There are some places in Essex that are a little more stereotypical than others, but we love it. 

We all know that Essex has a reputation for glitz and glam - we are the self-proclaimed party capital of the south after all.

But where are the best places to go in the county if you want a true taste of Essex?

Everyone loves our wonderful county and we’ve singled out these places as being ‘proper’ Essex.

Sheesh

Inside the luxury bar
Inside one of the luxury bars

High Road, Chigwell IG7 6QA

If there’s one place in Essex where the celebrities always want to eat, it’s Sheesh in Chigwell.

Over the last few years, Sheesh has become the place to be. Famous faces in the club over the years include Little Mix, Cheryl Cole, Olly Murs, Tyson Fury, Harry Styles, Harry Kane, Joey Essex, Harry Redknapp, Katie Price and Ray Winstone.

It’s often dubbed ‘the best Turkish food in town’ and everyone raves about the menu.

Even though anyone can eat there, there are lots of rules and regulations to follow including a strict dress code, no children and you can only book a group for up to eight people in the main restaurant.

There is a private members’ option but you have to be invited by the manager. This guarantees your favourite table any night of the week, a private reservation number and access to the cocktail bar and entertainment, even if you’re not eating there.

Most Essex feature: All of the animal print decor in the Zebra bar

The Pink House

The Pink House is actually called Eaton House Studios
The Pink House is actually called Eaton House Studios

Tiptree, Essex

We’re pretty sure you could go anywhere in the world and not find a house more 'Essex' than this one.

Eaton House Studios is the pinkest house you’ll ever find. Probably.

It’s available to hire out on Airbnb for weekends away, special occasions or just a fun night out. It’s also been used in loads of music videos and fashion shoots because of the incredible backdrop it provides.

The pink house, as it is known locally, has six bedrooms, six baths, a hot tub and so many social rooms. Some have referred to it as a work of art.

Among the standout features (and there are too many to choose from) are the floral entrance hall, the hot pink boudoir, glitter wallpaper, loveseat, sparkly bar adorned with photos of firefighters, the Hello Kitty bedroom and the jaw-dropping snug with huge TV, slumber party room, and separate saloon bar in the garden.

It has also recently been used for the music video for Little Mix's chart favourite 'Bounce Back'.

Most Essex feature: The garden full of plastic pink flamingos

Faces

Customers in Faces Gants Hill
Customers in Faces Gants Hill

458 Cranbrook Road, Gants Hill IG2 6LE

Faces is summed up pretty well on the club’s own website. ‘Faces is the most talked about club outside of the West End boasting a VIP guest list from the world of TV, fashion and sport’.

Every week there are people from TOWIE snapped there, along with other reality TV stars and sports stars.

Wherever you look, people seem to be sipping on fabulous cocktails while staff bring out bottles of bubbly and Ciroc with sparklers attached to them.

Just a smattering of the stars who’ve visited recently include Chloe Sims, Dan Edgar, Diags and Shelby Tribble.

Faces Gants Hill is kept exclusive by the fact that it is members only and everyone has to be approved by the management.

Inside you can choose between six bars, two music rooms and in-demand VIP tables. There’s a smart dress code and some very expensive drinks on the menu including a bottle of Grey Goose vodka for £1,450 and a magnum of Dom Perignon for £550.

Most Essex feature: The drinks with sparklers on

Bas Vegas

The whole complex will be spruced up in the refurbishment
The whole complex will be spruced up in the refurbishment

Festival Way, Basildon, Essex, SS14 3WB

Officially called Festival Leisure Park, but few people in its home county actually call it that. To any Essex person worth their salt, it’s Bas Vegas.

This is the main leisure complex in Basildon which is home to loads of restaurants, a bowling alley, a gym, soft play, cinema and nightclub.

Obviously it’s bursting with Essex people and families who are all looking to have a good time.

It’s always buzzing and it comes alive at night the way only Essex can with people dressed up to the nines for some good food, cocktails and company.

Most Essex feature: The name. Bas Vegas. It’s just genius.

Adventure Island Southend

Adventure Island, Southend

Western Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea SS1 1EE

When the sun shines in Essex, there’s only one place to go - Adventure Island. (Or Peter Pan’s if you’re over a certain age.)

