The Cricketers
Location: Wicken Road, Clavering, Saffron Walden, England, CB11 4QT, Saffron Walden, GB
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Property Type: Inns
About this Property
Stunning Views and Cozy Amenities
Enjoy the picturesque terrace and garden views at The Cricketers. Benefit from complimentary wireless internet access during your stay.
Dining Delights
Indulge in a delicious meal at The Cricketers restaurant. Unwind with a drink at the bar/lounge, making your evenings special.
Convenient and Comfortable Stay
With 20 guestrooms featuring modern amenities like flat-screen TVs and coffee/tea makers, relax in comfort. Take advantage of free self parking and the option for cooked-to-order breakfasts.
Book your stay at The Cricketers in Saffron Walden for an upscale experience near popular attractions.
Important Information
- This property allows pets in specific rooms only (surcharges apply and can be found in the Fees section). Guests can request one of these rooms by contacting the property directly, using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
Policies
Check-in: 03:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Instructions: There is no front desk at this property. The host will greet guests on arrival.
Amenities & Facilities
- Electric car charging station
- Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
- Free WiFi
- Terrace
- Garden
- Wheelchair accessible
- Outdoor furniture
- Picnic area
- Hiking/biking trails nearby
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Multilingual staff
- Smoke-free property
- Free self parking
- Electric car charging station
- Fishing nearby
- Food and water bowls
- Organic food
- Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
- Locally-sourced food on site (80% or more)
- Vegan menu options available
- Vegetarian menu options available
Rooms Available
-
Superior Double Room (Better)
1 Queen Bed
194-sq-foot room with garden views
Entertainment - Flat-screen TV with satellite channels
Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker, electric kettle, and free bottled water
Sleep - Bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom and bathtub or shower
Practical - Iron/ironing board and desk; rollaway beds (surcharge) and cribs (surcharge) available on request
Comfort - Heating
Accessibility - Hardwood flooring in room
Need to Know - No housekeeping
Non-Smoking
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Desk
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Satellite channels
- Hardwood or parquet floors
- Electric kettle
- Bottle of water
- Bedsheets provided
- No housekeeping
-
Deluxe Double Room (Best)
1 King Bed
215-sq-foot room with garden views
Entertainment - Flat-screen TV with satellite channels
Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker, electric kettle, and free bottled water
Sleep - Bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom and bathtub or shower
Practical - Iron/ironing board and desk; rollaway beds (surcharge) and cribs (surcharge) available on request
Comfort - Heating
Accessibility - Hardwood flooring in room
Need to Know - No housekeeping
Non-Smoking
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Desk
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Satellite channels
- Hardwood or parquet floors
- Electric kettle
- Bottle of water
- Bedsheets provided
- No housekeeping
-
Superior Double or Twin Room
1 Double Bed OR 2 Twin Beds
194-sq-foot room with garden views
Entertainment - Flat-screen TV with satellite channels
Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker, electric kettle, and free bottled water
Sleep - Bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom and bathtub or shower
Practical - Iron/ironing board and desk; cribs (surcharge) available on request
Comfort - Heating
Accessibility - Hardwood flooring in room
Need to Know - No housekeeping, no rollaway/extra beds available
Non-Smoking
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Desk
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Satellite channels
- Hardwood or parquet floors
- Electric kettle
- Bottle of water
- No rollaway/extra beds
- Bedsheets provided
- No housekeeping
Guest Reviews
- Janine (9/5): -
- Andy (9/5): Enjoyable stay in a beautiful setting. Excellent breakfast and friendly staff - Pleasant location, friendly staff, excellent breakfast. Comfortable and spacious room
- Robert (10/5): A thoroughly enjoyable few days at a wonderful hotel/ pub. - We had a lovely time with friends. Food was excellent and room very cosy. We all really enjoyed the breakfast and the staff were very friendly and accommodating. Would thoroughly recommend for an away holiday. Nothing, everything perfect. Only the weather was a little iffy.
- Anna (8/5): -
- Steve (7/5): OK, comfortable. Shame about the shower - Shower was a useless dribble
- Kevin (9/5): Great staff and a fantastic breakfast. Comfortable rooms which was clean and had everything you need - Breakfast was fantastic as were all the staff and the location. The room was well laid out and had everything that you needed. The pub was friendly and a great choice of drinks There was no remote control for the television in the room. The water pressure was low which made the shower slow. Evening menu was not to my choice personally.
