The Briarfields Hotel
The Briarfields Hotel.
Main Street, Titchwell, Norfolk, PE31 8BB.
Tel: 01485 210742.
Valentine’s Day 2012 at Briafields.
Tuesday 14th February.
3 course dinner (including Coffee & Petite Fours and half a bottle of Champagne) £85 per couple.
See the Valentines Menu.
Conveniently located on the A149 coast road in the pretty village of Titchwell, 3-star (Visit Britain) Briarfields Hotel is a warm and welcoming place to stay, eat, meet and unwind in North Norfolk. Made up of a collection of sympathetically converted barns and farm buildings, it offers a relaxed and cosy atmosphere that is the perfect setting for a romantic or celebratory meal or to stop for some sustenance while exploring the North Norfolk coast.
The bright and open hotel restaurant with views towards Titchwell Nature Reserve serves the finest locally sourced produce at lunchtimes and dinnertime and traditional roasts and special dishes are available for the perfect lazy Sunday afternoon. A large wine selection will complete the occasion. Vegetarians are well catered for, as are children with their own menu.
For a more informal experience, there is a large bar and lounge area if you fancy kicking back and relaxing with a newspaper and a drink. A selection of meals can be ordered from the bar at lunchtimes. Again, with a children’s menu, families are more than welcome.
As well as being perfect for a romantic retreat or a family adventure, Briarfields is also available for weddings, conferences and other functions and events.
Enjoy ‘Posh Afternoon Tea’ 2pm-5pm – £10.50.
Restaurant open for lunch 12noon-2pm and for dinner 6.30pm-9pm.
Bar snacks available from the bar at lunchtimes.
View a Sample Lunch Menu.
View Briarfields evening menu.
The Old Coach House
The Old Coach House.
High Street, Thornham, Norfolk, PE36 6LT.
Tel: 01485 512 229.
Despite its name, this former coaching inn on the North Norfolk coast is not all it seems… Multifaceted, this particular hostelry combines a charming country pub with a rather swish Italian restaurant and comfortable country inn accommodation.
The rooms have been simply and tastefully styled to enhance the natural charm of the building with reassuring warmth – perfect after a day of sightseeing, walking, cycling or splashing in the sea.
All rooms have double beds, some of which can be converted to offer twin accommodation, and a Family Room has a double bed with a set of bunks in an attached annex. A cot is available for very young guests.
In keeping with the welcoming allure of The Old Coach House (everyone seems welcome, and refreshingly, everyone seems accommodated), dogs are also welcome at a small supplement of £10 each.
To set you up for the day ahead, choose the hearty English breakfast or help yourself to the Breakfast Buffet.
For lunch or your evening meal, you don’t have to venture far either – The Old Coach House has two bars complete with sink-into-sofas and local ales and a bright, open restaurant offering homemade pies, pizza and pasta dishes.
Tariffs from £80 per night, including a full English breakfast.
Dogs are welcome – £10 each.
Extra beds for children can be provided at a cost of £25 per night. There is no charge for children in cots.
The Lifeboat Inn
The Lifeboat Inn.
Ship Lane, Thornham, Norfolk, PE36 6LT.
Tel: 01485 512236.
Now part of Marco Pierre Whites Wheeler’s family, the 16th Century Lifeboat Inn at Thornham is a real North Norfolk treasure in its stunning coastal location (even the car park has a breathtaking view out onto Holme Dunes).
Other than the cosy oil-lantern lit bar and general ambience, that remains faithful to traditional inn-keeping values, The Lifeboat is a great place to eat all year round – particularly throughout the winter months when it is a really inviting and snug bolthole.
For summer dining, there is a lovely walled patio garden and bright conservatory, the roof of which is covered by an ancient vine that we once heard thrives on Abbot Ale. For evenings and special occasions, try the more formal dining room.
Year-round, the reasonably priced bar menu features local delights and daily changing specials and is very popular with holidaymakers and locals alike. Children’s meals are available and there are options for vegetarians.
View the RESTAURANT MENU and the BREAKFAST MENU.
Highlights are a pot of the Lifeboat’s steaming mussels (available when in season), or how about a huge traditional plate of locally caught fish and chips. No visit to North Norfolk would be complete without at least one of these.
The WINE LIST is interesting and imaginative, selected predominantly from small growers and bijou vineyards.
If you’ve tried the Lifeboat and want to experience something a little different, why not try its sister Inn – The Old Coach House, which is just down the road in Thornham. Serving pizza and pasta in rustic, informal surroundings, it is perfect for everything from a romantic meal for two to a night out with the whole family.
Booking is strongly advised to avoid disappointment. Bookings taken for dining between 12Noon-2.30pm and 6-9pm.
The Briarfields Hotel
The Briarfields Hotel.
Main Street, Titchwell, Norfolk, PE31 8BB.
Tel: 01485 210742.
Valentine’s Day 2012 at Briafields.
Tuesday 14th February. 3 course dinner (including Coffee & Petite Fours and half a bottle of Champagne) £85 per couple.
See the Valentines Menu.
Conveniently located on the A149 coast road in the pretty village of Titchwell, and with prestigious 3-Star Silver (Visit Britain) status, Briarfields Hotel is a warm and welcoming place to stay in North Norfolk. Made up of a collection of sympathetically converted barns and farm buildings, it offers a relaxed and cosy atmosphere that is perfect for helping you settle in to holiday mode, or to escape for a short getaway.
All rooms are en-suite and the homely traditional decor is brought bang up to date with flat screen televisions, luxurious four-poster beds and heated towel rails, offering you the best of both worlds. Family-friendly (check out the impressive play area to the rear), there are 4 family rooms that comprise a second bedroom adjacent to the main bedroom – perfect for keeping an eye on the little ones.
The hotel has a wonderful restaurant that serves the finest locally sourced produce at lunchtimes and dinner time and there is a large bar and lounge area if you fancy kicking back and relaxing with a newspaper and a drink.
For the more adventurous, Briarfields makes the perfect base for exploring the delights of the surrounding area, including Titchwell Marsh Nature Reserve (which the hotel overlooks).
