We tried 'one of the best' restaurants in West Mersea – here are my thoughts
TUCKED within the welcoming grounds of Waldegraves Holiday Park on Mersea Island, The Granary Restaurant delivers a surprisingly bold food experience in a casual, family-friendly setting.
Visiting on a sunny Friday afternoon, my friend and I were more than satisfied — both with what arrived on our plates and the laidback atmosphere.
The venue, which was recommended by several Mersea Islanders, had a very bright, open interior with plenty of seating, cheerful staff, and a relaxed, coastal vibe which makes it easy to unwind.
The stunning interiors (Image: Newsquest Reporter)
Whether you're a holidaymaker staying on site or a resident popping in for lunch, the space feels welcoming and easy-going.
We both ordered hearty main courses.
I went for the chicken katsu curry (£13.95), and my friend chose the homemade chicken balti (£12.95).
Chicken katsu curry (Image: Newsquest Reporter)
Both came with rice, and the balti also arrived with poppadoms, naan bread, and a side of mango chutney — a lovely touch which brought an authentic and complete feel to the dish.
The katsu was everything you'd want: crisp, golden chicken laid over soft white rice, smothered in a silky curry sauce.
I added extra chillies on the side, and they added just the right hit of heat to elevate every mouthful.
The chicken balti (Image: Newsquest Reporter)
The sauce had that comforting, slightly sweet note which is typical of a great Japanese-style curry, and the portion size was just right — generous, but not overwhelming.
The balti was a standout as well. The curry was rich, tomatoey, and full of warming spices — not too hot, but beautifully balanced.
The naan was fluffy, the poppadoms crisp, and the mango chutney cut through the spice perfectly.
A pint of beer (Image: Newsquest Reporter)
My friend was genuinely impressed, calling it one of the best curries he'd had in Essex.
To drink, we each had a cold pint of lager at £5.85 – refreshing and not overpriced, it rounded off the meal perfectly.
Considering the quality of the food and the portion sizes, the prices felt more than fair — making it a great option for a relaxed day out on the island.
The Granary is a strong choice for anyone after affordable, flavourful food in a chilled-out setting.
With friendly service, hearty meals, and a prime spot in one of Essex's favourite holiday spots, it is definitely worth a visit.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Heathrow issues fresh expansion plea after record-breaking month
Heathrow Airport is advocating for an 'open conversation' regarding expansion plans following a record-breaking month for passenger traffic. In May, the airport saw over 7.2 million passengers pass through its terminals. That was a 0.4 per cent increase from the previous year and the highest number ever recorded for the month. A Heathrow spokesperson highlighted the need for proactive planning. 'As these record numbers become the norm, it's time to start an honest conversation about the challenges this presents for an already space-constrained yet highly efficient hub,' they said. "Heathrow continues to deliver excellent service, but to sustain this performance and meet future demand, expanding capacity will be essential." The airport has previously said it will submit detailed plans for building a third runway to the Government in the summer. Chancellor Rachel Reeves used a speech on growth in January to give her support to the project, which has been repeatedly delayed over several decades because of environmental concerns. Ms Reeves said it would potentially create 100,000 jobs. However, Labour transport committee chair Ruth Cadbury, London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and party donor Dale Vince have all criticised her decision. Sir Sadiq said he remains opposed to the plan because of the 'severe impact it will have on noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets'. In February, Heathrow's chief executive Thomas Woldbye announced a multi-billion pound investment to expand terminals 2 and 5, reconfigure the layout of the airfield, and improve bus and coach connections. He said the UK 'risks losing its status as a global trading hub' if the airport does not grow. The third runway is 'critical for the country's future economic success', Mr Woldbye said. 'Heathrow is proud to answer the chancellor's call to get Britain building. 'This is vital investment and will ensure Heathrow remains globally competitive and a jewel in the country's crown.'
