Posts Tagged ‘Local Produce’
According to recent research by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), people in East Anglia are drinking more real ale than ever before. As it should be, really, given that here in Norfolk we produce excellent malting barley that is subsequently used across the UK and beyond to produce fantastic beers, lagers and ales.
One such malting barley farm is Branthill Farm near Wells-next-the-Sea, which extends to over 1000 acres on the Holkham Estate. Malting barley has been grown in the region since Shakespearian times, with the coastal microclimate and light, sandy soil over chalk combining to make it one of the best places on Earth to grow the crop.
The concept seen in wine-producing countries of promoting the produce to the public at source inspired tenant Farmer Teddy Maufe to open The Real Ale Shop on-site at Branthill Farm. Now a must-visit destination for any real-ale fan in the area, The Real Ale Shop has also gone on to win several prestigious awards, including ‘Off Licence News Independent Beer Retailer of the Year 2009’ and ‘CAMRA Bottle Online Sales Awards 2008’.
The Real Ale Shop stocks bottle conditioned real ales from a host of Norfolk breweries including the Fox Brewery, Woodforde’s, the Iceni Brewery, the Humpty Dumpty Brewery and Tipple’s Brewery. Teddy believes that one advantage of such an arrangement is total traceability, an important feature with today’s savvy consumers. Apparently, one of the brewers even quotes the field grid reference on their bottle label. Presumably, using local floor maltings is also fairly ‘green’, cutting down on the mileage required in transportation and, therefore, boasting a lesser ‘Carbon Footprint’. Environmentally friendly, locally produced and flavoursome. Fabulous.
Now stocking some 50+ naturally bottle conditioned ales onsite, The Real Ale Shop has extended to the web, offering online selection and ordering. Ideal if you’re not a native, although if you can, we’d highly recommend you take the signposted detour on the Fakenham-Wells road to visit this unique off-licence in person.
Open Tues-Sat 10am-6pm (Winter 10am-4pm).
Sun 12Noon-4pm.
Closed Mondays (except Bank Holidays & high season).
The Real Ale Shop
Branthill Farm, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, NR23 1SB
Tel 01328 710810
The Old Pump House.
Holman Road, Aylsham, Norfolk, NR11 6BY.
Tel: 01263 733789.
With a 5-star Gold Award from Visit Britain (EnjoyEngland.com) and ideally situated to explore both the City of Norwich and North Norfolk, The Old Pump House is a very special bed & breakfast indeed.
Built around 1750 and with previous lives as a farm, boarding school and rectory, the Old Pump House still retains a wealth of charm and character. The five individually named en suite rooms were totally refurbished in 2007 and now traditional features blend effortlessly with sleek styling that verges on that found in premium boutique hotels and modern luxuries such as LCD TVs, wireless Internet access and CD players.
Served in the elegant, pine-shuttered Georgian Room, which overlooks the pretty garden and pond, breakfast (recipient of the EnjoyEngland.com Breakfast Award) is cooked to order and includes only the finest local produce. Get a flavour for the breakfast menu here.
Run by antiques dealer Marc James and Charles Kirkman, an ex-banker, The Old Pump House is close to some of Norfolk’s best pubs, restaurants and visitor attractions. Marc and Charles can proficiently advise you on places to go and sights to see, as well as being more than happy to make reservations for you at nearby eateries.
Children with well-behaved Parents are welcome. Dogs with well-behaved owners are welcome by prior arrangement.
Tariff – from £95 per double room per night (from £75 for single occupancy).
Please email, call or click here (PDF 484KB) for further details.
*WIN!* A STAY AT THE OLD PUMP HOUSE B&B.
Sample the delights of The Old Pump House for yourself. We’re giving away ONE NIGHTS STAY (including breakfast) – perfect for a post-summer romantic night away or escape to North Norfolk.
To enter, simply email your name and address to contact@enjoynorthnorfolk.com with the subject ‘Old Pump House’ by 30th September.
Competition closes at Midnight on Thursday 30th September, after which time one winner will be selected at random and awarded a voucher for their prize, one nights Bed & Breakfast stay at The Old Pump House. The winner can then book their stay in the usual way (obviously availability allowing). No cash alternative is offered. Judges decision is final.
Bells & Whistles.
Studio G, Creake Abbey Studios, North Creake
Norfolk, NR21 9LF.
