The Wine Cellar Bar & Bistro Wine Bar in Chelmsford

4a Duke St, Chelmsford CM1 1HL

About This Pub

Ah, The Wine Cellar – it's one of those places in Chelmsford that really warms you up with its independent charm and focus on the little things that make a visit special. From what I've gathered from the buzz around it, the staff are just lovely; they're attentive and genuinely enthusiastic, which makes popping in for a bottomless brunch or a date night feel like catching up with old mates. The food is another winner – fresh, seasonal ingredients turned into delightful dishes, paired with an array of hand-picked wines that often hit the spot, especially if you're into cocktails like those mango martinis that folks rave about. It's got that high rating for a reason, making it a go-to for a proper good time. But, let's keep it real, it's not all perfect. There have been a few grumbles about the menu not living up to what's online, leaving some feeling a bit short-changed on choices. Service can hit snags too, with stories of it being slower than you'd hope, and not every wine glass is a winner – some have mentioned dodgy bottles or a bar that's a touch cluttered. Still, with a bit of tweaking, this spot has heaps of potential. If you're heading out with friends, I'd say give it a try for the positives, but maybe keep expectations in check and go on a day when it's buzzing just right – it's all about that balanced experience, innit?

Pros and Cons

Pros

The service is absolutely top-notch – staff like Beth are so welcoming and enthusiastic, making you feel right at home from the get-go.
The food and drinks are a real highlight; think delicious bottomless brunches, fresh mango martinis, and expertly paired wines that go perfectly with the meals.
It's a lovely spot for special occasions, with a charming atmosphere that's ideal for date nights or birthdays, using fresh, local ingredients to create some cracking dishes.
With a solid 4.6 rating from plenty of folks, it's clear this place knows how to deliver a memorable experience overall.

Cons

The menu can be a bit smaller than what's advertised online, which might leave you feeling a tad underwhelmed if you're after more variety.
Service can sometimes drag, with a few reports of it being slow, which puts a damper on the vibe.
Not every wine hits the mark, and there have been mentions of off bottles or a messy bar area that needs a bit more attention.
Food quality has had its ups and downs, with some diners finding certain dishes a letdown despite the high expectations.

Contact Information

4a Duke St, Chelmsford CM1 1HL

+441245349646

Wine bar

Closed today

Opening Hours

Monday (Today)	Closed
Tuesday	Closed
Wednesday	12:00 - 23:30
Thursday	12:00 - 23:30
Friday	12:00 - 01:00
Saturday	12:00 - 01:00
Sunday	Closed

Location

Recent Reviews

An excellent bottomless brunch!! Incredibly attentive service and delicious mango martini’s!! Great food additionally. We’ll be returning!

Sarah Clarke

We visited this quaint and characteristic restaurant for my birthday with my wife and it definitely didn't disappoint. We were served and greeted by Beth who was not only polite, enthusiastic and welcoming but she clearly also loved her job. The food was exceptional and we would highly recommend, thank you once again for an outstanding visit we shall be back. Grace and Steph

Stephanie Gilmour

Took my guest here for a spontaneous lunch, and we were both excited. We were disappointed to see the menu was much smaller than online says. The service was good, so I can't complain. However, me & my guest ordered from the two/three-course set menu and what we received was just such a letdown. To start my guest ordered the haddock bites which looked incredible, but consisted just mainly of potatoes and very little actual fish. I had the pork bites, which again looked nice in presentation, but was bland and lacking in any seasoning or flavour at all. The steak we both had, was only cooked to a single temperature, which we thought was weird but went along thinking that way there would be total consistency. What, we both got was chips that were clearly out of a packet and not homemade. Steak that was not even cooked at medium temperature and my guest didn't even finish her steak in the end because it was so tough and charred. It also came with a side of watercress that looked like it just came out of a Tesco bag, with no dressing or anything. Overall, we would not recommend going here as it was such a disappointment, maybe a bad day for the restaurant but it certainly has left a bad taste in our mouth.

Michael Hunt

Thoroughly enjoyed date night with my partner here! The food, staff and service was perfect. We’ll definitely be back soon x

Tegan Cosgrave

Loads of potential but didn’t really live up to expectations, really nice venue that as mentioned could do so much more. Slow service, wine wasn’t up to scratch (but maybe a bad bottle) a messy bar, cluttered and complete with a Costa cup. A few tweaks and this place could be a winner, sadly it fell short during our visit.

Mark P