barman, dressed in full St George crusader outfit before the rugby, may have taken some mighty stick from his kilted chums Sat night.

The Fox and Fiddler is a lively high street pub which can swing unpredictably between squaddie bar and decent boozer and back several times in an evening. It's an historic building and many of the older architectural features, some from the 14th Century, are on display. Of note is the front fireplace, brick built with a timber cill, surmounted by a stone frieze. There is a small, quiet garden at the back. It has been a GBG regular, and deservedly so, and is currently serving some excellent beers in superb condition. I had a pint of Mighty Oak's Flying Inn, an outstanding pint. While I can't actually warm to the pub, I have to say it's an essential part of a town crawl and worth spending time in for its beer quality alone.