Essex Pub Wins Double Award for Health and Hygiene

A PUB set on the River Colne is toasting the health of its customers after scooping a healthy eating award.

The Anchor at Rowhedge Quay, Colchester, was awarded a ‘Essex Healthy Life’ Healthy Eating Gold Award, in conjunction with Colchester Environmental Health and the Essex Food Liaison Group.

The accolade recognises establishments which show a commitment to healthy eating, not just in their ingredients, but also in their menu choices. It is presented for keeping unhealthy additions to the meal, such as fat, salt and sugar, to a minimum and always offering fresh fruit and vegetables, while ensuring 50% of the menu is full of healthy options.

In follows a five star hygiene rating awarded to the pub by Essex County Council in 2011.

The business believes its success is helped by continuity in the kitchen, as its chefs, Alan Reedie and Steve Davis, have dropped anchor and spent eight and a half years on the banks of the River Colne, which is something of a rarity in the pub trade.

Owner Darron Welch said the kitchen’s commitment to quality, both on and off the plate, has made implementing a healthy eating menu simple.

“Every meal in our restaurant is made on the premises, and we are able to assure our customers who have specific dietary requirements that their meal is suitable to meet their needs,” she said.

“This really helped in terms of the Healthy Eating Gold Award, where we had to prove we kept fats, oils, salt and sugar to a minimum, while fresh fruit and vegetables have always been an important part of our menu.”