Bouncy:
My recent experience is
Friday - two IFR flights just outside & to west of Luton, received RIS (& cleared for CTA transit which I didn't need)
Saturday: IFR just outside E Mids & Birmingham. Received RIS.
Sunday: VFR just outside E Mids. Received FIS plus very useful traffic info near to LIC -- without asking for upgrade to radar service.
Saturday and Sunday: VFR up & down the Manchester low-level corridor & under the southern part of the Manchester TMA. Received FIS from Manchester approach with useful info about other corridor traffic.
Based on the r/t traffic, the controllers seemed moderately busy, but not excessively so. On Sunday there were a few other GA-sounding flights also receiving service from E Mids & Manchester.
All in all, excellent service!
BTW, I've never been ignored by Essex, but I have been told to standby (for around 5 minutes).