Update 27th November 2020
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It was disappointing news yesterday for the Great Bromley Cross. We will be in Tier 2 when we come out of lockdown on Wednesday 2nd December which means we will not be able to serve alcoholic drinks unless we serve a “substantial meal” . Unfortunately at this time we are not in a position to do that but we have plans to re-open following the review which is due to take place on 16th December.
We have to assume that we will still be in Tier 2 up to Xmas and the same restrictions above will apply, but we would like to show off the efforts we have made to decorate the pub for Christmas by opening on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th December serving meals so you can come down and see us.
This will be on a booking only basis through our booking system and just to remind you bookings can only be made 6 days in advance of the date required.
However, there are still restrictions under Tier 2 which you need to follow.
You will not be able to sit inside with anyone outside your household or support bubble. Outside the rule of six still applies and you may sit with up to six people from six households, and as mentioned above, all attendees will be required to have a “substantial meal” at inside and outside tables.
The good news is that we will be opening the Wednesday Morning Coffee Shop on Wednesday 2nd December and every Wednesday up to Christmas as we are allowed to serve hot non-alcohol drinks under the new restrictions. The Post Office and Library will be in attendance. The Post Office now offers a good selection of Christmas Cards, Gift Wrap, Tags, Gift Ribbon etc. together with Parcel/Sellotape and a variety of calendars. So come down and have a Coffee, Cake and a Chat whilst you Choose but again please use the booking system to book a table and please adhere to the Tier 2 restrictions.
We will have our ears open when the next review is announced and if there is any movement in what Tier we are in we will of course act accordingly and update you with our Christmas opening times.
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So what do you do when your local village pub closes? Drive to the next village I guess. But what do you do when that one closes too? And what replaces the local pub’s role in the informal village social network? Facebook? I hope not. Recent statistics suggest that 30 pubs are closing in the UK every week and most of them never re-open. Nineteen closed in Essex alone in 2014.
The Cross Inn, Great Bromley, a few miles outside Colchester, on the edge of neighbouring Ardleigh, closed its doors in May 2015. A few locals didn’t want the Cross to become yet another statistic and decided to do something about it. And that’s why this website is here.
In 2015 The Cross Inn, in Great Bromley, Essex closed and was put up for sale as a development opportunity. A group of locals didn’t want to lose the Cross as their village pub so set up “Save the Bromley Cross”. And amazingly, 18 months later, the pub is open again under community ownership.
Over three years later we are a thriving community hub. We have now rebranded and are called The Great Bromley Cross. We are more than a pub, offering the community outreach Post Office and Library services, a coffee shop and a recycling facility. We also host other community activities like the local Friendship Club, a “come and play” music club, a craft club, the WI darts team and twice-yearly village litter picks.