It’s the only theme park in the county and luckily it’s right by the sea. Adventure Island is packed full of stomach-churning rides, games, golf, dodgems, karting, a sealife centre and water experiences.

Of course, you can’t go to Southend without having Essex’s own Rossi’s ice cream, fish and chips by the seafront and some candy floss.

Adventure Island is so Essex that TOWIE have filmed there several times and it’s one of the most visited attractions in the county in the summer months.

Of course you can top up your Essex tan while you’re by the sea too.

Most Essex feature: The arcades.

Popworld

Who can resist the dancefloor when it looks like this?

7 Springfield Road, Chelmsford CM1 7RA

So Popworld might be a national club chain but it could’ve been invented in Essex. With its light-up dancefloor, fancy dress props and garish colour scheme, it’s heaven for anyone who loves some cheesy glam.

Even the drinks are perfect for an Essex nightclub - there’s the huge Popworld Partinis for sharing, sugary cocktails like the Bubble Gum Martini, Bottega Gold Prosecco and lots of pick 'n' mix.

If there’s anywhere in the country where party goers are going to be happy donning giant sunglasses and doing air guitar to Busted while sporting a mini dress and heels, it’s Essex.

Of course there are VIP booths too for that special Essex occasion.

Most Essex feature: That dance floor…

The Basildon sign

The famous Basildon sign.
The famous Basildon sign.

Along the A127 at Noak Bridge

Not many places in the UK would get away with the tongue-in-cheek audacity of copying the Hollywood sign. But if it was going to happen anywhere, it was going to be in Essex.

The sign, which is modelled on the famous white letters in the Hollywood Hills, stands proud on the side of the road on the A127 as you head into Basildon.

The letters may only be 5ft high (compared to the 45ft Hollywood version) but you can’t miss them.

When it went up in 2010, the sign caused quite a stir with some people criticising the council for spending around £90,000 on the tourist attraction. One woman commented at the time that they might as well erect a “massive white stiletto” for all the good it was going to do.

However, it’s certainly a talking point and it helps put Basildon on the map.

Most Essex feature: It's a giant sign Hollywood-esc sign on a roundabout...

Sugar Hut

Sugar Hut
Sugar Hut

93-95 High Street, Brentwood, CM14 4RR

The original TOWIE bar. When The Only Way is Essex first launched back in 2010, almost every episode featured the venue and it really put Sugar Hut on the map.

Owner Micky Norcross and his son Kirk were some of the show’s biggest characters but even though they left years ago, the bar is still used regularly for filming.

Celebs, including the cast of TOWIE, Love Island and other reality TV shows flock there. It even has a photo wall so people can get a branded pic for their Instagram.

In August, it was announced that the Sugar Hut was to close for three months while a huge renovation takes place. It is expected to reopen in November.

Most Essex feature: The VIP booths

The Kings Oak Hotel

Kings Oak Hotel
Kings Oak Hotel

Paul's Nursery Road, Waltham Abbey, Loughton IG10 4AE

If you want to hire a party venue with some Essex glamour, look no further than The Kings Oak Hotel. It’s a wedding and party venue with a real wow factor.

There are four different party venues to hire.

The Beach Club is set out like an exclusive resort in an exotic destination and comes complete with a starlit roof made up of hundreds of fairy lights. It also overlooks the pool and pool terrace area.

Or you might want to go for the glitzy Kings Room which has an impressive lighting system that can be tailored to any theme. Several special TOWIE episodes have been filmed there. The other two rooms are the elegant Oak Lounge and the boho chic Gastro Pub.

Most Essex Feature: Those twinkling fairy lights in the Beach Club.

The Gemma Collins boutique

Gemma Collins boutique
Gemma Collins boutique

4 Ropers Yard, Brentwood CM14 4BG

It’s pink, it’s glittery and you can’t miss it. TOWIE star Gemma Collins opened her own plus-size clothes shop, the Gemma Collins boutique, back in 2012 and inside, it’s a little slice of Essex.

Gemma is a proud Essex girl and her store is decorated with glittery walls, sparkly cash desk, vibrant patterned wallpaper featuring flamingoes and ferns, and lots and lots of pink.

There’s nothing boring in her store either, shoppers can choose from lace, florals, bright colours and sequins, and absolutely everything is as glam as the queen of reality herself.

Most Essex feature: Gemma herself