More than 150 businesses gathered in High Beach yesterday to mark a hotel's five year anniversary.

The Kings Oak Hotel in Paul's Nursery Road hosted the event yesterday afternoon alongside an array of local businesses from Epping, Buckhurst Hill, Loughton, Chigwell, Ongar and Waltham Abbey.

Guests were entertained through live music, a casino, a free bar and tasters of the hotels new menu.

The Only Way is Essex star's Lydia Bright and Ferne McCann were also present at the hotel, which regularly appears on the ITVbe reality show.

Hotel managing director Linzi Pollard said: "We are now five years into the business and we are celebrating doing very well.

"The evening way all about celebrating our time here so far and the success.

"It was great to get to showcase our new cocktail and food menus.

"I hope everyone enjoyed the evening and had a very good time."