Aside from all this, one of the biggest surprises about Briarfields is that it is so reasonably priced. In keeping with their aim to remain accessible to all, room rates start at £125 for a double room, bed and breakfast in high season and £100 in low season. Dogs are welcome at a nominal charge of £8 per night and a discount can be arranged for groups of 10 or more.
As well as being perfect for a romantic retreat or a family adventure, Briarfields is also available for weddings, conferences and other functions and events.
The White Horse at Brancaster Staithe
The White Horse.
Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk, PE31 8BY.
Tel: 01485 210262.
A 3-star, 2 AA Rosette Inn on the A149 coast road in Brancaster Staithe, The White Horse is undoubtedly one of the best places to stay or dine in the region (corroborated by its inclusion in Alistair Sawday’s Special Places Pubs & Inns of England & Wales 2011).
It is located on an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), with some of the most stunning panoramic views across tidal marshes and sandy beaches that you’ll see anywhere in North Norfolk. Sunsets seen from The White Horse terrace (and rises as well if you’re an early bird) are truly dazzling.
A coastal pub built in 1934, The White Horse has been refurbished and tastefully styled with chic, modern décor that perfectly complements its seashore setting. Plenty of natural materials and nautical blues, greys and whites create a calm, welcoming environment.
The White Horse has 15 large en-suite rooms that are uncluttered and contemporary, promoting total relaxation. They are beautifully decorated to reflect the colours of the surrounding seashore environment, with hues of blue, green, lavender and sand.
There are 7 rooms in the main building, including the split level ‘Room At The Top’, which has its own viewing terrace and telescope.
There are 8 rooms on the ground floor, all built into the natural contours of the land, with grass and sedum roofing that blends with the neighbouring marshland. Each has its own outside terrace. One of these has disable access and five are designated ‘Family Rooms’. Dogs are welcome in these rooms.
All rooms feature digital flat-screen TVs and WI-FI.
For dining, the light, airy conservatory restaurant overlooks the Norfolk Coastal Path and the tidal marsh beyond to Scolt Head Island, offering sweeping views. If you want to dine al fresco, the restaurant leads to a sun deck terrace or there is a gorgeously groomed sunken garden.
As if sleeping yards from the sea were not soothing enough, The White Horse can arrange for you to have a relaxing holistic therapy treatment in the comfort and privacy of your room. Fabulous.
Tariffs from around £50 per person, per night, including breakfast. Please visit The White Horse’s own website for further details about special offers and breaks.
Winter 2012 A Season Of Tastes
5 courses & meet the local suppliers £27.50
Local Game Dinner – 17th Jan 2012 8pm
A Celebration of Seafood – 7th Feb 2012 8pm
Booking Essential – 01485 210626
View full ‘A Season of Tastes’ schedule and menu.
Special Offers at The White Horse, Brancaster Staithe.
Early NEW YEAR offer.
Monday 2nd to Tuesday 31st January inclusive.
Stay in a garden or sea view room for £40.00 per person per night, bed & breakfast. Telephone booking only, please call on reception on 01485 210262, quoting Enjoy North Norfolk.
East View Farm
East View Farm Holiday Cottages.
Stone Lane, Ashmanhaugh, Norfolk, NR12 8YW.
Tel: 01603 782225 / 07831 258258.
Wonderfully situated to explore the north Norfolk coastal region, the Norfolk Broads and Norwich, East View Farm Holiday Cottages offer a fabulous option for your getaway to Norfolk.
The 4 star / Gold Award (EnjoyEngland) Cottages are set in ten acres of landscaped grounds, just two miles from the village of Wroxham, ‘Capital of the Broads’.
A perfect choice for couples and families alike, each Cottage has a bedroom on the ground floor and all bedrooms in the Cottages are en-suite, offering easy accessibility for all ages.
Plum Tree Cottage sleeps 6 (plus an infant), with 3 bedrooms over two levels. A converted barn, it is open and spacious with beautiful wooden beams and exposed brickwork throughout. Owner Jane Pond has done a marvellous job of furnishing the cottages, which are comfortable and contemporary with an element of ‘country living’ styling. Plum Tree Cottage features its own private patio garden for warmer days and a wood-burning stove for the chillier months. All bedrooms are en-suite, with the two doubles having King-sized beds.
Nutmeg Cottage sleeps 2 (plus an infant), with one bedroom. A converted barn all on one level, this cosy cottage is stunning throughout, from the oak porch and tiled hallway to the King-sized bedroom. It too has its own private south-facing patio garden – perfect for stargazing in the big Norfolk skies.
As you’d expect from such highly regarded accommodation (East View Farm was winner of EDP Tourism in Norfolk Awards 2010 for Best Self Catering Establishment and winner of the Silver Award in the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2011 (the highest accolade for self catering cottages in the UK)), both cottages are spotlessly clean and exceptionally well equipped. They also have free Wi-Fi and access to a huge grass area (perfect for playing and kite flying).
Raising the bar still further when it comes to extraordinary self-catering accommodation, East View Farm Holiday Cottages are recipients of the Green Tourism Gold Award. This coveted honour recognises the Owners’ commitment to sustainability, vital when situated in such a scenic location. For example, the properties are powered by their own wind turbine and the owners have planted over 3000 native trees and shrubs and over 2500 native hedging plants on the site. Even the cleaning products used in the cottages are eco-friendly. Luxury family holidays with a green conscience. We love it.
Our personal favourite element is the private miniature steam railway (the Ashmanhaugh Miniature Light Railway) on site, which has open days at regular intervals throughout the year. What could make a family holiday to Norfolk more perfect?
The Lifeboat Inn
The Lifeboat Inn.
Ship Lane, Thornham, Norfolk, PE36 6LT.
Tel: 01485 512236.
Now part of Marco Pierre Whites Wheeler’s family, the charming Lifeboat Inn at Thornham is a real North Norfolk treasure. Its coastal location provides breathtaking views towards Thornham beach and it is a romantic, rustic and atmospheric escape.
