A PROPER LOCAL

For years, The Foresters Arms has quietly watched over the comings and goings of this part of town. Pints poured, stories shared, friendships made.

Step inside and you’ll still find that same warmth. A familiar hum. A place to settle in, catch up, and feel at home. We’re here to gently bring it back to life with good food, good drink, and plenty of good company.

John

Foresters Owner

A Bit About Me

Hi, I’m John.

I’ve lived in Colchester all my life, just up the road for the past 9 years, and I’ve been coming into The Foresters for the best part of 20. I know the feel of the place, the people who pass through it, and what it means to have a proper local on your doorstep.

My wife and I are taking this on together, with our family behind us, because we believe this pub can be something special. I have known of the current landlord’s plan to leave since May last year and I have been working behind the scenes since then, learning and preparing.

I know how lucky I and this community is to have such a wonderful space at the top of the road. This isn’t just a business for me, it’s personal.

“I’m not pretending to have all the answers, but I do care about getting it right. I’ll always be open to a chat, an idea, or a bit of honest feedback..”

To start, expect:

Fresh bread, focaccia and dips
Flammekueche (our take on a lighter, crisp flatbread)
Homemade sausage rolls
A rotating dish of the week
A few good, honest bar snacks

We’ll grow things gradually:

Sharing boards
Seasonal dishes and lighter options
The Weekly Favourites
Fish Fridays: proper fish, chips, and all the extras
Quality Sunday Roasts: done as they should be, with all the trimmings

And through the week:

Simple breakfasts, good coffee
Easy lunches
Seasonal bits that change with the weather

Nothing overcomplicated, just simple quality grub.

The Space

We’re giving the pub a deep clean and a new decor. Our vibe is to create a space that feels easy to walk into, and even easier to stay in.

Whilst we’ve put a lot into getting us to the starting line, there’s more we’d love to do. My vision is to open up crowdfunding opportunities with rewards in the future.

For now, I will focus on the top priorities which include investing in new hand dryers and keeping the window boxes lively and cared for. If you’d like to be part of it whether that’s lending a hand, sharing a skill, or contributing a little we’d be incredibly grateful.

This pub belongs to the community, and we’d love to build it that way.

*Please keep checking in on the website for more updates and a current and up to date calendar whilst I get around to updating social media*

Thanks, John

Foresters Owner

John Livingstone
The Foresters Arms
1-2 Castle Rd, Colchester CO1 1UW, United Kingdom