Did mine there in summer 2009, took longer than minimum hours (did intensive course but split in two chunks due to work) but that's because I was a bit crap and slow on the uptake, plus initially I suffered from air-sickness while in solid IMC but got over it after a couple of hours. Don't get hung up with the old 'Minimum hours' bit - IMC takes time and I'm told not too many do it in 15 hours - although you may be a brilliant pilot and prove me wrong! - so budget accordingly (though CAC's rates are some of the cheapest I've seen).
They use Southend for NDB/ILS approaches and they are reasonably priced and were very friendly (to me anyway) and invariably helpful in booking slots and putting up with an IMC student flying a slow-ass 152 generally getting in their way. SRA/PAR's were done at a local military field whose name escapes me - again, very helpful and patient ATCO's.
Did most of mine with Jo, a great instructor, really experienced and patient as hell (which you need to be with me....) but won't allow shortcuts/sloppy procedures which is how it should be. She gets the info across making learning what I consider a difficult subject much easier. Did my tailwheel with her in the SuperCub (MikeMike) last summer too.
Aircraft are basic but well maintained (on-site), you'll probably have 152 Hotel-India unless the resto of their IFR equipped 172 is complete, not exactly comfortable but I'm 6'1" and 13st/medium build and had no big issues, don't know about how that suits you but it flys well enough and does the job. (If you want a fancy-nancy flash ship that's fine, you'd best go elsewhere but you'll pay dearly for it).
Clacton is a great little 500m grass strip airfield, a pleasent challenging change if you are used to big surfaced airfields, as far as I'm concerned, it's much more fun than big fields. If your crosswind landings are not up to scratch, they soon will be as the place is rarely into wind being perpendicular to the coast so you'll get plenty of practice and the 36 landing and climb out are huge fun too!!! Oh and there's a public footpath halfway down the runway so watch out for idiots walking across the active runway despite the signs and the noise (I'm serious - look it up in a flight guide).
Personally, I can't recall losing more than a morning to weather/winds during IMC or tailwheel, maybe I was lucky, the one morning I lost right at the end of my IMC, I did the ground exam so no loss there then (this exam is pretty easy - mostly a PLOG a la your PPL nav exam with ref to IFR plus some general Q's on IMC)
You may get to stay at the airfield managers (John) place - basic but cheap, Clacton itself aien't exactly great but you're there to fly not be a tourist.
I'm almost certainly going back there this summer for my IMC renewal and for a play with the SuperCub.
If you are a down to earth sort (not a flash hero-type) I think you'll like the proper flying club attitude of CAC as it gives you what you need for a low price, if you want all the frills and fancy dressing/corperate image - best go elsewhere.
Hope this has helped - good luck.