The delightfully traditional Essex pub with a forest in its back garden

Essex has many pubs worth visiting, but the Forest Gate Inn on the outskirts of Epping Forest is a delightful traditional pub that’s serious about their range of ales and gins that is definitely worth a trip.

Run by the Stokes family for over 50 years, this is a place that carefully creates a balance between homely and refined. Selling local eggs and honey from their garden, creating a menu of homemade classics, while also taking pride in an expertly selected range of real ales, distilled gins, wines and lagers, this is a family run pub that means business.

Known for its warm atmosphere, range of drinks, and its 17th century building with low ceilings & flag floors, Forest Gate Inn seems to have it all. Welcome to families and to dog walkers alike, this is a pub in the perfect spot for catch ups, only a mile from Epping Underground and on the edge of Epping Forest.

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ChigwellGavin commented on Tripadvisor: “This was my first visit here with a friend for lunch. Lovely staff. Good beer. Great grub. I’m looking forward to my next visit when I shall introduce other friends. There are plenty of tables and seats outside. I bet it’s great fun in summer.”

DavidGarnierWiseman, another reviewer, added “I love this place. I live in France where no pubs exist, but if there were one like this I would be there all the time. It's completely unpretentious and not fancy, but the beer is good, the Guiness always perfectly poured, and the pub food is simple but good. I love the paperbacks and sweeties on sale for a local charity, the eggs and cucumbers on sale at the bar in the summer and the banter at the bar.”