A FEW years back when I worked for Oddbins our shop supplied wine for two of Colchester’s most lively bars- Twisters & V bar.

I bumped into one of the owners recently and he told me about their plans to open a new venue, the Three Wise Monkeys, on the High Street, which would house a pub a restaurant and a live music venue. Since they were a great bunch to work with I asked to be their wine supplier and soon we were putting a decent list together.

Soon after opening we visited for lunch as I knew about the menu after doing wine tasting with the staff and simply had to order the beef brisket with a bottle of Malbec – an unbelievable flavour match.

It didn’t disappoint and we will have trouble ordering anything else off the menu in future – the meat is slow cooked until it virtually falls off the bone – perfection.

I know this is a wine column but the beer selection in the Three Wise Monkeys is enormous and new visitors could mistake the place for a beer festival.

In fact it feels like one if you are upstairs in the spacious public bar at the weekend where the staff enthusiastically talk you through the range.

There simply isn’t a match for this place in terms of a bar/restaurant/live music venue.