Mason's at Sugar Hut

As the good-time venue of choice for the stars of reality TV show The Only Way is Essex, Brentwood’s Sugar Hut has not only beefed up its local cred but also acquired unlikely celeb status. Set in the shell of a 15th-century pub, it offers partying & high-strength cocktail opportunities aplenty – especially in the upstairs nightclub. Meanwhile, the glamorous chandeliered restaurant (now called Mason’s) has ditched Thai food in favour of steaks & Euro-accented international cooking. As well hunks of beef (the edible kind), the menu promises the likes of char-grilled chicken Caesar salad, confit pork belly with sage mash or pan-fried swordfish with tomato & olive salsa. Start with crayfish, pineapple & coconut salad; finish with vanilla pannacotta & gooseberry compote. Traditional roasts are a sell-out on Sundays. There’s a branch at 11 Old Cross, Hertford SG14 1RE (01992 558564).