- Evelyn (8/5): -
- John (8/5): -
- Nicola (9/5): Well worth a visit - Good sized rooms, comfortable bed. Lovely pub on hand, helpful staff A bit warm in the room
- Ann (9/5): Very friendly staff and high quality room, plus excellent breakfast. - Easy to find
Quiet location
No planes heard until after 7am Nothing
- Jayne (9/5): -
- Manna (10/5): Lovely little stay and will definitely be back! - Beautiful property and lovely rooms Nothing
- Carol (10/5): -
- John (9/5): -
- Trish (9/5): -
- Steve (9/5): -
- Sylvia (8/5): Good value and comfortable for an overnight stay. - Breakfast was excellent, well cooked and fresh. We ate in the pub at night, and had to wait 45minutes for our meal.
- Julie (10/5): Fabulous country pub for a recharge - The location was excellent and the staff were so friendly and welcoming. The food was stunning. Nothing
- Danielle (7/5): - Shower could do with being more powerful
- Kiran D. (8/5): Overall, lovely place - Lovely room Carpets had been cleaned in the morning & room was not ventilated - so the carpets were damp.
- Yvonne (9/5): Very hospitable Inn in a beautiful part of the country - The room was large and comfortable. The breakfast was very good and the one night we had dinner in the restaurant the food was excellent. The price of the wine by the glass in the bar seemed very expensive.
- Guest (9/5): -
- simon (10/5): - Staff were great.
Food and drinks all good, reasonable value for money.
Room was very spacious and comfortable The only real fault was the shower was really difficult to navigate. We stayed in Gabba and the showers in the bath, and being 5ft 11 tall, literally I leant over for a shower as the ceilings are low. Can't be helped.
Apart from that, great
- Jon (7/5): Nice place - Nice food and drink
Clean comfy rooms Nothing
- Cyril (8/5): Top - Très chouette établissement
Typique, charmant on y mange très bien
Le personnel est très accueillant .
Nous avons payé 25 livres pour notre chien et il a été accueilli comme un roi panier de luxe, gamelle bonbon croquettes merci pour cet accueil chaleureux!
- Paul (10/5): - Everything Nothing
- 3 gens (8/5): will return - good choice at breakfast
Staff excellent Dinner was very good with reasonably priced wines......waitress exceptional but good had done with more assistance
- 928nickyd (10/5): Fantastic!! - I feel that we stayed in a totally different place to some of the more recent reviewers on here. In my opinion this is probably the BEST pub/restaurant with rooms we have ever stayed in.
On arrival, realising that I was aided by a walking stick the WONDERFUL Joe offered to show us a choice of rooms in order to best meet my needs, and we ended up in one of Best rooms in a bungalow over the road.The room itself was beautifully decorated and maintained with a massive superking bed and comfy pillows. It was lovely to stay in a room where the wooden furniture was eclectic and not corporate. The huge wetroom also had a bath so we were both happy. Our room was facing the road and we didnt hear ANY noise during the night.
We arrived at about 4pm on Friday and we were immediately made to feel welcome by Joe and the other staff members,as well as a grand selection of cheery local folk who were fascinated that we were here for a Scrabble tourney. All the people with dogs had them well under control, and the general atmosphere was buzzing and happy, with no background music to spoil the ambience. The log fire was an added bonus! The pub was quiet upon arrival but by the time went to our room after dinner , both the restaurant and the bar were HEAVING with people having a good time.
The food was outstandingly good , both in the evening - the chimichurri steak was the best steak I've ever had.
Breakfast fare was clearly well sourced with fresh bread made on site. The chefs are to be commended on a) the menu choices and b) the presentation and the preparation. Good choice of wines too.
The staff were all absolutely delightful - friendly and helpful at every point. Joe and all the staff are a credit to the Chestnut Group , and they are entirely the best thing about this fantastic pub.
We have already booked our next stay.
- john (6/5): -
- Jessica (7/5): Séjour Agréable - Une table très sympathique avec une carte typique Anglaise. Le restaurant avec sa cheminée permet de passer une soirée agréable. La chambre un peu froide et bruyante surtout en journée car la route passe tout près.
- Lorraine (10/5): Would recommend and will return it was a superb stay - Cozy, warm, friendly, welcoming The only thing we found a little difficult was the amount of choice on the menu. However the chef was very accommodating because our vegetarian didn’t like pumpkin he did make the most delicious mushroom risotto for her.
