Eat & drink
When you decide to go out for the day there is sometimes nothing better than having the perfect place to rest, stay warm and dry and catch up with friends and family. Many of the Explore Essex parks and places have cafes, refreshment kiosks, and shops at their visitor centres. Discover whether you can browse and shop, or pick up a hot drink at your intended destination.
Discover where to eat and drink at our parks and places.
Belhus Woods Country Park
Café open for hot and cold drinks, refreshments and snacks. Seven days per week, 9.00am-3.30pm. *Poor weather and exceptions may apply. We welcome dogs on leads in the café
- South Ockendon, Aveley, RM15 4XJ
Cressing Temple Barns
Bright and vibrant, the Tiptree Tea Room (open from 9.30am-4pm everyday for outside dining, retail and takeaway) serves meals made with fresh and local ingredients. At the newly renovated Cressing Temple Barns Visitor Centre there is a gift shop selling locally sourced craft and gift items.
- Witham Road, Braintree, Cressing, CM77 8PD
Cudmore Grove Country Park
A refreshment kiosk selling a range of teas, Bean to Cup coffees and hot chocolate along with cold drinks, Ice creams and snacks is situated at the top end of the car park. Open from 10.30am-4.30pm at weekends only.
- Broman's Lane, East Mersea, CO5 8UE
Flitch Way
Inside Rayne Station is the popular Booking Hall Café, a community hub where you can have breakfast, lunch or a quick drink. Open from 9.30am-5pm.
- Braintree, CM77 7FS
Great Notley Country Park
The Skylark Café offers indoor and outdoor seating and serves a range of hot and cold food and drink on weekends only.
- Braintree, Great Notley, CM77 7FS
Hadleigh Country Park
The Hub Café, open on Monday to Sunday from 9.30am-4pm, sources local seasonal produce. They create freshly prepared, homemade food on the premises daily. Including salads, graze boxes, hot pastries, pies and chips, alongside a selection of hot and cold drinks.
- Chapel Lane, Benfleet, SS7 2PP
Sky Ropes
The Skylark café at Great Notley Country Park offers takeaway and outdoor seating and serves a range of snacks and drinks..
- Essex, Braintree, CM77 7FS
The Lock Climbing Wall
There is a small café at The Lock offering hot and cold drinks, a selection of snacks and a range of sandwiches and wraps.
- Burnt Mill, Harlow, CM20 2QS
Thorndon Country Park
The cafe serves hot and cold light refreshments such as breakfast sandwiches, soup, baked potatoes, ice cream, crisps, cakes and drinks. The shop sells cards, bird food and feeders, gifts, jams, wildlife books, pocket-money toys and Gruffalo-themed merchandise. Open 7 days a week, 10am-5pm.
- Brentwood, Warley, CM13 3RZ
Weald Country Park
Our Visitor Centre includes a shop and café and is open from 10am-3.30pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am-3.45pm at the weekend. The shop sells duck food and deer food for £1.00 each, Weald County Park branded gifts like jams and preserves, soft toys, and a wide range of fun and interesting toys.
- Weald Road, Brentwood, CM14 5QS