I always feel at peace near the sea, so I jumped at the chance to visit The White Hart Inn, Mersea Island. For those that haven’t visited Britain’s most easterly inhabited island, forget about noisy amusement parks, Mersea Island is a place to enjoy nature and take long walks breathing in the salty sea air. And of course, stopping for some of its famous Colchester rock oysters, known for their distinct flavour and meatiness. Located just a five-minute walk from Monkey Beach, The White Hart Inn opened in summer 2022. This contemporary pub-with-rooms is the third establishment of Piers Baker, owner of The Sun Inn, Dedham and Church Street Tavern, Colchester – and it’s one to be proud of! For guests stopping overnight, there are six stylish rooms, all featuring super king-sized beds, the walls displaying contemporary local artwork. What’s more, your four-legged friends are also welcomed as guests, with some rooms being pup friendly. Ever so cozy, I could have happily made myself at home, leafing my way through the selection of coffee table books nibbling on the decadent praline truffles on the coffee stand but no, I meandered down to the seashore, and I’m so glad I did. Mersea Island is a magical place. Foodies will no doubt be impressed by the local offerings at The White Hart Inn. Head Chef, Ed Campbell, is an Essex native who has worked for the Galvin Brothers at Galvin Bistrot & Bar, La Chapelle and Galvin at Windows in Mayfair. To say I was excited about sampling the menu was an understatement! The restaurant offers a modern, British, seasonal menu using quality produce from the surrounding area, including seafood and the aforementioned rock oysters. The staff were faultless. So friendly and knowledgeable they were able to guide me with confidence through the specials and impressive wine list. For starters I chose the smoked haddock, keens cheddar soufflé; followed by guinea fowl kyiv, oozing garlic butter, with celeriac and potato terrine with black cabbage. The pudding was perfection – creamy vanilla pannacotta, Yorkshire rhubarb, sharp blood orange sorbet, with a sprinkling of granola and mint. After a peaceful sleep, I was woken to the sound of guls, a friendly reminder that I was so close to the shore. Breakfast was a treat – French toast with salty, crispy bacon drizzled with sweet maple syrup and of course, my usual, a flat white. The White Hart Inn is a true Essex gem, I’m sure locals want to keep a secret but it’s too good not to be shouting about. The Magic of Mersea Island BOOK IT 1 High Street, West Mersea, Essex CO5 8QD @whitehartinnmersea https://whitehartinnmersea.co.uk Rachel Westall enjoyed a stylish stay at The White Hart Inn, Essex’s best kept secret HONEYMOONS 83
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