Where to eat at our Colchester Campus

Whether you’re sprinting between lectures or planning a proper sit-down meal with friends, there are loads of food spots around the Colchester Campus.

From homely filling meals to street food treats, you’ll never go hungry on campus. With Buffalo Joe’s now in Square 3 and Pit Stop opening on Square 4, there’s plenty of choice and chill space for you to choose from.

Venues

Buffalo Joe’s

Buffalo Joe’s is on the move. Your fried chicken, loaded fries, and pancakes aren’t going anywhere. and now you can get your breakfast at Buffalo Joes's too. They’ve just moved onto Square 3.

• Breakfast: 7:30 am–11:30 am (Mon–Fri)
• Main menu: 12:00 pm–10:00 pm (last orders 9:45 pm)

Pit Stop

The new free place to go to chillout with friends, the old Buffalo Joe’s Square 4 restaurant space is now Pit Stop — perfect if you want somewhere a bit more relaxed to sit down and eat.

Fusion

Fusion is the perfect place to meet friends and enjoy great food from burgers to Donburi bowls, katsu curry, teriyaki, and chow mein. Find it next to Top Bar.

Pizza U

Pizza U is off Square 3 inside the SU Bar. Choose from 9” or 12” pizza. Not that hungry? We’ve got salads and sides too.

Zest fresh

Zest fresh is now the place to go for your meal deal. At just £3.95, it’s the cheapest meal deal on campus, and you can also grab, coffees, pizzas, pie and mash, and jacket potatoes with a free side salad included.

Street Food Huts

Street Food Huts (Square 4): with loaded Smash Burgers, Eastern Grill and Fusion Around the World, great for people on the go.

Quick bites & cafés

Sometimes you just need a coffee or a pastry to keep going. Luckily, campus has plenty:

Bonds

Based at Essex Business School, Bonds Café offers sandwiches, sweet treats and delicious coffee.

Crumbs

Based on Square 3, at Crumbs you can pick up pastries, grab-and-go lunches, snacks and coffee.

The Greenhouse Café

Just off Square 3 and down the corridor next to the SU Bar. The Greenhouse Café team proudly serves Starbucks coffee. Plus, take your pick from sandwiches, salads, cakes and other light bites. Also, it’s a great place to get some studying done (or just have a chat with friends!). 

The Kitchen

Another Square 3 venue. The Kitchen serves fast, honest food and coffee and affordable prices. Choose from a range of hot drinks, cold drinks, pastries, paninis and other quick snacks. 

Lakeside Theatre Café

Over on Square 5 you can find the Lakeside Theatre Café. Options include coffee, cakes and sarnies plus plenty of space to relax.

New: catered meal packages for students in halls

If you live in university-owned accommodation on Colchester campus, you now have the option to purchase a catered meal package.

What do you get?

• A weekly allowance of £60 to spend on food and drink across campus outlets.
• This is a great option if you don’t always want to cook or bring food — it gives you flexibility and convenience.
• You use that allowance at participating cafés, restaurants, and food outlets across campus.

So, if you’re in a catered hall, that £60 each week gives you a built-in food budget to tap into the campus dining options below.

Top tips

1. Download Essex Food Rewards (Upay app) — freebies and discounts.
2. Bring a reusable cup — save 25p on every hot drink.
3. Mix it up — with street food, cafés, and markets, don’t just stick to one spot.
4. Check opening times — some outlets change hours outside term.