The Bell, a 15th-Century pub near Braintree, offers diners much more than beautiful exposed beams and roaring log fires. New owners Wayne and Gill have created a menu to suit all tastes, featuring everything from the Mexican-style dishes to the signature homemade Boss Hog beef burger, plus traditional pub meals and Sunday roasts. This establishment is also a member of Brit Stop, and boasts a camping field for camper vans and caravans. From the choice of appetisers, I plumped for the machito bean grande, stuffed with red kidney beans, peppers, chilli and mozzarella and wrapped in a herby crumb coating. My companion began with a warming portion of potato and corn chowder soup, which was delicious. We couldn’t help but be tempted by The Bell’s star attraction, the Black Rock Grill, which was rather novel. Using volcanic stones heated to 400 degrees, we cooked our 8oz sirloin steak and selection of king prawns, scallops and salmon exactly to our liking, without the need for any fat or oils.
