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Downham Arms — Bars in Wickford

Downham Arms

BarsWickford, ENG

4.3 out of 5 stars4.3(944 reviews)

Quick info

+44 1268 562720
132 London Rd, Wickford SS12 0AR, United Kingdom
£10–20

About Downham Arms

On London Rd in Wickford, Downham Arms is a pub built around chargrilled food, with steaks, burgers, and ribs cooked over open flames and chips served as a side. TVs at the bar show football, and darts and pool are set up for casual play. The kitchen runs both lunch and evening menus, and staff bring food and drinks to the table rather than calling orders to the counter. Dogs are welcome throughout the pub, making it a straightforward stop for regulars out with their pets. The room draws a mix of families and groups meeting for sport on screen, with sports coverage across multiple channels adding to the draw on match days. It suits a casual meal as easily as a longer evening with friends.

Good to know

  • Reservations
    Accepts reservations
  • Parking
    Free parking lot · Free street parking · Paid parking lot
  • Accessibility
    Wheelchair: entrance, parking lot, restroom, seating
  • Good for kids
    Good for kids

Reviews

4.3/5
944 reviews

What reviewers say

Reviewers most often mention side of chips, pint of stella, ribs and football on tv.

5★
536
4★
242
3★
87
2★
30
1★
49

Customer Review Summary

Reviewers most consistently praise the staff, with several singling out individual servers and bartenders by name for friendliness, quick service, and handling busy or lively groups well, and door staff on weekend nights are credited with improving the atmosphere. Close behind, the ribs and overall menu selection draw repeated approval, described as hot and well cooked, alongside food called great value and reasonably priced. A few diners raise portion and pricing complaints, notably one who paid for 11 chips at a high price and another who found a pint and a coke costing nine pounds unreasonable. One visitor also describes a slow Saturday night with a thirty minute wait for starters and mains, an anaemic-looking chicken dish, and an inability to swap a side. A couple of reviewers note the room gets uncomfortably hot. The pub is repeatedly described as a spot for families and groups to meet for drinks and meals, with several saying they'll return.

Featured reviews

  • Google user
    “Very disappointed. Not been here for a while. Booked a table for 2, (a girlie catch up). Why is it automated? Arrived to find only 2 other tables. Within 30 minutes we were the only ones left. Ordered, left an open tab and waited about 30 minutes for our starter! A further 30 minutes and the main course arrived. The chicken looked anaemic, the ribs were lovely, I opted for a side of chips with cheese bacon and bbq sauce but couldn't do a swap so had to have the chips that came with the meal also. We both opted for a dessert (very unusual) but quite a lengthy wait. The drinks were good. A lemon cello spritzer because they were out of the Aperol. Very disappointing for a saturday night. Don't forget to check your car in if you're driving. Its not clear there is a registration and we weren't asked by any staff member if we had a car. My surprise when I received a fine in the post. It was cancelled, but it did take 2 months.”
  • Google user
    “Brilliant food, great atmosphere, especially Steven and Skylar, very friendly and quick food, should be praised for their excellent attitude and service. Will definitely be returning”
  • Google user
    “Lovely food friendly staff would have given atmosphere 5 stars too but it was really hot in there feel would benefit from aic conditioning or fans.”
  • Google user
    “Really great staff and location. Not bad at pouring a pint either 👌👌👌”
  • Google user
    “Had a fantastic visit to the Downham Arms. Ryan was amazing—really bubbly, friendly, and made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. He was also quick to serve our drinks, which made the experience even better. The food was great value for money, and the drinks were very reasonably priced. Overall, it was a brilliant experience with excellent service. We'll definitely be back! If you're posting this on Google or TripAdvisor, this version should read naturally and highlight both the service and value”

Highlights

“Experience the thrill of the grill at The Downham Arms, a lively local pub in Wickford. Our talented chefs chargrill succulent steaks, juicy burgers, and melt-in-the-mouth ribs over open flames, infusing every mouthwatering bite with smoky satisfaction. Take advantage of flamin’ great deals on plenty of our menu items. Catch all the sports action across our TVs showing Sky Sports and TNT Sports, play a game of darts and pool, or relax with your pup in our dog-friendly pub. With disabled access, free Wi-Fi, EV charging, and even welcoming coaches, we tick all the boxes for casual family meals and fun nights out with friends. Visit The Downham Arms today and tuck into phenomenal flame-grilled pub food!”

  • Bar games
  • Great beer selection
  • Great wine list
  • Sports
  • Trivia night
  • Popular for solo dining

Amenities

  • Wi-Fi
  • Wheelchair accessible entrance
  • Accepts reservations
  • Dogs allowed
  • Dine-in
  • Good for kids
Show more amenities
  • Food at bar
  • Cozy
  • Onsite services
  • Arcade games
  • Beer
  • Dancing
Offerings· 5
  • Alcohol
  • Cocktails
  • Food
  • Hard liquor
  • Wine
Dining options· 1
  • Seating
Facilities· 1
  • Restroom
Crowd· 1
  • Groups
Highlights· 5
  • Bar games
  • Great beer selection
  • Great wine list
  • Sports
  • Trivia night
Popular for· 1
  • Solo dining
Atmosphere· 1
  • Casual
Accessibility· 3
  • Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Wheelchair accessible restroom
  • Wheelchair accessible seating
Parking· 4
  • Free parking lot
  • Free street parking
  • Paid parking lot
  • Usually plenty of parking

Location

Bars near Downham Arms

Downham Arms
£10–20ReservationsWheelchair accessibleGood for kids
4.3944
  • 4 mi£20–40

    chocolate brownie dessert, buttermilk chicken burger, fish and chips

  • 8 mi away

    fish and chips, outdoor garden seating, dog friendly

  • 8 mi away£10–20ReservationsGood for kids

    gammon, fish and chips, steak pie

The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.

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