Proprietors: John and Christine Vereker

For food, drink and service without pomposity or pretension To brush up on your 'Estuary' English It’s a 'Class Act' near to London but still in the country

It is a relief to be told by John Vereker that the 500-year old Bell is held up by the original beams. It wouldn’t feel half as comfortable if the beds were prevented from falling into his excellent restaurant only by wallpaper. John ran away from the sea in 1970 and sensibly married the landlord’s daughter, Christine.
     
He still hankers after the sea but if he argues with his wife The Bell has, as he puts it, 15 bedrooms and he’s still got the one wife. The Bell is also at the local high point, from where he can see the Thames.

In the middle ages pilgrims and wool merchants would stay here until low water when they could cross the river at Higham’s Causeway. The low point in The Bell’s history was the burning of the Lord of the Manor, though nowadays anything flambé is likely to come from the head chef. “You spend your life in that place”, Christine occasionally chides her husband - which seems an adequate recommendation by any standard.

Nearest Towns/Centres for Retail Therapy
Lakeside - (10 minutes)
Blue Water - (20 minutes)

Recommended Local Attractions
Tilbury Fort - (10 minutes)
2 x golf courses - (10 minutes)
Brands Hatch - (40 minutes)
Southend on Sea - (25 minutes)

Nearest Station/s
Laindon - (10 minutes)
West Hornden - (10 minutes)

Nearest Airport/s
Gatwick - (40 minutes)
Stansted - (40 minutes)

All timings denote typical journey time by car, unless specified otherwise.