Essex


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lowdown">THE LOWDOWN</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/1.jpg" alt="The Three Horseshoes in Fordham outside" class="wp-image-15857" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/1-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://threehorseshoesfordham.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Three Horseshoes</a> in Fordham is 25 minutes from my front door. Have I been before? No (looks down in shame). Why? I&#8217;ve no idea! Under four miles from Marks Tey station, or a seven minute drive from the A12, it&#8217;s high up there when it comes to awards, with three AA rosettes and a 2024 Michelin Bib Gourmand under its belt.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/3.jpg" alt="The Three Horseshoes Bib Gourmand winner" class="wp-image-15859" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/3.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/3-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/3-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Turning up on a Friday night, I was pleased to see the car park was full to the point we nabbed the last space – always a good sign that great food was on its way. Met by owner Moira and son, Sam; we were shown to our table and asked what we&#8217;d like to drink. My husband always chooses local ale, so was delighted to see Suffolk&#8217;s Bruha IPA on tap. I let the hugely knowledgable Sam choose my wine; a dry Spanish Ikigall which went down a treat. Well, it was 2 Feb; meaning Dry January&#8217;s finally a thing of the past!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe">THE VIBE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/2.jpg" alt="Inside The Three Horseshoes in Fordham" class="wp-image-15858" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/2.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/2-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>If you want fine dining for all the family – dogs included – then The Three Horseshoes in Fordham is for you. Low-lit (but not to the point where you can&#8217;t see your meal), there&#8217;s original beams and local artwork framing the walls. I&#8217;m not going to lie – it was a treat watching 6&#8217;3&#8243; Sam skim the beams with Matrix-style efficiency. I, however, sat firmly in my seat, with that first wine of the year giving me that warm and fuzzy feeling you expect.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/1-12.jpg" alt="The Coffee Shed The Three Horseshoes in Fordham" class="wp-image-15861" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/1-12.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/1-12-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/1-12-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>What else is great about this restaurant and country pub? A lot; impressive seeing as they only began trading in 2021. There&#8217;s plenty of nooks and crannies to eat in, with the main restaurant, additional dining space and bar that only caters for meals if everywhere else is full. You&#8217;ve private dining areas to enjoy, as well as a brand-new outside private space, opening this spring. The garden&#8217;s great for drinks in the sun, and they&#8217;ve also <a href="https://threehorseshoesfordham.com/the-coffee-shed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Coffee Shed</a>, now renowned as a venue in its own right. With covered seating, it offers freshly-made croissants, paninis, locally-made chocolate and more. Takeaway options are also available.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-amp-quaff">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/4.jpg" alt="lobster and salmon ravioli with dill, lobster bisque and fennel salad" class="wp-image-15851" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/4.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/4-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/4-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Browsing the menus, we were pleased to see the à la carte was limited – without infinite choices you know the food will be at the top of its game. My husband was excited at the chateaubriand for two, until I put my Muddy hat on and reminded him we needed different courses to review the restaurant properly. We were then brought over plates of mushroom arancini with pecorini, as well as a Dingley Dell charcuterie of locally-sourced cured meats. Trust me – when you visit you&#8217;ve got to order both.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/5.jpg" alt="chicken liver parfait with beer and maple brioche, rhubarb and chicken skin granola" class="wp-image-15852" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/5.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/5-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/5-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Time for starters, with my husband ordering the lobster and salmon ravioli with dill, lobster bisque and fennel salad. I chose the chicken liver parfait with beer and maple brioche, rhubarb and chicken skin granola, which was, in a word, delicious. We swapped halfway through; and I was pleased to discover his choice was just as moreish.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/7.jpg" alt="ballotine of cod with red pepper and haricot bean cassoulet, chorizo and squid ink cracke" class="wp-image-15853" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/7.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/7-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/7-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Next came the main event, a ballotine of cod with red pepper and haricot bean cassoulet, chorizo and squid ink cracker; and Creedy Carver duck breast, leg faggot, beetroot, caramelised celeriac and jus. I was only allowed a forkful of my husband&#8217;s duck, which speaks for itself. This came with a side of sautéed kalettes in a Caesar dressing with pecorino and smoked anchovy. Yum.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/6.jpg" alt="Creedy Carver duck breast, leg faggot, beetroot, caramelised celeriac and jus" class="wp-image-15854" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/6.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/6-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/6-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>It was then on to the final course. I married a man who doesn&#8217;t do desserts but loves cheese, devouring his Baron Bigod brie with walnut cake, honey, celery and raisins. I, on the other hand, supped a delicious dessert wine with my Manjari chocolate delice with peanut, passionfruit and yuzu. Hand on heart I&#8217;d eat that pud time and time again.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/9.jpg" alt="Manjari chocolate delice with peanut, passionfruit and yuzu" class="wp-image-15855" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/9.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/9-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/9-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-out-amp-about">OUT &amp; ABOUT</h2>



<p>You only have to Google walks in the area for interesting trails, meaning The Three Horseshoes in Fordham is the ideal final destination for great food and drinks. Or why not end up here after a day out in nearby Chelmsford (35 min drive) or Colchester (15 min drive)? Both are great for shops, shops and more shops, with Chelmsford&#8217;s Bond Street and Colchester&#8217;s Crouch Street the place for indie stores as well as your regular faves. You&#8217;ve also culture galore, with Chelmsford&#8217;s Hylands Estate and Cathedral, plus Colchester Castle Park and Firstsite museum, all worthy of a visit.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-muddy-verdict">MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/4-11.jpg" alt="The Three Horseshoes in Fordham" class="wp-image-15860" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/4-11.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/4-11-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/02/4-11-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong> Fine dining for all. The Three Horseshoes in Fordham offers award-winning cuisine when you can&#8217;t leave your kids with sitters or fur babies at home. There&#8217;s also great veggie/vegan offerings. I very nearly chose the main of Marmite roasted cauliflower. And I&#8217;m a proper carnivore.<br><strong>Not for:</strong> Those wanting dishes piled so high you leave half. It&#8217;s quality over quantity; but you <em>will </em>leave full. If you&#8217;re not a dog-lover you should also still head here. Just explain so the (gorgeous and friendly) resident black lab Toby doesn&#8217;t say hello. He&#8217;s a good boy; and does what he&#8217;s told.<br><strong>The damage</strong>: Our four courses came to £131.50, without drinks. Starters from £9.50-£14; mains £17.50-£39.50 and desserts £10-£19.50 (at the time of writing).</p>



<p><em><a href="https://threehorseshoesfordham.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Three Horseshoes</a>, 74 Church Road, Fordham, Colchester CO6 3NJ<br>01206  240195</em> <a href="mailto:reservations@threehorseshoesfordham.com">reservations@threehorseshoesfordham.com</a></p>


Review: The Three Horseshoes in Fordham

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