From the cosy smugglers bar lit by hanging oil lanterns to the large fireplace when you first walk in (you’ll have to fight for space in front of it during the winter – often with a few dogs!), the ambience remains faithful to traditional inn-keeping values (after all, The Lifeboat has been receiving guests since the 16th century). Fantastic all year round because its situation is perfect for exploring the North Norfolk coast, as well as taking in golf at nearby Hunstanton, The Lifeboat comes into its own throughout the winter months when it is a snug and inviting bolthole.
All 13 rooms are en-suite, and some offer stunning views over the marshes and Thornham Harbour to the sea.
For dining, there is a lovely walled patio garden and bright conservatory, as well as a more formal dining room. Year-round, the reasonably priced bar menu features local delights and daily specials. Children’s meals are available and there are options for vegetarians.
The Lifeboat bar is popular and often bustling into the evening – a perfect retreat to recover from walks along the beach or from exploring the area.
Tariffs start at £80 for a single room and £120 for a double/twin room, including a full English breakfast. See all 2012 Tariff information.
Dogs are welcome (£8 per dog) and extra beds or cots can be provided for Children.
Free Wi-Fi available throughout.
Plenty of parking is available.
The Funky Mackerel
The Funky Mackerel Café.
Cliff Road Car Park, Cliff Road, Sheringham, Norfolk, NR26 9BJ.
Tel: 07887 676649.
Imagine a funky surf-shack style café that wouldn’t be out of place on any beach from Newquay to Maui, and you’ll get an instant flavour of The Funky Mackerel Café. Except this relaxed shore-side family-run business is located on Sheringham beach in North Norfolk.
Dog- and Family Friendly (there is a Café dog – ‘Sparkle’), The Funky Mackerel Café prides itself on offering great food but with an all-inviting, non-pretentious atmosphere.
The Mackerel Menu is comprehensive and uncomplicated with great Fair Trade coffee, toasted sandwiches, pasties and sausage rolls. As you’d expect from a Café that overlooks the ocean, there is often seafood on the menu as well, for example Peppered Mackerel, Sardines on Ciabatta and Crayfish. Most noteworthy are their Bacon Sandwiches, said to be the best in town (and perfect after a morning on the beach, no matter what the season).
For those with a sweet tooth, The Funky Mackerel is also renowned for their delicious homemade Flapjacks. Available in a rainbow of flavours, including the likes of Cherry & Ginger, Bombay Mix, Banana, Fig and Cherry & Toasted Coconut, these tasty treats will leave you with plenty of energy to enjoy the delights of Sheringham and the surrounding area.
Unashamedly quirky, The Funky Mackerel has a delightfully unique ‘Rummage Room’, an Aladdin’s Cave of second hand clothing and accessories, where browsing is an art form and you’re likely to find the most amazing bits and bobs if you well… rummage long enough.
The Old Coach House
The Old Coach House.
High Street, Thornham, Norfolk, PE36 6LT.
Tel: 01485 512 229.
Despite its name, this former Coaching Inn on the North Norfolk Coast is not all it seems… Sure, the frontage looks charming and traditional, and the front bar is also fairly true to its origins as a rustic coastal hostelry, but at the back The Old Coach House is secretly a rather swish Italian restaurant.
Rather unique to the locale, The Old Coach House could be described as ‘a country pub with a Mediterranean style’. Two bars at the front tick all the boxes for a lovely Norfolk pub (you’ll usually find a few friendly locals propping up the fixtures), complete with sink-into-sofas and local ales.
Out back, a bright, open restaurant decorated in cheerful colours and adorned with contemporary art offers homemade pies, pizza and pasta dishes. See the MAIN MENU.
See the DESSERT MENU and the WINE LIST.
Perhaps one of the nicest aspects of dining at The Old Coach House is its suitability for families. Their children’s menu will tempt even the fussiest toddler, while an outside play area and mini train will occupy them before the meal arrives (and maybe wear them out a bit – always worth a try!).
Pizzas are also available to take away. See the TAKEAWAY MENU.
Open Mon-Fri 8am-11pm, Sat 8am-12Midnight, Sun 8am-10.30pm.
The Jolly Sailors
The Jolly Sailors.
Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk, PE31 8BJ.
Tel: 01485 210314.
Fri 2nd March The Return of Fruitpig.
Demonstration by award winning Fruitpig’s Master Butcher, Matt Cockin, on how to make the most of your meat … lots of ‘Jolly’ tasters … judge the best terrine … ‘piggy’ quiz – win a stuffed rolled roasting belly joint …
AND
ENJOY slow roasted belly pork with all the trimmings & jam rolly polly with custard
all for £16 per person … booking essential. Not to be missed!See all The Jolly Sailors’ upcoming events.
Situated on the A149 coast road at Brancaster Staithe, The Jolly Sailors is a long-established North Norfolk pub, updated by the same owners as the nearby White Horse. It offers great food and ales at good value prices and is very family friendly.
Housed in a white painted façade with blue door and windowsills that you can’t miss, the inside of The Jolly Sailors is rustic and warm, with plenty of wood and stone. It is also smart and cared-for, giving it an appealing vibe that elevates it to a higher-than-average-quality traditional eating pub.
The bar offers a wide selection of real ales and guest beers. Being the associated pub of the independent, family-owned Brancaster Brewery, The Jolly Sailors has many of this breweries’ ales on tap. View tasting notes and a Brief History of the Brancaster Brewery.
If ale isn’t your thing, there is a comprehensive wine list, with choices by the bottle and glass and there’s always a good cup of tea or coffee on the brew.
Outside is a large, leafy beer garden for warmer days with an adventure play area that would occupy even the most energetic child.
Food-wise, you’ll find home cooked pub food (including a plethora of local seafood) as well as delicious stone baked pizza (an unusual twist) that you can eat in or takeaway. Perfect if you’re holidaying nearby. There’s a Children’s Menu, a Daily Specials board and lighter options for lunch.
