Yahoo News The Essex restaurants named the best in the UK for outdoor dining
Two Essex restaurants have been named among the best in the UK for outdoor dining, as the country enters the summer season. The new research shows nearly half of UK dog owners prefer to be in a restaurant full of dogs (45 per cent) compared to 39 per cent who would rather be surrounded by fellow human diners, and with summer just around the corner, 80 per cent prefer to sit at an outdoor table when dining out while the weather is nice.
To welcome the warmer weather, OpenTable has launched its annual list of Top 100 Restaurants for Outdoor Dining 2024, based on more than 2.2million diner reviews and metrics, which also includes over 70 dog friendly restaurants. The restaurants in Essex listed in the top 100 are The Anchor in Danbury, and The Anchor Inn in Nayland. While the two share the same name, they are separate businesses.
Speaking about their facilities, The Anchor in Danbury said on their website: "We have a lovely large garden with a fun children's play area, great for keeping the kids entertained while you catch up with friends and family over a relaxing drink or with some great food. Four legged friends are welcome at the pub, please ask our friendly staff for confirmation on which areas can accommodate you as we do require that dogs are kept out of the main dinning areas. Please note reservation with a dog is necessary during busy periods."
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On TripAdvisor, The Anchor has an average rating of four out of five from 562 reviews. The positive reviews hail the atmosphere and dog-friendly nature of the pub, with some describing the food as "high class pub grub".
The Anchor Inn, Nayland is a riverside pub, with sprawling outdoor facilities which range from barbecues being hosted in the summer months to roaring open fires in the colder parts of the year. They said on their website: "Perching on the banks of the River Stour, tucked away in the picturesque village of Nayland, sits The Anchor Inn, a charming country inn and restaurant serving traditional British cuisine with a twist.
"With a rich and colourful past The Anchor Inn is steeped in history and is reputed to be the last remaining place from where the press gangs recruited their volunteers. It also has a children's menu, family days and barbeques in the summer, a private dining room and views from its conservatory over the river. There's also a well-stocked bar and roaring open fire in winter months."
Based on more than 600 TripAdvisor reviews, The Anchor Inn also has an average rating of four out of five. People praised the atmosphere and quality of the food, sharing pictures of the many outdoor tables and pods to sit around and inside their garden area.
Laure Bornet, Vice President of International Growth at OpenTable, said: "The majority of UK dog owners are usually on the lookout for pub gardens when dining alfresco with their dogs, with courtyards and waterfronts also proving popular. From a charming pub garden at The Duncombe Arms in Derbyshire to a waterside terrace found at Gaucho Richmond in London and seaside spot at the Bank At The Bude in Cornwall, our nationwide Top 100 Restaurants for Outdoor Dining list has an alfresco setting for all, with over 70 dog-friendly spots.”
