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 until Sunday 30 June 2024 

  • Bonds: 10am to 2pm, Monday to Friday
  • Buffalo Joe's: 12pm to 8pm, Monday to Sunday
  • Canteen: 8.00am to 11.30am, Monday to Sunday
  • Crumbs: 7.45am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday, and 9.00am to 4.00pm, Saturday and Sunday
  • FUNc. social space: 9.00am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday
  • Roost at Canteen: 12pm to 3pm, Monday to Friday
  • Pizza Street Food Hut: 11am to 4pm, Monday to Friday
  • Zest fresh: 11am to 3pm, Monday to Friday (Closed on Friday 21 June for maintenance)
  • Curry Street Food Hut: Closed
  • Grill Street Food Hut: Closed
  • Korean Street Food Hut: Closed
  • Cantina: Closed 
  • Lakeside Theatre Café: Closed
  • Fusion: Closed
  • Sports Pavilion: Closed
  • Stem and Root: Closed

Opening hours are subject to change. We will do our best to update customers on this webpage and on Essex Food social media. 

Please note that customers may experience longer waiting times in outlets between July and September 2024 due to language school students. For information on outlet opening times during this period, see information below.

Opening hours during Summer School Season

Important information during Summer School season

Customers visiting our outlets may experience longer wait times due to Summer Schools on campus. It is advised that you try to avoid peak service times where possible. Peak times to avoid are between:

  • Breakfast: 7.30am to 9.15am
  • Lunch: 12.15pm to 2.15pm
  • Dinner: 5.30pm to 8.00pm

Menus may vary due to demand, and to accommodate large numbers on campus. It is recommended that you check menus in outlets, including allergen information and any dietary requirements you may have.

Essex Food appreciates your patience during this time.   

Opening hours 1 July to 7 July 2024

Buffalo Joe's

  • Breakfast - 7.00am to 9.15am, Thursday 4 July to Sunday 7 July
  • Lunch - 12.00pm to 5.00pm, Monday 1 July to Wednesday 3 July and, 12.00pm to 4.00pm, Thursday 4 July to Sunday 7 July
  • Dinner - 5.00pm to 10.00pm, Monday 1 July to Sunday 7 July

Canteen

  • Breakfast - 7.00am to 11.30am, Monday 1 July to Sunday 7 July
  • Lunch - 12.00pm to 4.00pm, Monday 1 July to Saturday 6 July
  • Dinner - 5.00pm to 8.00pm, Monday 1 July to Sunday 7 July

Fusion

  • Breakfast - 7.00am to 9.15am, Thursday 4 July to Sunday 7 July
  • Lunch - Closed Monday 1 July to Sunday 7 July
  • Dinner - 5.00pm to 8.00pm, Wednesday 3 July to Sunday 7 July

Func/Hex

  • Breakfast - 7.00am to 9.15am, Thursday 4 July to Sunday 7 July
  • Lunch - Closed Monday 1 July to Sunday 7 July
  • Dinner - 5.30pm to 8.00pm, Wednesday 3 July to Sunday 7 July

Crumbs

  • 8.00am to 5.00pm, Monday 1 July and Tuesday 2 July
  • 8.00am to 7.00pm, Wednesday 3 July to Sunday 7 July

Street Food Pizza Hut  

  • 11.00am to 3.00pm, Monday 1 July and Tuesday 2 July
  • 11.00am to 7.00pm, Wednesday 3 July to Sunday 7 July

Street Food Kebab Hut

  • 11.00am to 3.00pm, Monday 1 July to Friday 5 July
  • Closed Saturday 6 July and Sunday 7 July

Stem and Root

  • 8.00am to 5.00pm, Wednesday 3 July to Friday 5 July

Cantina

  • 10.00am to 5.00pm, Wednesday 3 July to Friday 5 July

Opening hours 8 July to 31 July 2024

Buffalo Joe's 

  • Breakfast - 7.00am to 9.15am, Monday to Sunday
  • Lunch - 12.00pm to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday
  • Dinner - 5.00pm to 8.00pm, Monday to Sunday

Canteen

  • Breakfast - 7.00am to 11.30am, Monday to Sunday
  • Lunch - 12.00pm to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday
  • Dinner - 5.00pm to 8.00pm, Monday to Sunday

Fusion

  • Breakfast - 7.00am to 9.15am, Monday to Sunday
  • Lunch - 12.00pm to 2.00pm, Monday to Friday
  • Dinner - 5.00pm to 8.00pm, Monday to Sunday

Func/Hex

  • Breakfast - 7.00am to 9.15am, Monday to Sunday
  • Lunch - 12.00pm to 2.00pm, Monday to Friday
  • Dinner - 5.30pm to 8.00pm, Monday to Sunday

Crumbs

  • 8.00am to 7.00pm, Monday to Sunday

Street Food Pizza Hut

  • 11.00am to 7.00pm, Monday to Sunday

Street Food Kebab Hut

  • 11.00am to 3.00pm, Monday to Friday

Stem and Root

  • 8.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday

Cantina

  • 10.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday

Bonds

  • 8.30am to 4.00pm, Monday to Sunday

£2 menu

Important information

 

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
  • Buffalo Joe's: Popcorn chicken (Halal) and fries or Spicy bean burger (VE)
  • Zest: Cheese and tomato 6" sub

Tuesday

  • Canteen: Sausage, egg, hash brown, beans and toast
  • Buffalo Joe's: Crispy chicken burger (Halal) or Falafel burger (VE)
  • Zest: Turkey 6" sub

Wednesday

  • Canteen: Sausage, egg, hash brown, beans and toast
  • Buffalo Joe's: Sweet chilli chicken wrap (Halal) or Mozzarella and sweet chilli wrap (V)
  • Zest: Falafel and mint yoghurt 6" sub

Thursday

  • Canteen: Sausage, egg, hash brown, beans and toast
  • Buffalo Joe's: BBQ pulled pork loaded fries or Vegan loaded fries (VE)
  • Zest: Ham 6" sub

Friday

  • Canteen: Sausage, egg, hash brown, beans and toast
  • Buffalo Joe's: The Original beef burger single patty or Spicy bean wrap with vegan mayo (VE)
  • Zest: Tuna mayo 6" sub

Saturday

  • Buffalo Joe's: Mighty cheeseburger single patty or Falafel burger (VE)

Sunday

  • Buffalo Joe's: Three chicken strips and fries (Halal) or Vegan dipper wrap with vegan mayo (VE)

Halal food on campus

Outlets with 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