A sign outside reads “Children, muddy boots and dogs welcome” and this pretty much sums The Jolly Sailors up. Unpretentious and open to all, it has been providing warm hospitality to friends and strangers since the 18th Century. Still true to its traditional roots, it is also firmly 21st Century, focusing on good quality food, drink and service. Among other publications of note, The Jolly Sailors is featured in the Michelin Eating Out Pubs Guide 2011 and The Good Pub Guide 2011. Rightly so.
Bar open 7 days. Mon-Thurs 12noon – 3 pm & 6 – 11pm, Fri 12noon-3pm & 5-11pm, Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm.
FOOD SERVED Mon-Thurs 12noon – 2 pm & 6 – 9pm, Fri 12noon-2pm & 5-9pm, Sat/Sun 12noon-9pm. See menu boards for Daily Specials.
PIZZA TAKEAWAY available at serving times PLUS late night Friday & Saturday until 10.45 pm. View the Jolly Sailors Pizza Menu.
News & Upcoming Happenings At The Jolly Sailors.
The Jolly Runners
Meet every Saturday morning @ 10am in the car park. Whether you’re a regular runner or a keen starter – set your own pace and enjoy the great outdoors!
Wednesday is CURRY NIGHT 7pm onwards
£7.95 for the best home made curry with sundries.
Butlers of Holt
Butlers Café Bar Restaurant.
9 Appleyard, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 6BN.
Tel: 01263 710790.
Located in the centre of the pretty market town of Holt, which is excellent for shopping or as a base to explore the surrounding area, Butlers is equally perfect for lunching during the daytime or for evening dining.
Opened in 2005, this family-run Café-Bar and restaurant has gone from strength to strength, receiving an AA Rosette for culinary excellence.
The open, airy restaurant bears hallmarks of a European brasserie, with a twist of rustic Norfolk charm. Secluded outside seating is excellent for al fresco dining on warmer days, while the inside with its sloping glass roof and large double doors offers perfect protection from autumn winds and chilly winter days, while still enabling diners to ‘experience the outside in’.
Experienced Chef and owner, Sean Creasey has created a modern European menu with a leaning towards the Italian. Seasonally influenced, ingredients are sourced wherever possible from good quality local suppliers. The menus change daily to offer the best and freshest produce.
For those who are simply looking for a break from work or shopping, Butlers Café is serious about its coffee and, of course, delicious cakes. Free WIFI makes Butlers the perfect escape from the office or hotel room. The large oak bar that runs the length of the room serves a good selection of wines, beers and spirits throughout the day for those looking for something a little stronger.
Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-11pm.
Breakfast served 9am-11am.
Lunch served 12noon-3pm.
Dinner served 6pm-9pm.
Open for Sunday Lunch every Sunday.
See Butlers Menu.
View Butlers’ Wine List.
Monday nights are Mussels Nights! A large bowl of hot steamed mussels, cooked in an onion, garlic and white wine sauce. Finished with a touch of cream, bread, bowl of french fries and either an 175ml glass of Cataratto, Ca di Ponti Italian wine, or a Pint of Peroni / Kozel – £13.95.
Every Tuesday evening, Butlers also have an Italian bistro menu from 6pm (regular menu also available).
2-For-1 Cocktails every on Thursday evening 6pm-late.
Back to the Garden
Back to the Garden.
Letheringsett, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 7JJ.
Tel: 01263 715996.
Food doesn’t get purer or fresher than this. Back to the Garden grows their own organic fruit and vegetables, which are harvested and delivered daily to the Farm Shop, a large 18th Century restored barn situated beside the A148 in Letheringsett only four miles from the farm.
No chemical fertilisers, herbicides or insecticides are used on the Farm, and this non-intensive production extends to the meat, poultry and eggs. No antibiotics or growth promoters are used on the cattle and sheep (born on the Back to the Garden land) and all poultry is organic and free to roam. Their own grass-fed organic beef is matured for 21 days and sold in the Butchery.
In addition to the Farm’s own produce, Back to the Garden carefully selects other high quality organic and artisan foods from sustainable sources. Among the shelves and counters of foodie temptation, you‘ll find organic meat, organic chocolate, beers by local brewers, pickles and jams, organic wine, cheeses, fresh bread and pastries. There are green household and personal care products, and even natural products for your dog!
Back to the Garden also stocks plenty of diet-busting sweet goodies, including organic, locally made chocolates and homemade pastries and cakes.
Obviously, there is a pronounced emphasis on the organic and locally produced at Back to the Garden. However, this is not the extent of the Farm Shop’s philosophy. Describing themselves as offering a ‘realistic, but locally based alternative to supermarket shopping’, ultimately, everything in the shop has to be of the highest standard and taste really good. Together, these features make for a forward-thinking food-lovers dream-shopping destination.
Farm Shop Opening Times Tue-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm.
(Summer Bank Holidays 10am-4pm).
Café Restaurant Opening Times
Tue-Fri 9am-4.30pm, Lunch 11.30am-3pm.
Sat As Tue-Fri plus Breakfast 9am-11.30am.
Restaurant open for Dinner Friday and Saturday evenings 7-9pm. Booking recommended.
Sun 10am-3.30pm, Breakfast 10am-11.30am, Lunch 12Noon-3.30pm.
The White Horse at Overstrand
The White Horse.
34 High Street, Overstrand, Norfolk, NR27 0AB.
Tel: 01263 579237.
With an AA 4-star rating, The White Horse at Overstrand offers a unique opportunity to combine the escapism of a traditional seaside holiday with the quality and comfort you’d expect from a luxury hotel.
Situated in Overstrand, a pretty coastal village, which was so popular with the Victorian rich that it became known as ‘Millionaires Village’, The White Horse has seven superb en-suite bedrooms. All are spacious and individually styled to a high standard, with the added benefit of that warm cosy feeling that you get from feeling at home away from home. Wake in the morning to a three course home-cooked breakfast before starting your day exploring the beauty of North Norfolk.
With the philosophy that ‘eating out should always be special’ and a growing reputation for quality cuisine, The White Horse is well equipped to provide a relaxed, enjoyable experience for diners. Take pleasure in a pre-dinner drink or unwind at the end of a day of sightseeing in the bar and lounge area, or enjoy a romantic meal for two in the stylish restaurant.
