Food and drink at Colchester Campus

You'll never run out of choice for food and drink on campus - we have something for everyone.

Termly opening hours 

  • Bonds: 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday
  • Buffalo Joe's: 11.30am to 10.00pm, Monday to Sunday (Please note: Buffalo Joe's will have reduced opening hours on Saturday 16 December and Sunday 17 December. Service will operate from 12pm to 8pm on both days, with last food orders at 7.45pm.)
  • Canteen: 7.30am to 11.00am, Monday to Friday
  • Cantina: 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday
  • Crumbs: 7.30am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday
  • FUNc: Currently closed
  • Fusion: 11.30am to 8.30pm, Monday to Friday
  • Lakeside Theatre Café: 8.30am to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday
  • Roost at Canteen: 12pm to 9pm, Monday to Friday
  • Sports Pavilion: 9am to 2pm, Sundays only
  • Stem and Root: 8.30am to 3.00pm, Monday to Friday
  • Curry Street Food Hut: 11am to 3pm, Monday to Friday
  • Grill Street Food Hut: 11am to 3pm, Monday to Friday
  • Korean Street Food Hut: 11am to 3pm, Monday to Friday
  • Pizza Street Food Hut: 11am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday
  • Zest fresh: 8.30am to 3pm, Monday to Friday

All outlets will be closed on 24, 25, 26 December 2023 and 1 January 2024.

Christmas opening hours

18 to 23 December

  • Buffalo Joe’s: 12pm to 8pm, Monday to Saturday
  • Zest fresh: 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday
  • Canteen Breakfast: 8.00am to 11.30am, Monday to Friday
  • Roost: 12pm to 3pm, Monday to Friday
  • Crumbs: 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 4pm, Saturday

27 to 31 December

  • Zest fresh: 10am to 3pm, Wednesday to Sunday

2 to 14 January

  • Buffalo Joe’s: 12pm to 8pm, Monday to Saturday
  • Zest fresh: 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday
  • Canteen Breakfast: 8.00am to 11.30am, Monday to Friday
  • Roost: 12pm to 3pm, Monday to Friday
  • Crumbs: 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 4pm Saturday

£2 menu

To make sure everyone has access to affordable hot food options some of our outlets provide a hot meal each day for only £2. Ask a member of staff in outlets for more details. Menus are subject to change.

Please note: Due to potential supply issues and seasonal ingredients changing, menus may differ to those advertised online and change at short notice. We aim to provide updated menus where possible and apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused. We recommend you check menus in our outlets on the day.

Monday

  • Canteen: Sausage, egg, hash brown, beans and toast
  • Roost: Popcorn chicken and fries
  • Zest: Cheese and tomato 6" sub
  • Stem and Root: Jacket potato with BBQ baked beans
  • Bonds: Tuna mayo toastie

Tuesday

  • Canteen: Sausage, egg, hash brown, beans and toast
  • Roost: Chicken caesar salad 
  • Zest: Falafel and mint yoghurt 6" sub
  • Stem and Root: Macaroni cheese and garlic bread
  • Bonds: Jacket potato with three bean chilli

Wednesday

  • Canteen: Sausage, egg, hash brown, beans and toast
  • Roost: Crispy chicken burger
  • Zest: Hummus, tomatoes and rocket 6" sub
  • Stem and Root: Jacket potato with curried chickpeas
  • Bonds: Ham and cheese toastie

Thursday

  • Canteen: Sausage, egg, hash brown, beans and toast
  • Roost: Mozzarella dipper wrap with sweet chilli sauce
  • Zest: BLT 6" sub
  • Stem and Root: Cauliflower and bean curry with jasmine rice
  • Bonds: Cheddar cheese toastie

Friday

  • Canteen: Sausage, egg, hash brown, beans and toast
  • Roost: Pesto pasta salad with tomatoes and mixed leaves
  • Zest: Tuna mayo 6" sub
  • Stem and Root: Carrot, sweet potato and lentil hotpot with sourdough bread
  • Bonds: Jacket potato with chickpea curry

Saturday

  • Buffalo Joe's: Beetroot falafel bites with salad

Sunday

  • Buffalo Joe's: Vegan dipper wrap with spicy tomato salsa

Halal items

Please see the below for items on our menu that are Halal. If you have any questions about dietary requirements, or if you are unsure when ordering your food, please speak to a member of staff in the outlet.

