The team behind the success of Crofters Brasserie, have owned this Essex Institution for the last six years and have decided it's high time their old friend had a bit of a makeover. Since taking over the premises in 2004, this foodie team have taken the well regarded food served at Crofters to a superior level. Building on this success, they have decided to take the venue back to its wine bar roots, with a revised menu, even more variety drink-wise and a look that is relaxing as it is well considered.

The team here are huge fans of the old English wine bar concept and as such have employed good old-fashioned values of great quality food and excellent service in their rethink of Crofters. Only fresh, local produce is employed to create a menu that is a bit of everything - dishes are rustic modern European in character and the whole place feels somewhere between old English wine bar and French brasserie, but with a twist. French artwork adorns the walls, Churchill quotes are in full view, the furnishings are chunky and rustic and the lighting atmosperic - the whole ambiance encourages the easy flow of wine and conversation.

But it's not just the food that you should get excited about; in giving this well loved establishment a new lease of life, the owners have added more real ales and wines to the list, welcoming guests for a simple drink after work, or a leisurly trip through many of the world's finest wine producing regions.

Those great music and party nights, which led to the kind of atmosphere that Crofters was famous for, are a tradition that Crowded House Brasserie & Wine Bar is set to continue into the future.