Tariffs start from £68-£85 per room per night (double room) depending on season.
Dogs welcome at no extra charge.
Family room available.
Special Offers:
Short Break Saver
Stay for a minimum of 3 nights benefit from the Short Break Saver:£30 off the cost of your break for a 3 night stay
£40 off the cost of your break for a 4 night stay
£50 off the cost of your break for a 5 night stay
One night free for a 6 night stayPartnership Discounts
The White Horse is delighted to be able to offer a 10% discount off their standard rates between 1st October and 31st March, for the following:- Members of the National Trust, The Ramblers Association and The RSPB; Employees of the NHS, Network Rail, The Police, Fire/Ambulance Service, Local Authorities, Public Service Workers and the Armed Services.
The Owl Tea Rooms & Bakery
The Owl Tea Rooms & Bakery.
Church Street, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 6BB.
Tel: 01263 713232.
Dating back to Victorian times (making it one of Norfolk’s oldest tearooms), and presently a family run business for some 25 years, The Owl Tea Rooms in the centre of Holt is a delightful place to sample scrumptious homemade food all day long. Traditional in feel, The Owl resembles a large country cottage kitchen, with wooden booths and tables, earthenware condiment pots and fresh flowers on each table. There is a warm touch of nostalgia throughout.
Values too are traditional in that all food is freshly made from local ingredients, service is attentive and friendly and everyone is most welcome.
The menu, however, may surprise you. It is forward-looking with one shared theme: deliciousness. On the Specials board, classic British indulgences such as Local Norfolk Lamb Hotpot or The Owl Special Steak & Kidney Pie can be found alongside Moroccan Chicken Tagine with Fruit Infused Cous Cous and Roasted Butternut Squash stuffed with Cranberries and Chestnut Puree.
Lunch options include a number of lighter dishes – jacket potatoes, sandwiches and hot buttered crumpets. For the sweet tooth or to complement a tea or coffee, The Owl does a positively dangerous line in Cream Teas and homemade cakes.
There are options for all tastes and persuasions, including vegetarians, diabetics and those avoiding gluten. There is also a Children’s Menu.
For warmer days, The Owl boasts a hidden walled tea garden, tucked behind the Tea Rooms. A sheltered, tranquil spot to enjoy your yummy goodies, this really is an experience worth savouring on sunny days. Dogs are allowed in the garden and there is wheelchair access.
After you’ve enjoyed your meal or cream tea, the adjacent bakery and shop selling all manor of freshly baked bread and scrumptious cakes will enable you to take a little taste of The Owl away with you. Our personal favourite temptation – the fat, homemade donuts just bursting with jam. There should be a law against something so naughty.
As well as food, The Owl shop stocks a great range of wooden toys (perfect gifts and stocking fillers) and handmade greeting cards. You can also hire cake moulds.
Open Mon-Sat 8.30am-5pm (last orders 4.30pm) including Bank Holiday Mondays.
Lunch is served 11.45-2.15pm.
Back to the Garden Cafe Restaurant
Back to the Garden.
Letheringsett, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 7JJ.
Tel: 01263 715996.
Food doesn’t get fresher than this. Back to the Garden’s fabulous new Café Restaurant uses their own organic fruit and vegetables, locally reared organic beef, lamb and game and a rainbow of other Norfolk-produced goodies to create tantalising food from homemade cake to blow-out Sunday lunches.
Housed in a towering 18th Century barn situated beside the A148 in Letheringsett, the Café Restaurant is wonderfully, yet minimalistically, styled to combine touches of the rural/agricultural with chic modernity. Accents from the huge focal-point pendant lamp that resembles a large metal tractor wheel to the stylish metal-framed images of rural scenes that adorn the walls provide subtle, but wonderful decoration against the exposed brickwork, generous timber and almost floor-to-ceiling windows.
The menus (breakfast, lunch and Sunday lunch, as well as a lavish selection of drinks that includes lagers and wines) are well thought out, including high quality seasonal local fare in generous portions.
The organic Sunday lunch is a highlight (see our review), and despite the fact that the tables were pretty much all full by the time we finished our 2-hour eat-a-thon, the waiter/waitress service was impeccable throughout.
If you do find space lacking inside the barn, and the weather is pleasant, there are further tables outside in a beautiful garden area (think country cottage garden, but larger). Tranquil and pretty, with grapes growing on vines, a fish pond and discreetly hidden boxes for owls and bats, you’ll find yourself so relaxed that if you’re not on holiday, you’ll feel like you are.
For afternoon treats or morning coffee, Back to the Garden stocks plenty of diet-busting sweet goodies, including homemade pastries and cakes (the Chocolate & Guinness Cake looked very interesting).
The Café Restaurant and garden at Back to the Garden are available to hire for parties, wedding receptions and functions. And best not to get us started on the adjacent Farm Shop…
Café restaurant Opening Times
Tue-Fri 9am-4.30pm, Lunch 11.30am-3pm.
Sat As Tue-Fri plus Breakfast 9am-11.30am.
Restaurant open for Dinner Friday and Saturday evenings 7-9pm. Booking recommended.
Sun 10am-3.30pm, Breakfast 10am-11.30am, Lunch 12Noon-3.30pm.
Farm Shop Opening Times Tue-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm.
(Summer Bank Holidays 10am-4pm).
The White Horse Restaurant
The White Horse.
Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk, PE31 8BY.
Tel: 01485 210262.
A 3-star, 2 AA Rosette Inn on the A149 coast road in Brancaster Staithe, The White Horse is undoubtedly one of the best places to dine or stay in the region.
It is located on an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), with some of the most stunning panoramic views across tidal marshes and sandy beaches that you’ll see anywhere in North Norfolk. Sunsets seen from The White Horse terrace (and rises as well if you’re an early bird) are truly dazzling.
A coastal pub built in 1934, The White Horse has been refurbished and tastefully styled with chic, modern décor that perfectly complements its seashore setting. Plenty of natural materials and nautical blues, greys and whites create a calm, welcoming environment.
