The Hospital Arms, Colchester

Adnams Bitter, Explorer, Broadside, Woodforde's Wherry, Landlord, Harviestoun Ptarmigan, Nethergate Umbel Magna, one other? Enter to tiled bar area & the 3 Adnams pumps, left to wood-floored mid & rear areas carrying 2 & 3 handpumps respectively, sturdy wood tables, chairs, & high-backed settles, out to concreted beer garden made more welcoming by hanging baskets & flowering tubs, beyond the part-covered picnic sets the rear wall is painted in Adnams ‘beach style'. To the right of the front entrance is a small carpetted area with nice wood tables & chairs, a bookcase and condiment baskets against far wall. Chalkboard announced homemade dishes & the menu reads very well, most mains ~£6.

One of Colchester's better pubs, the Hospital Arms is close to the City Centre and provides a welcome retreat where you can get good food at a reasonable price and, more importantly, good beer. The interior is pleasant and uncluttered and the staff welcoming. Prices are reasonable and food is supposedly home-cooked. Three hand pumps on when I went in - 2 Adnams and Landlord. The former were both good. Recommended to give you a break from the Town Centre and for inclusion in any crawl.