Essex Marina - Rochford

Went with a few friends for drinks which is a really nice spot for drinks however when a friend asked about the gluten free options was greeted with a comment of “she must know what she can have”. This put a downer on the drinks and after one drink we left due to myself feeling very unwelcome and uncomfortable by this comment. I don’t believe they had any alternatives. Some of the group ate and the food did look really good but not ideal for any allergens.

After being away for a while, we decided to take our grandchildren to Southend to visit the pier and have a fun day. On the way there, the speed limits kept changing between 50, 40, 30, and 20mph. Luckily, my car is equipped to recognize speed limit signs and automatically adjust the speed accordingly. However, the constant beeping near speed cameras meant we couldn't even listen to the radio. Parking was pricey at £3.50 per hour for on-street parking, and the process of paying was even more challenging. None of the pay stations accepted credit or debit cards, and we were informed by a friendly traffic warden that only the app on a smartphone works reliably. Since we didn't have the app and couldn't download it, we had to cut our trip short and head back home. Despite the difficulties, we still had a great day out.

We went to see the seals and they were amazing. My kids loved watching them. I definitely recommend it. We all had a great time.

We had a delightful breakfast at this restaurant this morning. There were four of us and we all really enjoyed our meals. The smoked haddock was fantastic. We can't wait to come back for more delicious food and excellent service.

Very friendly staff and amazing view over the river Crouch. Drinks great. Food fine if you don't have any food intolerances. However, if you don't eat gluten you're going to starve, and there is no alternative option. There are a couple of vegan meals, but no non dairy milk for coffee, no non dairy non gluten desserts. Such a shame they are behind the times with regard to this, as its such a great little place. It doesn't take much to keep non gluten bread in the freezer, buy vegan ice cream and get a couple of cartons of oat milk in.