The light, airy conservatory restaurant overlooks the Norfolk Coastal Path and the tidal marsh beyond to Scolt Head Island, offering sweeping views. If you want to dine al fresco, the restaurant leads to a sun deck terrace or there is a landscaped sunken garden.
Dining is an unhurried experience, intended to be savored. A range of tantalizing menus bursting with fresh, local cuisine (including oodles of seafood) offers something for all tastes (children and vegetarians are well served). When in season you’ll find Oysters and Asparagus farmed from Brancaster Staithe itself alongside the likes of Cromer Crab, Button Mushroom and Binham Blue Cheese Crepes and Pan roast Gressingham corn fed Chicken Breast.
The dessert selection is equally mouthwatering and there is an extensive wine list to accompany the great food.
The lunch menu consists of classic pub dishes such as Fish and Chips, Ploughman’s and salad as well as some rather fabulous Tapas options.
Dining times in the restaurant (booking advised) 12Noon-2pm, 6.30-9pm.
The bar is open for drinks at 12noon.
Bar breakfast 9am-11am (just walk in)
All day dining al fresco or in the bar 11am-9pm.
Winter 2011-12 A Season Of Tastes
5 courses & meet the local suppliers £27.50
Taste of north Norfolk Supper – 8th Nov 8pm
Taste of Spain – 6th Dec 8pm
Local game dinner – 17th Jan 2012 8pm
A celebration of seafood – 7th feb 2012 8pm
Booking Essential – 01485 210626
View full ‘A Season of Tastes’ schedule and menu.
Barn House Holidays
Barn House Holidays.
The Barn House, Gresham Road, East Beckham, Norfolk, NR11 8RP.
Tel: 01263 824250.
In all honesty, we’d be hard pressed to top what Owners Cate and Fergus have said themselves about their gorgeous self-catering barns in East Beckham, near to Holt and Sheringham:
“Our holiday cottages are tucked away in rolling countryside close to the wild North Norfolk coast. Decorated in a fresh relaxed style, the cottages are ideal for lively children, romantic couples and all lovers of a slower way of life.
Within minutes you could be building sandcastles on an award-winning beach, snug by the fire of a foodie pub, checking out the vibrant arts scene, spotting wildlife on a windy salt marsh or day-dreaming with a book and a glass of wine.
We moved here to make things, grow stuff and raise free-range children and animals. If you like rural England, and want a place to unwind and revive, we think this is the place to be.”
The Barn House holiday cottages currently consist of two barns (with a third on the way), named after two of Cate and Fergus’s favourite local beaches, Salthouse and Overstrand.
Both are equipped to an exceedingly high standard and are wonderfully family friendly, without compromising on style. Inside you’ll find all manner of mod cons and thoughtful additions to ensure that, rain or shine, your holiday in North Norfolk is relaxing and fun.
Salthouse has one king-sized bedroom with an ensuite bathroom and a spacious open plan living area (with sofa bed and space for a cot). Distinctive design touches include the floorboards, reclaimed from a Victorian school and the door lintel, which is a chunk of greenheart that was once part of a coastal breakwater.
Overstrand cottage has two adjoining bedrooms and a bathroom on the ground floor by the front door (perfect for ushering in sandy children). Behind the cottage is a gated area of decking that overlooks the garden.
If you are travelling with children, you’ll love the little extras like the toy box packed with Lego, Duplo and finger puppets, the BPA-free toddler-friendly cutlery, the child-safe hobs, the high chairs, bed guards and even a pushchair for guests use. Having children of their own, Cate and Fergus are in a great position to know what one desperately needs, but always forgets when going on family holidays. Brilliant.
Guests sans-children will appreciate the welcome pack, flowers and wine on arrival, the free WiFi, outside table & chairs, BBQ and enough wine glasses to welcome friends.
Guests staying at Barn House Holidays Cottages have full use of the garden.
Tariffs from £430 – £790 (Salthouse, 7 nights), £490 – £890 (Overstrand, 7 nights). Short breaks (3/4 nights) are also available.
Pretty Corner Café & Tea Gardens
Pretty Corner Café & Tea Gardens.
Pretty Corner, Upper Sheringham, Norfolk, NR26 8TW.
Tel: 01263 822766.
As the name implies, Pretty Corner, found en route to Sheringham in Norfolk, has been a renowned beauty spot for decades.
Pretty Corner Café and Tea Gardens first opened in 1926 in a wooden pavilion that had no running water or electricity. The owners of the time became widely known for their homemade chocolates and sweets, which won a number of awards. While it has evolved, it is still as popular today as it was back then, with walkers, cyclists and holidaymakers enjoying the peaceful woodland setting.
Inside, the modest flint and brick Café is airy and homely with pictures by local talent decorating the walls, flowers on every table and gently padded chairs. There is a wood burning stove for cooler days and an outside patio and garden, flanked by many shrubs and flowering plants, for warm weather.
Pretty Corner Café and Tea Gardens pride themselves in using fresh, locally sourced ingredients throughout their menu, supporting local producers as well as growing their own.
The menu includes lunchtime favourites such as Panninis, Jacket Potatoes, Salads and Sandwiches, as well as homemade daily specials. There is a mouthwatering selection of homemade cakes, scones and desserts.
As you expect from a self-respecting Tea Gardens, Pretty Corner Café and Tea Gardens offers a selection of speciality teas (as well as coffee and soft drinks) – perfect with a homemade scone in a Pretty Corner Cream Tea.
Vegetarians and children are well catered for, and there are gluten-free options on the menu.
See an example of the Pretty Corner Menu.
View a sample Pretty Corner Cakes & Desserts Menu.
Pretty Corner Café and Tea Gardens is child-friendly and welcomes dogs.
Pretty Corner Café and Tea Gardens cannot accept credit or debit cards.
Open April-October 10.30am-5pm (Closed on Tuesdays except during school holidays).
Back to the Garden Cafe
Back to the Garden.
Letheringsett, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 7JJ.
Tel: 01263 715996.