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
David Frost is wrong about the Elgin Marbles
Dull is the eye that will not weep to seeThy walls defaced, thy mouldering shrines removedBy British hands… The campaign for the return of the Elgin Marbles began almost from the moment of their removal. Byron's lines have been quoted for two centuries by restitutionists. If there were a way to restore the mouldering shrines to the Parthenon itself, it would surely have happened by now. Who could resist making whole the Temple of Athena? There would be no need for long-term loans. My colleagues Lord Frost and Baroness Debbonaire would not be insisting that their surrender would be 'good diplomacy'. But there is no way to restore them to the original structure. All sides agree that those magnificent metopes and pediments – bleached and numinous yet, at the same time, eerily realistic with their flowing robes and flared horses' nostrils – need to be preserved indoors. A few carvings have found their way into collections in Paris, Copenhagen, Munich, Vienna and Würzburg. But most are housed either at the Acropolis Museum, which opened in 2009, or at the British Museum. The argument is therefore whether to move them from one museum to another, which raises the question of what makes a successful museum. I would set the following tests. Where will any given artefact be most carefully looked after? Where can we best appreciate its cultural impact? Where is it most accessible to specialists and scholars? Where will the largest number of people get the greatest pleasure from seeing it? The Greeks unquestionably have a great location. To admire those white Pentallic stones on the slopes of the Acropolis, glimpsing its heights through the windows, is quite an experience. But the British Museum is the most visited museum in the world (at least if we count the Louvre as a gallery rather than a museum). Museums, as the etymology implies, are secular temples to the muses, those ancient goddesses who inspired sublime feelings in mortals. They were designed to raise the spirits of the masses, not only to spread knowledge, but also to elevate artistic sensibility. The British Museum has been carrying out that function since the mid-18th century, and in a remarkably universalist spirit. It was the first public institution to call itself 'British', yet it never saw its vocation as national. It was intended from the start to be encyclopaedic, a place to display curios from every culture. This universality is rarer than people realise. Most museums have a national or ethnic focus. In Washington DC, for example, you will find the National Museum of the American Indian, the Chinese American Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. But the British Museum, as its former director Neil MacGregor put it, 'remains a unique repository of the achievements of human endeavour, and there is no culture, past or present, that is not represented within its walls. It is truly the memory of mankind.' If our aim is the greatest happiness for the greatest number, there is a good case for keeping the stones divided, and using modern technology to fill in the gaps with exact replicas (the Acropolis Museum currently represents the missing stones with deliberately rough plaster casts so as to emphasise its grievance). But this is not really about aesthetics. It is about nationalism, and the desire of successive Greek administrations to claim a direct link to the ancient city states. And here, I part ways with my House of Lords colleagues. For demands that rest on collective racial entitlements are incompatible with freedom, property and the rights of the individual. Commentators are often conflicted about these ethnic claims. The kinds of people who insist on performing indigenous land recognition ceremonies in Canada and Australia would be horrified at the idea that second-generation immigrants to Britain were here contingently. Yet free contract rules out ancestral claims. If my grandfather sold his house to yours, I have no right to turf you out. There is no question that the British Museum purchased the collection legally from Lord Elgin, who had acquired it with the full permission of the authorities. Elgin had not at first intended to remove the carvings. He wanted to sketch and measure them, but changed his mind when he saw passers-by carting them off. 'The Turkish government attached no importance to them,' he told a parliamentary committee. 'Every traveller coming added to the general defacement of the statuary in his reach.' Elgin saved the stones. Free contract and private property trump the superstitious idea that being descended from someone, or at least living in the same part of the world, establishes some kind of ownership right. If the Acropolis Museum wants the collection, it should put in an offer. Frankly, the way Britain is going, we might soon need the money. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
c2c issues apology after south Essex customers overcharged for journeys
RAIL operator, c2c, has issued an apology to customers who have been overcharged on journeys between south Essex stations and London. Due to a reported technical issue, some customers using contactless payments have been overcharged by up to £3 per journey. c2c has said that it is working with Transport for London to resolve the issue and have advised passengers to purchase paper or e-tickets to ensure the fare is correct. We're now on WhatsApp! Join our new channel at to get all the latest breaking news and exclusive stories delivered straight to your phone. "Due to an unforeseen technical issue, c2c is aware that customers using pay as you go with contactless ticketing for journeys between c2c stations outside the Oyster Zone (beyond Upminster and Grays) and Fenchurch Street or Liverpool Street from Sunday June 8, are being overcharged by up to £3 per journey," said a spokesperson for c2c. "This only applies to journeys that either started or ended at Fenchurch Street or Liverpool Street stations. "c2c is working closely with Transport for London to resolve the issue and, in the meantime, customers are advised to purchase paper or e-tickets instead of using contactless (for journeys that start or end at Fenchurch Street or Liverpool Street stations) to ensure they are charged the correct fare. "c2c would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience this technical issue is causing. "Customers are advised to keep a full record of all contactless journeys where they have been overcharged, and a further update, including details of how to claim a refund, will be shared as soon as possible." Contactless ticketing has been significantly expanded across the c2c network in recent months, with the rail operator celebrating high-use since roll-out.
