Sean Axtell

BRAVE veterans, including a Basildon man who suffers from fibromyalgia, powered to the finish line in a gruelling 1,400 mile bike ride for charity.

MY DINING pal and I arrived at the Fox and Raven with high hopes. With the refurbishment costing '......' the rejuvinated Vintage Inns pub certainly didn't let us down. The decor produced a cosy yet stylish atmosphere, combining quirky pictures and decorative curiosities with clean lines and sharp lighting. The restaurant is spacious and we were pleased with our non-sardine-like table. Despite being an extremely busy Saturday night, our waiters were excellent and very attentive, giving us a succinct low down on the new additions to the menu, including the 'sticky platter' with maple-glazed chicken wings, lamb koftas and other tantilising tastes. We ordered the calamari and the prawn and scallop starter; the former an absolute delight however avoid the latter if you're looking for flavour. For mains I had the rump steak and my ravenous pal the fillet. Both were cooked perfectly to our liking and came with triple cooked crispy, fluffy chips with onion rings and salad. The portion sizes were good, and at that price they certainly should be. A bottle of prosecco presented in an ice bucket went down swimmingly and our only regret was the lacklustre prawn/scallop combo, which lacked life. For a special evening with a relaxed and warming atmosphere, this is a great place to go. The venue reflects that of an independent, beautifully designed restaurant, but be prepared to spend your money on the occasional dish that lacks love and reflects chain restaurant style cooking.

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