A TOP rated pub in Rochford is striving to "bring back a sense of community" as its long serving landlady aims to attract punters from far and wide.

The Royal Oak, in Stambridge, is rated the best out of 22 Rochford restaurants on TripAdvisor.

Landlady Frances Ransome, 54, hails from Ashingdon and has run the pub for 25 years.

She said: “Our reputation means a lot, but you’ve got to maintain it.

“We get customers coming from all over, but I would like to see more locals using the pub, too.

Echo: The Royal Oak is popular with visitors from 'all over' Rochford.The Royal Oak is popular with visitors from 'all over' Rochford. (Image: Ben Shahrabi) 

“People need to use their local pubs, or they risk losing us. There are so many pubs closing now.”

Frances says she is “thinking outside the box” to offer events nobody else does, like “rock and roll bingo”.

“We’ve also got a great big garden with a children’s climbing frame and an outdoor stage for live music,” she added.

Echo: Welcoming - landlady Frances Ransom and chef Leighton Nolan.Welcoming - landlady Frances Ransom and chef Leighton Nolan. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Frances aims to make the Royal Oak a “hub” for the community, with coffee mornings and social groups.

She said: “People are more isolated since the pandemic, but they don’t have to be alone.

“There are a lot of people in the village who could benefit from meeting over a cup of tea or coffee.

“The community isn’t quite as close as it could be. We try to encourage people who’ve never been in before to visit.

“Pubs aren’t just about drinking, they’re about meeting people.

“My favourite thing about being a publican is being part of people’s lives."

Echo: A hard day's work - colleagues Wayne Long and David Wilson.A hard day's work - colleagues Wayne Long and David Wilson. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Punter David Wilson, 40, from Hockley, unwinds at the pub after work.

“It’s a good excuse not to go home,” he joked.

“I like to unwind after a hard day’s work with friends. You always see some familiar faces in here.

“It’s a nice country pub, where staff know us all by name."

Colleague Wayne Long, 40, from Rochford, said: “It’s nice and cosy. The food is brilliant, especially the Sunday roast.”

Echo: The pub is known for its 'cosy' decor.The pub is known for its 'cosy' decor. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Chef Leighton Nolan, 18, from Canewdon, said: “We offer fresh seasonal dishes. It’s proper pub food.

“We do a lot of pies and are known for our fresh scallops. We always use local suppliers.

“Frances is great. She gives us a lot of freedom, so we can experiment with what ingredients we’ve got.”