- Elise (10/5): Lovely. - Everything. Nothing
- Paul (10/5): - A fab second stay! Great food, great atmosphere, great room, great staff.
- brenda (10/5): - We all loved if we thought dinner was just pub food we were a bit disappointed with the food but we loved the staff and room very helpful
- Karen (9/5): Lovely stay - Room and country pub feeling
- JONATHAN (9/5): - all good great staff and friendly locals
- Daniel (10/5): -
- Angela (9/5): -
- Emma (9/5): -
- Andy (8/5): -
- Félix (9/5): Todo muy bien - El desayuno muy bien , la ubicacion está cerca de uno de los aeropuertos de Londres pero lejos del centro. Buena opción si vas a las afueras, muy tranquilo y confortable. Que estuviera lejos del centro de la ciudad
- Schauwe (10/5): It was very pleasant - Everything Nothing
- Helen (10/5): -
- Paul (10/5): -
- Johanna (9/5): Perfect and relaxing …… - Beautifully decorated, very large room, masses of storage, top quality bathroom products available to use. For me the bed was too hard but that’s just personal choice. My husband loved it. We couldn’t lock the bedroom door the key wouldn’t work so had to leave it open every time we left the room.
- Casey (10/5): - Great breakfast which catered to my dietary requirements. Staff were friendly and helpful. Lovely rooms- clean and comfortable. Flexible with our check in to support us checking in before a wedding.
- Vernon (10/5): -
- Michelle (9/5): Ideal base for concerts at Audley End - Excellent location near Audley End in a very picturesque setting, and incredibly convenient to have the pub next door for drinks, food and refreshments. Our room was very large and the bed was very comfortable. The complimentary toiletries provided were heavenly (I placed an order for some as soon as we got home). The breakfast is out of this world - a very plentiful buffet with hot and cold drinks, toast-making facilities and a wide selection of cooked breakfast options. We needed a taxi to and from a concert and the staff were very helpful with phone numbers. The parking is a handy added bonus. The shower was very low pressure and the fixtures and fittings in the bathroom felt very flimsy. You can hear every footstep/cough from neighbouring rooms.
- Gary (9/5): -
- Alison (9/5): Lovely welcome from all the staff and amazing food - Everything was lovely
Loved the way they catered for dogs! My only complaint was the lack of bins
Obviously took my dog for walks and could not find a bin anywhere for the poo bags!!
- peter (10/5): - Rooms were very comfortable, comfy bed Too hot!!
- debbie (9/5): -
- Susan (8/5): This is our third stay at The Cricketers and we will definitely be staying again. - Location, room thoughtfully equipped and clean. The bed was very comfortable. All our meals were excellent and staff were friendly and helpful. It was an exceptionally cold night so the single radiator was not adequate for the room size. However we found a portable heater in the wardrobe which helped.
- Sunshine742487 (2/5): Absolute waste of money. - Having lived in the area for a couple of decades we have visited The Cricketers many times, which WAS always an enjoyable experience. But since the new management no longer so.
We very recently visited for Sunday lunch, which sadly was a miserable experience. Roast beef was served in a ridiculous stack, and once we dismantled the structure we took a mouthful or two to find it almost cold, even the potatoes and parsnips which hold the heat a long time.
So as we found it, potatoes solid, do not confuse that with crisp, which we all love in roast potatoes, but solid, dry impossible to cut, cooked hours or days ago. Parsnips ok but just lukewarm, greens very cold and strangely very difficult to cut, how can greens be difficult to cut??? Red cabbage of course cold, but tasted of nothing. Beef ok if you avoided the sinue, but it had the textures of braised meat, not roast, Yorkshire pudding looked great but it disintegrated like a crisp when cut into.. Gravy thick heavy and little flavour, if it was piping hot it may have helped raise the temperature of the rest of the dinner.
My dinner was replaced and another served, but little improvement. We were given 50% off the main course, but this is not what we wanted, we wanted an enjoyable meal!!!
The very sad part of all of this is that, when I looked at reviews after our terrible lunch, people have been complaining about the exact same things for two years! Something wrong with the management here!
Could I say that the young ladies who served us were first rate, but one of the guys who we can only presume was part of the management team looked most unsavoury. Shuffling around in footwear that sounded like slippers and clothing that looked like he was dressed for gardening.
