This week’s Loughton business shoutout goes to the independents along the High Road and around the station who keep the town feeling friendly, local and properly Essex. If you’ve not popped into your nearest café, salon, deli or bookshop lately, try swapping one big-shop errand for a local one and tell them Discover Essex sent you. Which Loughton business do you always recommend to friends, and what’s the one thing they do better than anywhere else?

Quick shoutout to the little coffee spot by Wickford High Street near the Co-op on London Road — popped in after a walk through Wickford Memorial Park and the flat white was spot on, plus the staff were properly friendly. Also, if anyone’s got a recommendation for a decent local butcher or greengrocer (I’m trying to avoid doing it all in the big supermarkets), where do you rate around the Broadway or up towards Shotgate? Would love to hear what everyone’s using.

Shout out to the little greengrocers by Rayleigh High Street (near the entrance up to Rayleigh Mount) — their fruit’s been spot on lately and the prices feel fair compared with the supermarket. Also had a cracking coffee from the café tucked just off Websters Way after a wander round King George V playing fields. Any other Rayleigh independents you’d recommend, especially for a decent haircut that doesn’t cost the earth?