Opening Hours:
Monday: 12:00 – 23:00
Tuesday: 12:00 – 23:00
Wednesday: 12:00 – 23:00
Thursday: 12:00 – 23:00
Friday: 12:00 – 00:00
Saturday: 12:00 – 00:00
Sunday: 12:00 – 23:00
Address: Balkerne Hill, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3LA. See the location on Google Maps.
The Hole in the Wall is a pub in the historic city of Colchester, Essex and is somewhat unique in that it is actually built in to part of the old Roman wall dating back over 2,000 years. I’ve been visiting the Hole, as it’s commonly known since I was 18 years old and it’s still one of my favourite places to drink in Colchester thanks to its rustic charm, summer patio with stunning views, and excellent selection of beers.
The pub got its name thanks to the hole knocked into the Roman wall to accommodate it. There has been a pub on this site since at least 1648, and the Grade II listed buildings as seen today dates from the mid nineteenth Century.
Location
The Hole in the Wall is located on Balkerne Hill and forms part of the ancient Roman wall that once surrounded Colchester. It sits across from the Mercury Theatre, another excellent Colchester venue, and around the corner from the Colchester Arts Centre. The High Street is just a two-minute walk away.
History
During the English Civil War the pub was known as the King’s Head, but thanks to its location got the nickname the Hole in the Wall, which eventually stuck and was renamed as such. At the end of the bar you can see part of the Roman wall which stops abruptly inside the venue and continues the other side of the pub at the Balkerne Gate.
In 2013 the pub won the coveted CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Town Pub of the Year Award thanks to its selection of real ales. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the pub was a popular haunt for local students (myself included) at the Sixth Form College around the corner, and had a largely alternative crowd. Weekends were always packed, and there were live bands and DJs, as well as a jukebox.
I worked at the Hole in the Wall as a potman collecting glasses for a while around the turn of the Millennium, and have known successive landlords over the years. The Hole is a shadow of its former glory days, but this is true for many of the pubs lucky enough to still be open. With the cost of living crisis, and young people not drinking as much as their gen-X predecessors, many pub landlords are struggling to cover their overheads.
However, the pub was taken over by new management in 2021 and has seen something of a resurgence, with a facelift and a pleasant patio area with decking out the back. There is a pool table and this is usually my preferred place to meet friends for a game when in town (I was there just a couple of weeks ago to meet an old friend). The last few times I’ve been it has been relatively busy which is good to see.
Given its history, old-world charm, and incredible location, I hope the Hole in the Wall continues to serve customers for many years to come. Pubs have been an important third place in England for hundreds of years, and although not as popular as they once were, there is still a place for them in our society.
Stephen Anthony Rohan
Comments