After decades of the Olivers building a business to be proud of, they must be sad to see what a poor standard of food is being served.
This place can only live on the Olivers reputation for so long.
We shall never be returning.
- Zoe (10/5): -
- Lorraine (10/5): Cozy, friendly & food was delicious - It was cozy Only that our room was the other side of the road and it was raining
- Liam (10/5): -
- Colin (9/5): -
- Jan Eeland (9/5): Very good, better value as the room price. - Quick service. We had booked a dog friendly room, it was very dog friendly: water bowl, food bowl, a basket, a towel and a bag of really nice dog snacks.
- Benjamin (10/5): Pleasant stay and great value for money with tasty breakfast - Bed size, room size, cleanliness, breakfast Sounds isolation: we could hear super loud the steps on the stairs and on top floor
No on / off switch for major lights near the bed
- Stacey (10/5): -
- JOHN (7/5): -
- Monica (8/5): Have stayed before & would return to a different room. - We liked the location & staff were very friendly
Breakfast was good The room was very dark even with the lamps on.
Front door lock needs attention.
- Donna (10/5): Lovely accommodation! - Very cute pub and rooms. Loved the breakfast also. Nothing
- Karen (10/5): -
- Richard (8/5): -
- marie (10/5): Very hsppy eith our stay ! -
- Keith (8/5): -
- Debra (9/5): -
- Salphine (10/5): - . .
- Alexander (8/5): Cosy but room for improvement. - A lovely pub in a great location, plenty of parking if only we had known about the overflow car park beforehand! The breakfast was especially nice, set you up for the day. The odd smile on the face of some of the staff would not have gone amiss. Attention to detail when taking an order could be improved. Accuracy of the bill, it was rarely correct, some in our favour some not so I didn’t press it at the time. As for charging £3 for an inch of custard in the bottom of a small jug - scandalous.
- Gerald (8/5): -
- Ivita (10/5): -
- Salphine (10/5): -
- Stephanie (8/5): Fantastic, comfortable stay. Would recommend! - Excellent location for access to local attractions.
The pub itself is gorgeous, the food is superb and the staff are wonderful.
There were really nice little touches like fresh milk in the room, good coffee with cafetière, the heating was on when we got in so it was cozy and warm.
The bed was comfy (a little on the harder side which is how I like my beds!) and the room had everything we could possible need. Our room was road side so we heard every vehicle that went past but it’s nothing a pair of good ear plugs wouldn’t be able to sort out.
Oh and the husband would have loved some breakfast tea in the room but as a coffee drinker, I don’t see this as a problem…
- Pat (10/5): Quaint pub/ restaurant with low ceilings and good food.breakfast was spectacular on quality and choice. Our party wa - Location for our purpose. Excellent Not much. All was fab
- Ogleby (10/5): Very comfortable. - Lovely bar staff. Good food.
- Gordon (7/5): -
- 331jot (8/5): Lovely, comfortable rural pub/hotel - A lovely rural pub/hotel in a quiet location. Great atmosphere for our evening meal, very comfortable vibe with friendly and helpful staff. It was busy (Sunday evening) but the staff team were attentive and our food came in good time (and was delicious).
We stayed overnight - the room was warm, clean and welcoming. We were given fresh milk on arrival (in a little insulated flask, no fridges in the rooms) - a nice touch. Very comfortable bed and pillows.
Breakfast was also great - friendly, helpful staff and good food.
- _stevemccarthy00 (2/5): Battersea Dogs home! - I have visited this establishment regularly since it was taken over by the chestnut group as it has been my local for 40 years. It is now dog friendly (Muddy paws!)
Dogs are frequently yapping and growling at each other! Occasionally I have seen them leap across tables knocking drinks flying over customers, broken glass everywhere and have experienced eating a meal with a dog walking over the back of my seat eyeing up my food! Dogs are welcome in both the bar area and restaurant
If this is your thing, then its the pub for you! Certainly not for me!!
We booked our xmas day meal 2024 there, £120 per head. The food and service was appalling!
The roast potatoes were like bullets, inedible and the food was cold! Staff were totally un-attentive and had to be asked to bring basic necessities, so we were up and down from our table constantly!
After being moved from the table we were sat at (with no discussion), to accommodate a couple with a dog, we got chatting to the couple sat next to us. Similarly, they had also been moved. They were booked in for 3 days and they were so unhappy with the food and service, they left for home, foregoing there last days stay.
