What we ate

A lot, when the food is this good. The Sun’s restaurant has big tables with comfortable armchairs that invite you to linger over their good cheeses and original desserts (coconut pannacotta with pineapple carpaccio). Modern British with a strong Italian influence makes for delights such as lamb belly salami with salt-baked beetroot, handmade pappardelle with lamb shoulder ragu, and truffled mushroom ravioli with pancetta, butter and sage ( pictured). Prices are surprisingly sensible and the menu changes daily, so despite there being several other g ood eating pubs nearby, it’s hard to leave The Sun. Though it is worth stopping by the Essex Rose Tea Room in the village: it’s run by Tiptree, the locally-based jam people, who certainly know a good cream tea, and you can buy their preserves and fruit gins in the little shop.