Pub review | The Viper, Ingatestone

A third restaurant post in a row, I know what you’re thinking, either a) you fat bitch or b) you should become a critic. But two weeks ago we went out for Sunday lunch to celebrate mum’s birthday. We had planned on going the previous week, but the rain put a stop to that. Luckily when we arrived at The Viper, the sun was shining, the beer garden was buzzing and it was a really lovely afternoon. This beautiful country pub has appeared on my blog before and it’s frankly, one of my favourite pubs in Essex. It’s such a hidden gem and it’s even better when the sun is shining.

We visited The Viper on a Sunday afternoon a couple of years back and it was excellent. Alongside the usual menu (it never changes – sandwiches, baguettes, jacket potatoes and ploughman’s platters), there are pub classics like pie and curry, as well as a selection of roast meats. At £8.95, the roast dinners offer amazing value – the portion sizes are more than generous and you get a decent amount of meat.

We all chose roast dinners: mum went for lamb with mint sauce, Jake chose turkey with cranberry sauce and dad, Robert and I all opted for beef with horseradish. The turkey was served with stuffing, while the rest of us had Yorkshire puddings (these would have been so much better had they been homemade). And as you can see, we definitely didn’t go hungry! 

Every meal was served with roast potatoes & parsnips, swede mash, broccoli, cauliflower and white cabbage, as well as lashings of gravy. Those who chose beef had a large jug of rich onion gravy, which was lovely.

I definitely got food envy as food arrived at other tables – the sandwiches are always on thick doorstep-style bread and packed with fillings; the ploughman’s is something I’ve had before and is always tasty too. That said, my meal was very good and kept me full for the rest of the day.

The Viper is definitely a family pub, suited for those with children, or dogs. Because of its location, it attracts ramblers and bikers but I’d recommend it to anyone driving through the area (some of the houses in Mill Green are just amazing!). Real ale enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice, while you can expect a warm and friendly welcome. With a cosy interior and roaring fire for those winter nights and a peaceful lawn area for summer days, what more could you want? Reasonably priced food, decent atmosphere and a beautiful location, The Viper is somewhere we’ll return to again and again.

Love, Lucy xx

The Viper - Mill Green, Ingatestone CM4 0PT

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