Basildon Travel Guide

  Pie & Mash
by bpwarne
 
  • Pie & Mash
      Pie & Mash
    by bpwarne
  • Robins Pie & Mash Shop, Basildon
      Robins Pie & Mash Shop, Basildon
    by bpwarne
  • Pie & Mash
      Pie & Mash
    by bpwarne
  • Robins Pie & Mash Shop, Basildon
      Robins Pie & Mash Shop, Basildon
    by bpwarne
  • spring has came (c) ukirsari and nicholas ingram
      spring has came (c) ukirsari and...
    by ukirsari
 

Explore Basildon

Things to Do  

Wat Tyler or Pitsea Hall park ?

Wat Tyler or Pitsea Hall park ?, Basildon

 sourbugger Says:  The country park to the south of Basildon is worth a visit. It has virtually nothing to recommend it in terms of scenery - as all you get are stunning views of marshes, pylons and, wait fot it ; Canvey Island.On the other hand there is a Free Powerboat museum, several... 

A steel and glass Bell tower

A steel and glass Bell tower, Basildon

 sourbugger Says:  Despite the wrangles over funding, I was impressed that the Church of England has managed to build a truely striking building in the midst of all the awful 60's concrete. For a town that is renowned for its secular and philistinic culture, it is certainly a turn up for the... 

Mother and Baby statue - symbol of the town

Mother and Baby statue - symbol of the town, Basildon

 sourbugger Says:  Basildon is what is known as a 'new town' created in the post-war period to relieve the housing shortages of London.This statue was commissioned in the Late 1950's and is commonly seen as the symbol of the town.The idea of giving new birth is quite clear, especially when it... 

Hotels  

Hotels  

school of dolphins: no need another accommodation :)

school of dolphins: no need another accommodation :), Basildon

 ukirsari Says:  will always stay in a very special place "rahasia" at langdon hills. a nice place, guarded by tiny scarabees and horus and companied with the teddies :) 

The Bell Inn, Horndon -on - the hill: Hidden Gem - just outside Basildon

The Bell Inn, Horndon -on - the hill: Hidden Gem - just outside Basildon, Basildon

 sourbugger Says:  Basildon itself is home to several of the main chain hotels - and you get precisely what you pay for : chain design, uniform and uninteresting.Horndon-on-the Hill boasts a small (11 bedrooms 5 suites) hotel that is absolutely bursting with character.The Bell inn has been a... 

Restaurants  

Robins Pie & Mash: Pie & Mash for the Masses!
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bpwarne 312 reviews
Pie & Mash
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Robins is a bit of a chain consisting of 3 or 4 shops in the London area.

Food - Well, it's a pie with ground (minced if your English) beef filing, mashed potatoes and something they call liquor which is basically parsley and potato stock (the water the potatos were boiled in?). Rather basic, but....they do have Jellied Eels and Hot Eels & Mash. So, not sure if the English consider that basic....I don't!
Ambiance - Rather sterile 1950's diner look
Service - Quick, order and pick up at counter. Eat in or take out.

Actually tastes much better than it looks.
Pies are handmade daily, made with Free range Scottish Beef, less than 24 months old...whatever that's good for.
Also available: Vegetarian Pie & Mash

A Cockney dish, originally made with eels, dates back to the 19th century when Dutch ships delivered the live Eels to London, apparently along with the accompanying Parsley Liquor. One must assume that the dish is originally a Dutch recipe then? A word of advice: Eat with spoon, not fork, or you may be laughed at by your wife, brother in law and sister in law.

Favorite Dish: Duhhh.....Pie & Mash

Updated Dec 29, 2011

Address: 65 - 67 Market Square, Basildon, Essex

Phone: 01268 271 713

Website: www.robinspieandmash.com

Related to:
 Arts and Culture
 Budget Travel
 Food and Dining

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Transportation  

A hasty late addition
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sourbugger 2975 reviews
Stunning high level bridge - wow !

Basildon was orginally built without a railway station, even though the main line to Southend went straight through the middle of town.

It was thoughT that the residents of the new town would live and work in the same place. It Never happened. Basildon station is now awash with commuterS every morning and evening rush hour.

If you wish to visit, then it is a straight run from Fenchurch Street Station (Nearest tube stop : Tower hill) to Basildon.

The station itself is servicable - but a complete hole.

Updated Jul 23, 2008

Website: www.c2c-online.co.uk

Related to:
 Trains

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Local Customs  

'fell off the back of a van,...fire damaged stock
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Only fools & horses...

Many people in Essex originally come from the East End of London. They may have been seeking a better life in the green fields of Essex, but the Market trader philosophy came with them.

Places like Pitsea Market are where you can really participate in the 'lifeforce' of local people. The market operates with about 200 stalls, 4 days a week in the centre of Pitsea's shopping area. Full details are available from the listed website.

Even the operators have few pretensions and use a mock-up to Del and Rodney's Robin Reliant three-wheeler (from the classic British Comedy 'Only fools and Horses') with 'Pitsea Maket' on the side to help publicise the place.

You won't find any tourists here, and thus no stalls aimed at tourists, but if you anything from DVD's to Cauliflowers, then this is your place.

As an alternative, visit one of the vast 'boot sales' that operate at the weekend, just look out for signs on the A127, or elsewhere, directing you to some sodden field where you can purchase the contents of someone else's garage.

Written Jan 14, 2004

Website: www.charfleets.co.uk

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Warnings and Dangers  

Do you suffer from Cacophobia ?
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sourbugger 2975 reviews
Delightful winding lanes

Cacophobia is a recognised medical phobia - it is the fear of ugliness.

You may well find you have this affliction aften about half an hour in the town centre. The Eastgate shopping centre is reasonable, but the rest of the city centre is a vast expanse of souless concrete in the worst traditions of 1960's English town planning - beware !

Written Jan 12, 2004

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Off The Beaten Path  

Become a human sundial !

Become a human sundial !, Basildon

 sourbugger Says:  The area outside the towngate theatre used to be a bit of an eyesore when I lived in the town - except for the day they put a large crane up and offered bungy jumps.I was considering having a go until I saw their safety measure consisted of filling a bag with bricks... 

Modern stain glass windows

Modern stain glass windows, Basildon

 sourbugger Says:  John Nuffgens is one of the leading artists in the UK who work in the medium of stained glass.In a place that is renowned for it's lack of culture and philistinism the modern church in the centre contains a series of these stunning works of art. They look even more stunning... 

Sports & Outdoors  

A tip about t*ts (birds that is,feathered variety)
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sourbugger 2975 reviews
Stunning views of pylons

Wat Tyler country park, to the south of Basildon could not be called scenic by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a site of special scientific interest (a S.S.I)

This is mainly due to the marshy land that is the ideal environment for some quite rare birds, including a rare breeding site for Bearded ***. Some uncharitable souls might wish to point out that there is already plenty of breeding by bearded *** in Basildon, but that another matter.

Various hides are available for those known as 'twitchers'.

Apparantly the following birds have been sited here :
Avocet
Black Tailed Godwit
Bearded Tit
Cetti's Warbler
Common Whitethroat
Cuckoo
Firecrest
Golden Plover
Greenshank
Grey Heron
Grey plover
Lapwing
Pied Wagtail
Reed Warbler
Short Eared Owl
Snipe
Sparrowhawk
Stonechat
Water Rail
Yellow Legged Gull

Equipment: Binoculars, patience, anorak , thermos, no life, no wife.

Written Jan 11, 2004

Address: Wat Tyler Park

Related to:
 Birdwatching

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Map of Basildon