In conclusion it's the worst meal and service we have ever had in a restaurant and after complaining, there was no apology and/ or redress for the poor experience. We don't intend to return unless the dog policy changes and the food and service meets the expectation of the price charged. Dogs don't pay and people should be given priority!
- Mark (7/5): Overall pleasant but shame it ended the way it did - Quiet and relaxing location. Comfortable and spacious accommodation and friendly atmosphere in the pub. Staff on the whole were friendly, polite and helpful. Spoilt on last morning by mix up over breakfast, which was ok apart from the attitude of the older lady in the team. When a mistake is made you don’t argue with the customer and certainly don’t laugh at them when you are in the wrong.
- Helga (9/5): -
- Jonathan (9/5): - Super room, great food. I can't fault it ! Shower drain blocked
- Adtrix (9/5): Stunning, relaxing space and area with warm staff - The area and mood of the establishment were a perfect setting to wind down. Catherine was a super waitress and very kind I tried contacting in advance to clarify a few things, but couldn't get a reply
- Besay (10/5): -
- Kewarth (10/5): -
- Joanna (10/5): Great - Everything Drinks in the room were good but there was no normal tea bags as this is what I drink it was a disappointment as not everyone like flavoured tea so put normal tea bags in as well and a few more pots of milk and it would of perfect!
- mckcol (8/5): Quality just one niggle - Lovely staff, quality food.
Only thing to let this down was our room, ‘The Parks’ the road noise is terrible from 6am. No double glazing which would help
- Barbara (10/5): Meat Loaf and Cher on tour - Great staff, lovely room, heating on all night, free easy access , wi fi, great bed . The ultimate was the breakfast, really delicious! Thoroughly enjoyed our stay. It was all perfect
- John (10/5): Fabulous - As the booking.com description says…….. fabulous.
After a hard days work I genuinely looked forward to my cricketers welcome each evening.
Friendly attentive staff, good selection of beer, often busy with great atmosphere.
High standard pub grub
A real find on my part 😀 Nothing
- Andrew (10/5): -
- 545alwynb (10/5): Excellent - Bought my sister in law to our local pub and wow she loved it.
Great atmosphere, excellent food and wine we had a fantastic night, the staff couldn’t do enough for us. Thankyou for making our evening special.
- Susan (9/5): Well definitely stay again. One of the nicest places we’ve stayed at - The room was clean, comfortable attractive and a lot of thought had been given to all the small details eg good lighting in the bathroom, cafetière and refreshments, iron and board etc. Food was very good and staff were helpful and friendly . It is located on the main road through the village but traffic was light so noise didn’t bother us
- Leo (9/5): -
- Gill (9/5): Fabulous find near M11 with wonderful staff - Room was great. Large bed. Comfortable with quality bedding. Great tv and well equipped bathroom. Staff really friendly.
Breakfast has good choice and quality items. Service at breakfast very slow that delayed us but this might have been a one off oversight.
- Michael (7/5): -
- Perry (10/5): -
- NeilHarvey1965 (4/5): Don't bother ! - Went there on Sunday last, won't be going again... no-one seems interested ....food was ok albeit roast potatoes seemed as though they were dug up last year, you could almost see through the beef, misery chip portions. We weren't asked once how the meal was... 90 min wait for food even though it wasn't busy.
What really annoys me is reading all these comments with everyone mentioning the same issues and the same cut and paste response from the Management...what I suggest you do is get a grip of your business model and sort this place out and no I don't want to discuss further by email as every review is proof in the pudding that the place is poor.
- Anita (9/5): Lovely rooms - Nice decor, comfortable bed, and a decent shower. Breakfast was included in the price, and this was very good. It would be nice to have a small fridge in the room. We've stayed here a few times, and this is the only thing that's missing. However we were disappointed with the evening meal. Being Sunday, we expected a roast, but the choice was very poor. There was only pork or a vegetarian option, and the only other thing was fish and chips. I think there were two starters to choose from and three deserts. We both opted for the pork. It was OK, but for £24 I expected it to be amazing. Two slices of meat, two roast potatoes, a Yorkshire, veg, and parsnip. Based on this experience, I don't think we will dine there again.
- Catherine L (8/5): Ideal overnight stay with great food - Food was great and staff very attentive The room was quiet and furnished in a contemporary style. Lighting was not great - several bulbs were broken
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