According to research by Locals Insider, Mainline Coffee (Manningtree Station Buffet) is the best railway station pub in the East of England, ranking 11th nationally out of 46 station pubs, narrowly missing out on 10th place which went to the Harrowgate Tap.
The results were calculated based on a combination of opening hours, prices, and customer reviews over the research period.
Historically Manningtree Station Buffet (which is actually in Lawford) appeared in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide 20 times between 1977 and 2000.
See this article in the Gazette for more details.