The story
Just outside Chelmsford, in the village of Howe Street, Galvin Green Man occupies a building that has stood since 1341. It is one of the oldest pubs in Essex, yet its kitchen is thoroughly contemporary. The restaurant is part of the Galvin family collection, run by Michelin-starred brothers Chris and Jeff Galvin, and it has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its ability to deliver good food at moderate prices.
The setting is distinctly English: panoramic views over the Essex countryside, a large garden with a children’s play area, and the River Chelmer running through the beer garden. Inside, the pub is dog-friendly and welcoming, while the dining room offers a more refined experience built around seasonality and locality.
The kitchen team works with local and sustainable suppliers, changing the menu to reflect the best of each season. The offering is broad: from traditional English pub classics like fish and chips and a hearty pie to the celebrated Bib Gourmand menu in the dining room. The Sunday roast is a local institution, and the Monday Steak Night has become a regular draw. The ethos is straightforward—only the very best ingredients, prepared without pretension.
The restaurant also offers a Taste of Summer menu (available July to September 2026) and a breakfast service from Monday to Friday, making it a destination for any time of day.
Galvin Green Man has five private dining rooms, each individually designed and seating between eight and sixteen guests. Named after local producers and suppliers—the Maldon Salt Room, the Adnams Room, the Marriages Room—they are suited to birthdays, anniversaries, corporate events, and other celebrations. The team handles decorations, cakes, and special requests, ensuring each occasion feels personal.
The restaurant has also been recognised at the National Pub & Bar Awards for the East of England and the county, adding to its reputation as a dining destination with serious foodie credentials. Whether you come for a pint in the garden, a private party, or the Bib Gourmand tasting menu, the experience is grounded in care, craft, and a deep sense of place.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
good quality, good value cooking
Palatial grand dining in the capital is the principal string to the Galvin brothers' bow, so it's inspiring to find they can also make a good fist of running a traditional village pub (the roots of the Green Man extend back as far as the reign of Edward III). Situated in a hamlet not far from Great Waltham, it's sufficiently ensconced within the locale to have a stretch of the river Chelmer running through its beer garden, and has been smartly done out inside, with a whole suite of dining rooms to choose from. Chris Ball offers a contemporary British pub menu with a versatile choice, and his dishes are inventive without feeling overworked. Start with a ceviche of sea trout and bass, dressed in lime and chilli with avruga caviar, or opt for a hearty, silky soup such as marrow and red pepper velouté with toasted sourdough. A locally supplied kitchen is always good to find, especially in the game season, when Great Waltham partridge might turn up with beetroot, pickled blackberries and rainbow chard in a concentrated jus, while lively vegetarian dishes have included miso-glazed aubergine with charred spring onion, harissa potatoes and cumin yoghurt. Desserts mobilise all the treat sweetness you can handle, with treacle sponge and vanilla cream, coffee panna cotta with popcorn and caramelised banana, or Valrhona chocolate mousse textured with puffed wild rice. An impressive drinks list embraces racy cocktails, a decent spread of wines by the glass, and, er, cigars.
2 Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence
Location
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