Housed in a lofty 18th Century barn situated beside the A148 in Letheringsett just outside Holt, the Back to the Garden Café Restaurant is wonderfully, yet minimalistically, styled to combine touches of the rural/agricultural with chic modernity. Accents from the huge focal-point pendant lamp that resembles a large metal tractor wheel to the stylish metal-framed images of rural scenes that adorn the walls provide subtle, but wonderful decoration against the exposed brickwork, generous timber and almost floor-to-ceiling windows.
Ideal for a relaxing mid-morning coffee or indulgent afternoon tea, there is an extensive drinks menu, with a variety of coffee and tea, and a selection of delicious soft drinks. The Café is licensed, so you can even treat yourself to a glass of wine or lager. In keeping with Back to the Garden’s ethos that food and drink should be as fresh and natural as possible, there are organic options across the board.
To eat, Back to the Garden stocks plenty of diet-busting sweet goodies, including homemade pastries and cakes (the Chocolate & Guinness Cake looked very interesting). There are also savoury choices including breakfast, light meals, salads and toasted bagels. Collectively, the Café has deemed such items ‘All Things Lovely’. And they are.
On warmer days, there are further tables outside in a beautiful garden area (think country cottage garden, but larger). Tranquil and pretty, with grapes growing on vines, a fish pond and discreetly hidden boxes for owls and bats, you’ll find yourself so relaxed that if you’re not on holiday, you’ll feel like you are.
The Café Restaurant and garden at Back to the Garden are available to hire for parties, wedding receptions and functions. Best not to get us started on the adjacent Farm Shop…
Café restaurant Opening Times
Tue-Fri 9am-4.30pm, Lunch 11.30am-3pm.
Sat As Tue-Fri plus Breakfast 9am-11.30am.
Restaurant open for Dinner Friday and Saturday evenings 7-9pm. Booking recommended.
Sun 10am-3.30pm, Breakfast 10am-11.30am, Lunch 12Noon-3.30pm.
Farm Shop Opening Times Tue-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm.
(Summer Bank Holidays 10am-4pm).
The Green Room Café
The Green Room Café.
6 Kings Arms Street, North Walsham, Norfolk, NR28 9JX.
Tel: 01692 408993.
The family run Green Room Café in the heart of North Walsham is very much dedicated to supporting, and being a part of, the local community.
Almost all food is home cooked from carefully and locally sourced produce (farm fresh eggs, sausages from the local butchers and fruit and veg delivered daily).
Breakfast is hearty (a vegetarian breakfast is available), with extensive choice to suit all tastes. Fancy a sweet start to your day? Try the pancakes and waffles.
For lunch, you’ll find old favourites such as Jacket Potatoes and homemade soup alongside tasty daily specials such as Chilli, Steak & Guinness Pie and Chicken Chasseur. The colourful Salad Bar is freshly stocked daily. If you can’t stop, all options are available to takeaway.
For a lighter bite, or to accompany your coffee, The Green Room Café offers scrumptious sausage rolls (made, of course, with local pork, and deemed recently by one customer to be “the best sausage rolls in Norfolk’) and tempting homemade cakes, cookies and scones.
If you fancy a tipple with your meal, The Green Room is fully licensed, enabling you to enjoy a truly relaxing lunch.
Children’s lunches are available (as are baby changing facilities).
Always striving to do their best to cater for customers needs, The Green Room Café offers gluten free choices and will accommodate most dietary requirements – just ask.
The Green Room Café prides itself on offering a relaxed and welcoming environment to its customers. Combining a traditional café feel (Heinz Ketchup on the tables; plentiful portions of well-loved dishes) with modern thinking (fresh, local produce; all dietary requirements well served; fully licensed), it is a refreshingly non-pretentious place to enjoy some good value, very decent home cooked food.
Roast Dinners are available (with a selection of meats and a fish option) on Thursday and Sundays*.
Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat & Sun 9am-4pm (last orders 3pm on Sunday*).
*Booking is advisable for Sunday Lunch.
The Cockerel
The Cockerel Restaurant.
6 North Street, North Walsham, Norfolk, NR28 9DH.
Tel: 01692 403743.
The Cockerel Restaurant in North Walsham is a delightful place to indulge in great value homemade food served with a warm and friendly welcome.
The Cockerel occupies a site with a rich and interesting history. Dating back to 1765, the on-site garage once housed the North Walsham, Newsham fire engine. From 1830 it was known as ‘The Cock Inn’ public house, which closed its doors in 1966. The building was converted into a tearoom at the end of the 1970s, retaining many original pub features, including the bar. In 2007, Mark and Claire Rushen took ownership of The Cockerel and it has gone from strength to strength since. Now, alongside the restaurant is a lovely deli stocking all manner of delicious local produce.
The Cockerel still has the feel of a traditional tearoom, with wooden shelving and furniture, and paintings of rural scenes from days gone by.
Food is freshly prepared, from locally sourced ingredients wherever possible (when in season, seafood such as Moules Mariner & Chips and Saltfish Fritas features heavily). As well as hearty ‘main meals’ (including breakfast), The Cockerel does a mean line in homemade cakes and scones.
The Cockerel can cater for those with special dietary requirements and provides gluten free and diabetic-friendly foods.
The Cockerel is family friendly, with high chairs, booster seats and baby changing available, as well as an Under 12s children’s menu and colouring books and toys to keep the little ones entertained. Marvellous.
The Cockerel hosts frequent special themed evenings and events and also offers outside catering with its ‘Flying Cockerel’ service. Please visit the Cockerel website for further information.
Opening Times:
Restaurant: Mon-Sat 9am-4pm
Deli: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm
East Runton Fish and Chip Shop
East Runton Fish and Chip Shop.
Beach Road, East Runton, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 9PA.
Tel: 07538 564753 (Orders).
Follow the A149 coast road out of Cromer and you’ll pass East Runton Fish & Chip Shop. Obviously, this would be a terrible shame, given that these are some of the best fish’n’chips you’ll find in North Norfolk.
At East Runton Fish & Chip Shop you’ll find all the usual favourites – cod, haddock, plaice, rock, scampi, sausages, pies and burgers. This is a traditional seaside chippy – no pretensions or bells and whistles, just high quality, honest fish & chips done very well and delivered with an obvious passion.
