Today, in the never ending search for somewhere nice to take my Mum and Nan on a sunny Saturday, we ended up in an adventure at Osea View Café on Osea Leisure Park in Heybridge.

Now to me, anywhere that can make me think I’m abroad when I’m actually in England is a TOTAL winner.

Set on the River Blackwater as part of Osea Leisure park along with their entertainment venue, ‘The Deckhouse’, ‘Osea View’ provides a relaxed friendly atmosphere that means you can easily mistake yourself for being in a little Greek or Italian seaside town.

The owner himself is Italian, and he took the time to come and chat to me (as well as other customers) about his vision for the new venture. Being a purveyor of good food and coffee (catering is in his blood and it is all he has ever known), John Paul does NOT cut corners. All of the mega welcoming staff are fully barista trained, so if you are looking for a sub standard coffee you better go elsewhere.

The food served is sandwiches and light snacks, and they even kindly offered to make up something for my Nan is there was anything on the menu she didn’t fancy. As it turns out she had the Panini and thoroughly enjoyed it. Being 80, and having just been quite unwell, she’s not a big eater, but she told us she probably would eat her whole Panini and then proceeded to polish off the whole thing along with some crisps and a latte.

I had the salt beef bagel, which once I had finished marvelling at (they are hard to find in my neck of the woods), I really enjoyed. The beef wasn’t too salty or dry, and the toasted bagel it came in was perfect for lunchtime. My Mum, who also had a Panini for lunch, couldn’t resist having a go at one of the cakes. Not being a sweet tooth myself I am glad I took her as my special expert in all things sweet. She had the millionaires cake which was not only generous in size, but delicious, as she kept telling all journey home and still is now we have been back a few hours.

To round off any good meal, I usually go for an espresso. The coffees here are a credit to the Café, and John Paul has obviously done a lot of research and spent a lot of time picking what coffee he wants to serve. A bold, strong espresso, which still carries flavour as well as being enough to perk you up all afternoon is the perfect way to wash down a salt beef bagel.

We travelled about an hour to get here, and I would highly recommend it. There is an outdoor decking area where you could easily waste a whole summers afternoon just watching the boats come and go and eating lovely food. In fact, my Mum is booking herself into Osea Leisure Park soon, and although this can be done online I’m pretty sure we will pop up there just to visit Osea View again. The staff couldn’t not have been more accommodating, and were incredibly helpful to my Nan who is 80. I wish we could of stayed longer but my Nan is one of those old people who has to rush back home for her afternoon nap.

If you don’t visit for the food, the lovely staff, or the stunning views, visit to see the general manager John Paul, who is a friendly, happy person who is clearly passionate about his job.

You can also hire The View’s top floor for that special occasion or meeting for £25 per hour Plus Vat or if you have a family Function for that real special Occasion you can hire The whole of Osea View For £100 Per hour Plus Vat. we can also put a catering package for you and your guests.

TEL : 01621 855 122 or email john@jpleisure.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Osea-View/624289494328647?fref=ts