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Detail Pages
The Orange Tree, Chelmsford
Chelmsford
CM2 0AS
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Orange Tree
Two room backstreet pub that is the local CAMRA branch's Pub of the Year. You enter into what appears more of a drinkers' bar. A corridor takes you past the kitchen and toilets to a second room, which is favoured for dining.
Beers and ciders are listed on blackboards. Mighty Oak Oscar Wilde is the regular ale. Guests were Mighty Oak Maldon Gold, Brentwood Gold & Lumberjack, Colchester Ambassador, Chelmsford Blueshack Port Jackson, Dartmoor Best & Skinner's Betty Stogs. Ciders were Weston's Old Rosie & Rosie's Pig, Thatcher's Cheddar Valley & Cornwall Cider Company Lyonesse, Apple Slayer & Mango, Lime & Ginger Cider. In addition, there appeared to be a selection of German beers, forming part of an Oktoberfest beer festival.
There are many pumpclips lining the walls. A cosy and friendly pub that is well worth a visit.
On 13th October 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Orange Tree
Another of Chelmsford’s excellent back street boozers, this one has a nice two bar set up with each room having a very different feel to it. The left hand side of the pub is the public bar – a bare boarded room with a fairly standard bar counter in the rear right corner. The room has been filled with standard furniture – simple tables and chairs opposite the bar and decent banquettes in the open space to the left supplemented with a few upturned barrels for vertical drinkers to rest their pint on. There is a small fireplace on one wall, hidden behind a blackboard that has been propped up on the hearth, and the walls are decorated with lot of rugby themed photos and posters for rugby themed beers. I spotted a dartboard to the rear left next to some eye-catching Charington and Belhaven mirrors and there was a TV screen on showing live cricket. A corridor lined with framed rugby shirts and other such memorabilia runs behind the bar, past the toilets, to the right hand room – a smart lounge bar with plush red carpet, a nice plaster fireplace and lots more standard seating which looked ideal for anyone wanting to eat. There was also a TV screen in this room, but it remained turned off. The locals were very welcoming and I was quickly wrapped up in conversation about the cricket and the evening’s big McGregor vs Mayweather fight.
The landlord apparently used to run the nearby Queens Head before defecting here and it seems that a passion for well kept real ale has followed him over. On handpull we had Dark Star Hophead, Plain Sheep Dip and IPA, St Peter’s Old Style Porter, Oakham Bishop’s Farewell and Mighty Oak Oscar Wilde Mild. I’ve always been a big fan of Plain Ales beers, so I opted for the Sheep Dip, served up by a friendly barmaid and in outstanding condition.
I found this an incredibly friendly and welcoming pub with comfortable surrounds and some really excellent beer. I thought this was the sort of pub I could easily imagine losing a great many hours in and was sorely tempted to stay on and try out a few more beers, but the call of the crawl dragged me away. A great little pub and a good place to centre a crawl of the local backstreet pubs around.
On 6th November 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Orange Tree
Another excellent pub and only a 1 mins walk from the Queens Head. This is another well run pub serving good beers. The interior consists of a medium sized L shaped bar with tables set out for dining. Also a large lounge to the right, the bar was brightly lit with light coloured timbers, flooring and tables and chairs all on the same theme. Seven ales on, I went for the St Peters Ruby ale.
On 17th June 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Orange Tree
This was the third of 6 2011 Good Beer Guide pubs we visited on 23.12.10. Went into the bar area which was full of folk having their pre xmas drinks and there was a noisy atmosphere. Selected Sharps Abbey Christmas and Mighty Oak Captain Bob, and went round the bak of the bar and found the quieter lounge area. They sometimes have live entertainment.
On 2nd January 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nigel Sheppard left this review about The Orange Tree
Visited this pub on 22/08/09 and things seem to have deteriorated. The staff are still friendly, but compared to how it was when it was initially taken over, there was a very poor selection of beers, we didn't stop long. On this occasion the Queens down the road was far better despite miserable staff, but neither are worth going out your way to visit, doubtful we will return.
On 23rd August 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 192 recommendations about 192 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Orange Tree
You are always assured of a friendly welcome from "Silent Mike"at this pub.There is usually a beer for all tastes served by very friendly female bar staff who all seem to know about the beers.A must to visit
On 25th July 2008
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]