
About us
Keeping the Spirit of the Village Alive
The Shepherd & Dog has been part of Colchester's fabric for generations — a place where regulars become family and a pint of ale tells the story of the town. Now, under fresh, professional management, we're writing the next chapter.
Our team brings decades of hospitality experience and a deep belief that the local pub is the beating heart of community life. We've kept everything that mattered — the warmth, the history, the unhurried welcome — and added the standards a great Colchester pub deserves: thoughtfully sourced food, a properly tended cellar, and a calendar full of reasons to drop in.
This is a pub for everyone. The early bird with their newspaper. The five-a-side team after the match. The family on Sunday. The first date, the leaving do, the wake. Whatever brought you here, we're glad you came.

Our values
Local first. Always.
- Community. Free function room hire for local clubs. Charity quiz nights. Showing the local schools' fundraisers in our windows.
- Provenance. Beef from Dedham Vale. Fish from Mersea. Ales from breweries you can drive to.
- Craft. A proper cellar, properly kept. Glasses chilled. Pies from scratch.
- Welcome. Dogs, kids, lone diners, big groups. All sorts, all welcome.
The team
The faces behind the bar.
Sam Whitcombe
Landlord
Twenty years in Essex pubs and a soft spot for cask ale. Will remember your usual.
Priya Halsall
Head Chef
Trained in Bristol, raised on Sunday roasts. Champion of British seasonal cooking.
Dec O'Neill
Cellar & Drinks
Eight rotating cask lines, always something local. Knows his hops from his hopes.
Where it comes from
Suppliers we trust.
Dedham Vale Farm
Beef & lamb, 12 miles
Mersea Island Co-op
Day-boat fish & oysters
Colchester Brewery
House cask & seasonals
Lay & Wheeler
Wine list, est. 1854
Wivenhoe Bakehouse
Daily sourdough
Tiptree
Jams, pickles & preserves