  • Café outlets: All chicken sandwich products
  • Buffalo Joe's and Roost: All items on the menu marked as Halal. Please see a menu or a self-service till inside these outlets for more information.
  • Cantina: Popcorn chicken
  • Fusion: All chicken menu items apart from the Gyozas
  • Street Food: All chicken pizzas at Street Food Pizza Hut. All chicken skewers in the Street Food Grill Hut.

Earn while you eat!

With the Essex Food Upay app you can earn rewards while you eat and drink. Scan the Upay app every time you buy a hot drink or selected meal deal from our Essex Food outlets - buy 5 and the 6th is FREE! (Full terms and conditions apply)

Download the Upay app and start earning todayDownload the Upay app and start earning todayDownload the Upay app and start earning today!

Plus, bring your reusable cup and SAVE 25p on any hot drink in our outlets.

You won’t go hungry at Essex

Find information about all the Essex Food cafés, restaurants and bars cafés, restaurants and bars cafés, restaurants and bars - there's something on the menu for everyone.

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Cashless payments only

Essex Food do not accept cash payments in outlets. Please pay by card or contactless payment method. Alternatively, download the Essex Food Rewards app to pay and collect rewards. Choose loyalty and cashless payment when you set up your account.

Ethics Food

Ethics Food, we care…

...about your health and wellbeing

“Essex Food are committed to supporting your health and wellbeing. We will ensure that all our menus include healthy choices and specialist dietary requirements. We will prioritise the use of fresh, seasonal and nutritional produce, which will be prepared daily by our team of chefs.”

… about your education

“Essex Food are committed to providing you with the knowledge to make informed choices. We will provide important dietary details on all menus and packaging labels, giving you essential nutritional and food provenance information.”

…about your planet

“Essex Food are committed to helping protect the planet to ensure a sustainable future. We are working to eradicate the use of plastic, the reduction of food waste and food miles, with the use of local suppliers and efficient use of resources. “

…about your opinion

“Essex Food are committed to understanding their customers. We value feedback and will seek to engage with you through regular focus groups, customer surveys, and individual interactions. Our staff are always available to receive your opinion and discuss your ideas."

Hospitality Assured accreditation

We were proud to have been awarded with the prestigious Hospitality Assured accreditation in 2011, which is the quality standard created by the Institute of Hospitality specifically for customer facing businesses.

Our policies

We regularly assess our policies to ensure the highest food and service standards to University of Essex customers.

  • Sustainable Food policy .(pdf) -  Essex Food recognises its responsibility to provide a choice of food options, including healthy, sustainable and fairly-traded food.
  • Allergen policy - Essex Food is committed to reducing the risk to staff, students and visitors with regard to the provision of food and the consumption of allergens in food. The policy includes the UK Food Information Amendment, known as Natasha's Law, which came into effect on the 1 October 2021.

Service providers

The University’s Essex Food team Essex Food team Essex Food team Essex Food team and the Students’ Union operate our busy restaurants, bars, cafes and food outlets across our three campuses. Although separate organisations, Essex Food and the Students' Union share the same goal to provide you with a wide range of high quality food within their outlets.

Keep It On Campus

Keep It On Campus is an initiative designed to encourage students and staff to use the services available on campus. Whenever you see the Keep It On Campus stamp, you are about to buy a product or use a service which is owned by the University. This means every time you use a product or service which has the KIOC stamp, all profits generated are used to support and reinvest in the University.

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Contact us
Delivered catering enquiries  University of Essex Campus Services Ltd
Event Essex Office 6.314
Telephone: 01206 872385
Essex Food outlet enquiries University of Essex Campus Services Ltd
Essex Food Office, Room 5N.5.6
Telephone: 01206 872136