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 
  • Canteen: 7.30am to 11.30am, Monday to Friday, 8.00am -11.30am, Saturday and Sunday
  • Cantina: 10.30am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday
  • Crumbs: 7.30am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday
  • FUNc. social space: 9.00am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday
  • Fusion: 11.30am to 8.30pm, Monday to Friday
  • Lakeside Theatre Café: 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday
  • Roost at Canteen: 12pm to 9pm, Monday to Friday
  • Sports Pavilion: 9am to 1pm, 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

Easter opening hours - Saturday 23 March to Sunday 14 April 2024   

Please note, these may be subject to change at short notice but we will endeavour to update this webpage where possible.

  • Buffalo Joe's: 12pm to 8pm, Saturday 23 March to Sunday 14 April. (Open throughout Easter)
  • Canteen: 8.00am to 11.30am, Monday to Friday. (Closed Good Friday 29 March, Easter Saturday 30 March, Easter Sunday 31 March and Easter Monday 1 April.)
  • Roost at Canteen: 12pm to 3pm, Monday to Friday. (Closed Good Friday 29 March, Easter Saturday 30 March, Easter Sunday 31 March and Easter Monday 1 April)
  • Crumbs: 9am to 4pm, Monday to Sunday. Open 8.00am to 11.30am on Good Friday 29 March, Easter Saturday 30 March, Easter Sunday 31 March and Easter Monday 1 April.
  • Pizza Street Food Hut: 11am to 2pm, Monday to Friday (Closed Good Friday 29 March and Easter Monday 1 April.)
  • All other outlets including Deliveroo Fusion will be closed.

Graduation opening hours - Monday 15 April to Sunday 21 April  2024

  • Buffalo Joe's: 12pm to 10pm, Monday to Sunday
  • Canteen: 8.00am to 11.30am, Monday to Friday
  • Roost at Canteen: 12pm to 8pm, Monday to Friday
  • Crumbs: 8am to 4pm, Monday to Sunday
  • Street Food Huts and Graduation Drink Hut: 11am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
  • Zest fresh: 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday
  • All other outlets including Deliveroo Fusion will be closed.
  • £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.

    Allergens:

    Due to cooking methods we cannot guarantee that our food is allergen-free. As allergens are present on site and some of our ingredients have 'may contain' warnings, we cannot guarantee menu items will be completely free from a specific allergen. Please speak to a member of staff if you are unsure.

    Monday

    • Canteen: Sausage, egg, hash brown, beans and toast
    • Roost: Popcorn chicken and fries
    • Zest: Cheese and tomato 6" sub
    • Cantina: Cheese and beans jacket potato

    Tuesday

    • Canteen: Sausage, egg, hash brown, beans and toast
    • Roost: BBQ Chicken wrap 
    • Zest: Turkey 6" sub
    • Cantina: Chickpea dahl jacket potato

    Wednesday

    • Canteen: Sausage, egg, hash brown, beans and toast
    • Roost: Crispy chicken burger
    • Zest: Falafel and mint yoghurt 6" sub
    • Cantina: Chilli con carne jacket potato

    Thursday

    • Canteen: Sausage, egg, hash brown, beans and toast
    • Roost: Mozzarella dipper wrap with sweet chilli sauce
    • Zest: Ham 6" sub
    • Cantina: Sausage and gravy jacket potato

    Friday

    • Canteen: Sausage, egg, hash brown, beans and toast
    • Roost: Chipotle chicken loaded fries
    • Zest: Tuna mayo 6" sub
    • Cantina: Double cheese jacket potato

    Saturday

    • Buffalo Joe's: Vegan dipper wrap with sweet chilli sauce and lettuce

    Sunday

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

    Halal items

     

    Please see the below for items 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 and check the menu. Menus are subject to change termly and with the seasons.

    • Café outlets: All chicken sandwich products
    • Buffalo Joe's: All items on the menu marked as Halal
    • Roost at Canteen: All items on the menu marked as Halal
    • Fusion: All chicken menu items apart from the gyozas
    • Street Food Pizza Hut: All chicken pizzas
    • Street Food Grill Hut: All chicken skewers
    • Street Food Indian Hut: Halal
    • Street Food Korean Hut: Halal

    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 (.pdf) - 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