Food and drink at Colchester Campus

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

Opening hours

  • Bonds - 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday
  • Buffalo Joe's - 11.30am to 12.00am (midnight), Sunday to Thursday and 11.30am to 10.00pm, Friday and Saturday
  • Canteen - 8am to 11am, Monday to Friday
  • Cantina - 11.30 to 3.00pm, Monday to Friday 
  • Crumbs - 7.30am to 3.00pm, Monday to Friday
  • Fusion East - 12pm to 8pm, Monday to Friday
  • Lakeside Theatre Café - 8.00am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday
  • Roost at Canteen - 11.30am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday
  • Stem and Root - 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday
  • Street Food Kebab Grill Hut - 11.00am to 2.30pm, Monday to Friday
  • Street Food Pizza Hut - 11am to 4pm, Monday to Friday
  • Zest fresh - 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and 9am to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday

Halal food on campus

Outlets with Halal items

All Halal products are prepared and cooked separately from non-Halal items. If you have any dietary concerns or are unsure about your order, please ask a staff member for assistance and consult the menu. Menus may 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