Our second weekend of scouting England for interesting pubs with good food and good atmosphere. This one has been on the list for a very long while, though - the 16th century 'Cricketers' in the sweet village of Clavering in Essex. Why travel all the way to Essex, you ask? Well, you know Martin and I are big fans of Jamie Oliver and this is the pub where he grew up and began to cook. I was so excited! His parents, Trevor and Sally Oliver, still own and run the pub today. I felt like I was on a pilgrimage to see where it all began and I guess our expectations were pretty high. I rated the chance of actually seeing Jamie at less than zero but it didn't matter in the least.

We had a reservation in the bar side of the pub. There is also a set-price menu in the adjoining restaurant but that's not for the three of us! We know that the Olivers value their produce very highly and so everything was organic or free-range, and things like bread and desserts made on the premises. So ensconced in the bay window seat with the brilliant but low autumn shining in we ordered drinks and lunch. We decided on spicy pumpkin soup, an avocado salad with gorgonzola and pomegranate, sea bass with an Asian-inspired sauce, salmon with red peppercorns and salsa verde and James really enjoyed organic breaded salmon with lots of vegies (he even asked for lemon!). The food was simple and delicious - just what we expected. However I really, truly couldn't go past the fig, pistachio and cranberry semi-fredo for dessert which is a Jamie classic. Guess who ate the other half of it??!!

We finished up and drove back through the village the way we had come as we'd seen a sign to Clavering Church on the way in. It was a quaint and extremely well kept church and the sun was casting a golden glow over it's ancient stones. We spent a little while looking around the grounds and inside as well. Not sure how old it was but it was definitely Norman and probably older than the pub. Just what every good village needs!

We drove south to Waltham Abbey, a 14th century Abbey just north of the M25. It is a beautiful building in itself, with a stunning wooden ceiling, but it also boasts the grave of Harold, the last Saxon king of England after his defeat and demise at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. It took some find to find his resting place but it turned up in the grassed ring where the original altar stood. Another tick off the history list!

We had a lovely day and I've had my Jamie Oliver fix. Now the next pub needs to be good...!

Photos are here.