Cafés & Bistro

 

The saying goes that you should never work with children or animals. Recently, we decided to tackle both simultaneously. Luckily for us, the baby and the animal in question was The Hunny Bell, the newest member of the Norfolk Family Gastronomique Extraordinaire that is the ‘Animal Inns’.

Since its recent embracement into the Animal Inns extremely successful fold, The Hunny Bell has received much interest from the press and public, not least because it has much to live up to - among it’s bigger siblings are Michelin Bib gourmand-awarded eateries The Wildebeest Arms and the 1up Restaurant. We have also heard several good things about it on the ‘Norfolk-Village Grapevine’.

Pulling into Hunworth on a bright late-summer lunchtime, we are immediately struck by how pretty and perfect Hunworth is. Found just south of Holt, it is a picture postcard Norfolk village set in a wooded valley. The Hunny Bell overlooks the village green.

 

 

Traditional

From outside, the 18th Century pub that was formerly The Hunworth Bell and before that, The Bluebell Inn, looks like a quintessential charming English local. Initial factors that suggest it has a superior pedigree to most village pubs come in the form of the quirky new signage (a bell with a bee for its clapper) and the new outside terrace. It is all very flawless and clean - obviously a result of the decoration being relatively new, but a theme we’ve noticed throughout the Animal Inns group. Everything has been carefully thought about. Nothing seems to have been done ‘by accident’ (or luck).

 

 

The interior too reflects this precise attention to detail. Like a traditional country tavern, but stylised and spotless, the décor is warm and rustic with woods and yellows and reds. A solid-looking stone floor replaces what were apparently discovered to be layer upon layer of carpet (I’ve heard that the layers were so thick they actually had to be dug up) and the original beams have been sandblasted to a lovely pale brown hue. The menus are supported in sturdy wooden holders. Basically, the ‘new’ Hunny Bell looks just as you’d imagine a village pub to look, only better.

 

 

On entering, we immediately found the staff to be friendly and helpful - even suggesting the best route in with the pushchair we had with us. The bar area where we chose to dine had a couple of tables full already and we could hear a low buzz (no pun intended!) from the room beyond the bar.

 

 

The lunch menu we were given is essentially traditional, comprised of local fare (King’s Lynn Brown Shrimp, East Anglian Sirloin Steak, Norfolk Wherry Beer Battered Cod Fillet). A good and interesting variety of starters, mains and desserts sit alongside traditional sandwiches and you place your order at the bar - a gentle reminder that this is a real pub and you are eating real pub grub.

I choose Baked Garlic Bread with Humus to start, which is a bargain at £2.75, considering that when it arrives it is easily enough for two to share. Service is prompt and cheerful and the food itself is delicious.

My Partner has the Leek and Potato Soup, which looks lovely - just as home made soup should look. It arrives piping hot and he tells me it is very ‘flavoursome’.

For our main courses, I take the Classic Welsh Rarebit with Grilled Field Mushroom from the Sandwich selection. My Partner has the Hand Carved Honey Roast Ham with Free Range Eggs and Hand Cut Chips. Again, portion sizes are mammoth, but, refreshingly, presentation and overall quality are not sacrificed in lieu of large amounts.

My dish is very tasty with a delicious spicy kick. I ask what this is down to and am informed that it derives from a mixture of mustard, cayenne pepper and Worcester sauce. Served with salad, my choice is a solid, sizeable bite that leaves no room for dessert (a shame when you’re faced with Hot Chocolate Fudge Sundae and Apple and Blackberry Crumble - another time perhaps).

My Partners ham, egg and chips is perfect for the purist - a simple, well-presented, well-cooked classic. He seems to thoroughly enjoy every last mouthful.

 

 

Before we leave, I feel obliged to check out the new, upgraded toilets. Funky red wallpaper adorned with bees, Cath Kidston toiletries and an ultra-efficient, supercharged hand dryer do not disappoint.

 

 

We leave, satisfied and definitely fans. Under its new ownership, The Hunny Bell is still very much a country village pub at heart with a welcoming feel and uncomplicated food and drink at reasonable prices. A country village pub yes… but like a distillation of all the wonderful features of such a pub and one that would be top of its class on all fronts.

 

 

The Hunny Bell.

The Green, Hunworth, Melton Constable,

Norfolk, NR24 2AA.

Tel: 01263 712300.

e: hunnybell@animalinns.co.uk

www.thehunnybell.co.uk

Open:
Mon-Sat 11.30am-3pm (food served 12noon-2.15pm), 5.30pm-11pm (food served 6pm-9pm).

Sun 12noon-4pm (food served 12noon-3pm), 6.30pm-10.130pm (food served 6.30pm-8.30pm).