The HopShop

John Prior opened this micropub on Moulsham Street in November 2014, the first of its kind in Essex, building much of the bar and seating himself. Beer is served by gravity from a chilled back room rather than through pumps, with four changing cask ales alongside Belgian and German bottles, craft keg lines and a wide range of ciders. There is no music, television or fruit machine on the premises, with conversation left as the main draw for callers. The Chelmsford and Mid-Essex CAMRA branch has named the pub its local Branch Pub of the Year twice and Cider Pub of the Year on three occasions. It opens seven days a week: Monday to Thursday, noon to 10pm; Friday and Saturday, noon to 11pm; and Sunday, noon to 6pm.