There are a few subtle nuances that distinguish this chip shop from similar establishments. For example, owner Will Watson makes his own homemade Tartare Sauce, and every fish is served with a slice of fresh lemon. Lovely.
East Runton Fish & Chip Shop is a Registered Member of the National Federation of Fish Friers as well as holding a 5* (Excellent) rating for Food Hygiene.
An essential ingredient for any holiday on the Norfolk coast, or simply a great end to a day out at the beach, this is one North Norfolk chip shop that is well worth seeking out.
Opening Times
Mon – Thurs 12.30pm-2pm & 5pm-8pm
Fri & Sat 12.30pm-2pm & 5pm-9pm
Sun (Mornings vary) 5pm-8pm
The Blakeney Hotel
The Blakeney Hotel.
Blakeney, Norfolk, NR25 7NE.
Tel: 01263 740797.
Winner of the EDP Tourism in Norfolk Award 2010 for Best Hotel.
Just right for total escapism, The AA 3* Blakeney Hotel is situated beside the quay with outstanding views across the estuary to Blakeney Point (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). A traditional, family hotel that prioritises quality and value for money, it is a good base for exploring the wider area (ideal if you like walking, bird watching or want to visit the nearby towns of Holt, Norwich or Aylsham), but equally perfect if all you want to do is kick back, read a paper and gaze out dreamily over the salt marshes.
The Blakeney Hotel boasts over sixty rooms, all furnished to a high standard and some with balconies or terraces offering wonderful views over the estuary and salt marshes. Extra beds or cots for children can be provided and the ground floor rooms are ideal for holidaying dogs.
If you don’t feel like going too far, there is plenty to occupy and delight you within the hotel itself. The Hotel has a heated indoor swimming pool with adjacent Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and air-conditioned mini gym. There is a games room for table tennis, pool and darts and a billiard room with a full-sized table for billiards or snooker. Use of all the leisure facilities is free for residents.
For eating and drinking, the Hotel has two lounges, an AA Rosette restaurant and a bar, offering hearty English breakfasts, light lunches and seasonal À la Carte choices.
Picnic hampers can be made up for residents.
Great for enjoying the whole North Norfolk area, or a getaway destination in itself, The Blakeney Hotel is worth discovering whether you’re planning a romantic break for two, a half-term getaway with the kids or a weekend of walking and exploring with just you and the dog!
Doodle Pots Ceramic Cafe
Doodle Pots Ceramic Café.
1A New Street, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 6JJ.
Tel: 01263 713135.
Imagine a place open to everyone – the very young to the very old, that combines the relaxed vibe of a café with the facilities to let you unleash your most artistic tendencies. Doodle Pots is such a place.
Located just off the main High Street in Holt, Doodle Pots Ceramic Café is based on a simple, but appealing philosophy: choose a piece of pottery, decorate it with your own design (go on, go wild!) and then once it is fired and glazed (process takes 3-4 days•) you can take it home to display in all its glory. Remember when your Parents first hung a picture you did on the wall when you were 4 years old? Well imagine recapturing that feeling now. And if you have your own 4 year old, let them unleash their inner Bernard Leach so you can display their fabulous creation with pride. All while sipping a delicious Lavazza cappuccino (you, not the child).
Doodle Pots has heaps of colours, brushes and stencils to select from, as well as books and, of course, the friendly and enthusiastic Café staff.
If you’re visiting the area briefly or want to make something you can take home the same day, you can ‘Make and Take’. Try your hand with mosaics or use acrylics on pottery. The technique of Decopatch allows you to revamp any old object (furniture, photo frames, dishes, trinket boxes…) by covering it with beautiful paper and varnish to create a stunning, long-lasting finish. Recycling never looked so elegant.
Doodle Pots also hosts Children’s parties, Office/Corporate sessions and Hen Parties. Doodle Pots can come to you for parties, youth groups or fund raising events. Please contact Rachel on 01263 713135 for more information.
Doodle Pots also offers a Baby/Toddler Hand and Footprint service to capture those tiny baby hand and footprints forever. The perfect gift for Mothers/Fathers Day or for adoring Grandparents.
Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm (plus Sundays during the summer).
Group booking at other times.
Closed Thursdays Sept-May during school term time.
Booking is advised during school holidays to avoid disappointment.
*don’t worry – Doodle Pots can also post your creation safely in enough bubble wrap to keep your kids entertained all year!
Hollyhocks Cottage
Hollyhocks Cottage.
1 Oddfellows Row, Docking, Norfolk, PE31 8NS.
Tel: 01425 277134 / 07958 792603 / 07733 104171.
A former railwayman’s cottage in the pretty village of Docking, 4-Star Hollyhocks Cottage is warm and inviting, offering a perfect home-from-home from which to explore the North Norfolk coast and beyond.
Hollyhocks Cottage has been renovated and furnished to a high standard. While it features a wealth of modern luxuries throughout, it still exudes traditional charm.
The cottage sleeps four in two double bedrooms – one with a solid oak double bed and the second with two pine single beds, ideal for children or other guests.
Downstairs there is a spacious open-plan lounge/diner, separated by a half height partition with aspect towards the fully fitted oak finish kitchen. Appliances include a washing machine, electric induction hob, fan assisted oven/grill, microwave & fridge.
Oil-fired central heating and a log flame effect electric fire in the inglenook fireplace make Hollyhocks a perfect bolt hole for Winter getaways in north Norfolk. A secluded suntrap outside, complete with a cast iron bistro table and chairs, is perfect for reading the papers with a cup of coffee – or something chilled – on warmer days.
Docking itself provides easy access to the resorts and beauty spots of North Norfolk. There is an excellent fish and chip shop just minutes from Hollyhocks, while The “Railway Inn” restaurant and pub is a 15-minute stroll away.
Tariffs from £275 per week – £545 per week, depending on season.
“I had a lovely, lovely rest. It’s such a nice cottage, so peaceful and pretty. A wonderful bolt hole”. KC. July 2011.
