Fishing at Hanningfield Reservoir

Call Directions Website Contact the business

Fishing at Hanningfield Reservoir Welcome to the official Fishing at Hanningfield Reservoir page. Season open from Early March until end of November Annually.

Hanningfield Reservoir is one of the premier fisheries in the UK providing some of the best reservoir trout fishing by bank or boat. Bank fishing from 08:00am to 20:00pm or sunset (whichever is sooner). You can purchase your permit or boat via www.bookwhen.com/hanningfield or call 01268 712 180. Café on the water Open 9.00am to 5.00pm, seven days a week. www.eswater.co.uk/your-home/leisure/cafe-on-the-water Tel: 01268 712 182.

Fishing at Hanningfield will remain closed until Spring 2027. With continued dry weather and lack of rainfall this summe...
07/10/2026

Fishing at Hanningfield will remain closed until Spring 2027.

With continued dry weather and lack of rainfall this summer, Hanningfield reservoir has reached a level that has now made access to the banks unsafe.

Our jetty has now been moved out to the maximum distance on its alternative moorings; this means we are unable to launch and retrieve boats safely. We had hoped that the start of autumn and cooling temperatures may have allowed us to reopen this season but now we are in October it has become clear that reopening the fishery will not be possible this year.

Whilst water supplies are unaffected by the closure, the reservoir is only 38% full, which is why it's important that we continue to keep our hosepipes down, and use water wisely.

We are extremely disappointed to have to shorten this season, and we would like to thank all our customers for their ongoing support throughout the season, and we are all excited to welcome you back in the spring of 2027.

The Ranger Team

Fishing update for the Bank Holiday Weekend Please remember that we have temporarily suspend all fishing activity at Han...
29/08/2026

Fishing update for the Bank Holiday Weekend

Please remember that we have temporarily suspend all fishing activity at Hanningfield Reservoir.

We're sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment this may cause. We'll continue to review conditions and will keep you updated on when fishing can safely resume.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Hanningfield Ranger Team

20/08/2026

Important notice

We've made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend all fishing activity at Hanningfield Reservoir.

Prolonged hot, dry weather and a lack of rainfall have resulted in lower reservoir levels than usual, meaning large parts of the reservoir are currently inaccessible for fishing.

The recent spell of very warm weather has also led to an algal bloom, reducing water visibility and making fishing conditions extremely challenging.

We would like to reassure our customers that this is not affecting drinking water supplies but it does mean the fishing experience isn't currently what we'd like it to be for our anglers.

We're sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment this may cause. We'll continue to review conditions and will keep you updated on when fishing can safely resume.

Anyone with bookings in the coming days will be contacted directly.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Hanningfield Ranger Team

07/07/2026

⚠️ An important announcement from our Waterside Parks teams.

☀️ Enjoy the sunshine at our Waterside Parks - but please stay safe!Our reservoirs may look inviting, but entering the w...
25/06/2026

☀️ Enjoy the sunshine at our Waterside Parks - but please stay safe!

Our reservoirs may look inviting, but entering the water (including inflatables) is not allowed.

🥶 The water is dangerously cold and hidden hazards below the surface can put both you and your pets at risk.

If our team asks you to leave the water,please don't be offended - it’s to keep you safe. 💙

Have a great visit, take care, and help make sure everyone gets home safely.

Thank you.
The Waterside Parks team.

🌞 We know the weather is lovely and warm again – even hot in some places and you might be tempted to have a little dip! ...
22/06/2026

🌞 We know the weather is lovely and warm again – even hot in some places and you might be tempted to have a little dip!

⚠️However, that doesn’t mean it is safe to go into water. The water in our reservoirs is still VERY cold.
The type of cold that can kill.

❗Cold water shock seriously affects your breathing – it can cause you to take huge gasps, which can lead to drowning - and it can hinder your ability to move, so stops you being able to swim.

❗Cold water shock is just one of the reasons we do not allow people to enter the water at our Waterside Park and reservoir sites for any reason.

❗Also, our reservoir waters may look still, but these are pieces of machinery with moving parts and strong currents beneath the surface.

Please stay out of the reservoir.
Thank you.
The Waterside Parks team

🌿 We’re hiring: Waterside Parks and Fisheries Ranger! Love working outdoors and creating great visitor experiences? This...
05/06/2026

🌿 We’re hiring: Waterside Parks and Fisheries Ranger!

Love working outdoors and creating great visitor experiences? This could be the perfect role for you!

As a Ranger, you’ll play a hands-on role in keeping our Waterside Park running smoothly - from maintaining sites and supporting activities to engaging with visitors and enforcing angling rules and regs. No two days are the same, with opportunities to work across retail, maintenance, and customer service.

We’re looking for someone who’s practical, customer-focused, and thrives in an active, outdoor environment. Flexibility (including weekends) and a passion for delivering excellent service are key.

If you enjoy variety, teamwork, and helping people make the most of the great outdoors, we’d love to hear from you.

👉 Apply now: https://watersideparksuk.current-vacancies.com/Jobs/Advert/4211777?cid=782&t=Ranger

21/05/2026

Fish delivery 21 May

The tackle shop and site will be closed tomorrow morning Saturday 16 May due to the Hanningfield Triathlon taking place....
15/05/2026

The tackle shop and site will be closed tomorrow morning Saturday 16 May due to the Hanningfield Triathlon taking place.

The shop and site will be open from 1pm.

Please book all your permit online using the following link.

Please select one of the buttons below to filter your booking options All Bookings

Address

Giffords Lane
Chelmsford
CM38HX

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm
Saturday 8am - 4pm
Sunday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

01268 712180

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Fishing at Hanningfield Reservoir posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Fishing at Hanningfield Reservoir:

Shortcuts

Share