Hullbridge – The Beer Hunter’s Guide

The two pubs here are at the opposite end of the village to the football club (which itself has good bottled beers on offer), but both are worth a visit and you can easily get the bus back up for the game.

The Anchor is a large, busy, family-and-food oriented pub with a lovely view of the river from the garden, and is good on the beer front too – usually Crouch Vale plus guests. In contrasting style, across the road and up a short lane you’ll find the Smugglers Den, a characterful down-to-earth local with a friendly welcome and Doom Bar on tap plus one or two others, maybe including house beer SX Smugglers from the Hope Brewery. 10% discount for CAMRA members; gentlemen will be amused by the Rolling Stones urinals!