Tel: 01485 543173
www.bellsandwhistleskids.co.uk
Found in the lovely Creak Abbey Studios, Bells & Whistles is self-described as ‘a collection of unique and special children’s clothing and gifts with a nostalgic twist for imaginative and spirited boys and girls up to about 10 years’. Think Christopher Robin, Huck Finn and perhaps the Famous Five. In really lovely clothes.
Inside (and online) are divine items for every occasion, from beach to party wear. The only drawback is that they’re just for kids. Boo.
Designers housed within include:
- D’Arcy Brown (stylish, practical lines from this London-based brand)
- Their Nibs (Retro, contemporary and lots of fun)
- Mitty James (Fab Brit beachwear for all outdoor adventurers!)
- Little Davis (Customised, vintage items underpinned by strong ethical standards. Utterly unique)
- ilovegorgeous (a celebration of fun, fashion and feminity for girls by Harry Enfield’s other half)
As well as sumptuous wardrobe-candy, Bells & Whistles has a selection of night lights, soft furnishings such as cushions, prints and gifts. Some items are locally made here in Norfolk, making them extra-special souvenirs of a much loved summer holiday or a magical Christmas escape.
Open Tues-Sat 11am-4.30pm (and on Sun days during school holidays).
LATEST NEWS! Bells & Whistles Summer Sale is now on! Up to 50% off children’s clothing online and at our shop. Brands include Darcy Brown, I Love Gorgeous, Little Davis vintage and more!
Bircham Windmill.
Great Bircham, Norfolk, PE31 6SJ.
Tel: 01485 578393.
Found only a few miles from Sandringham and Hunstanton in North-West Norfolk, Bircham Windmill is considered to be one of the best remaining examples of a British Windmill. It is also the only working windmill in the area to be open to the public. Brave visitors can ascend the five floors to the fan stage and, on windy days, you can see the sails and milling machinery turning.
Carefully restored to look just as it did over a Century ago, a visit to Bircham Windmill offers the rare opportunity to experience the history and character of a Norfolk Corn Mill – a phenomenon that was once prolific in this region.
On site is also the original bakery and a baking shop, from which the inimitable smell of freshly baked bread will welcome you if you’re lucky enough to visit on a baking day. The baking shop sells various flours, fresh bread, scones and cakes as well as baking paraphernalia, recipe books and much more. ‘Children’s Baking Corner’ enables children to bake some bread to take home for tea (£2 per child).
Also for Children (and grown-up animal lovers of course!) are the adorable Falabella miniature horses, sheep, pygmy goats, chickens and guinea pigs. With the opportunity to meet the animals and an Under 7’s play area, you can relax in the Mill garden while your kids play.
Bircham Windmill also has Tea Rooms (serving home made cakes, scones and light lunches along with their famous Clotted Cream Teas), an Art Gallery (with a different artist each month), Gift Shop, Family Cycle Hire Centre and trails and walks around the Mill for cyclists and walkers.
With so much to do and enjoy, most of which is free and can be accessed separately to the Mill itself, Bircham Windmill is a novel day out in Norfolk that will appeal to all members of the family.
FREE ENTRY into Tea Rooms & Gardens.
Entry to Windmill: Adults £3.75, Retired £3.00, Children £2.00.
Open daily from April 5th – Sep 30th 10am-5pm.
SAUSAGE AND SONG NIGHT
July 29th 6-9pm
Come and join the Bircham Windmill crew for a night of summer sounds, food and fun. Enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Bircham Windmill and the tranquil gardens whilst listening to some smooth jazz and pop covers by ‘The Sally Taylor Duo’.
The fee includes sausage in a bun, followed by fruit and cream and music throughout to fulfil the soul! You will also have the opportunity to climb the mill (included in the price) and feed and cuddle the animals and mingle around the grounds until your heart is content. So grab your sun hats and shades for a musical garden party in the sun. Tickets £7.50 for adults, £6.00 retired and £4 for children (aged 5-15), under 5’s are free.
The Neptune Restaurant With Rooms.
85 Old Hunstanton Road, Old Hunstanton, Norfolk, PE36 6HZ.
Tel: 01485 532122.
The Neptune Restaurant with Rooms at Old Hunstanton is charming on so many levels that it would be a shame to miss out on such a treasure.
The site of ‘The Rifleman’ in the 1780’s when it was used as a store for seized contraband, it has been known as The Neptune since the 19th century. Now under the careful ownership of Kevin and Jacki Mangoelles, the Inn and Restaurant has been transformed to evoke images of the New England coast.
With nautical themes throughout, brown mellow tones and white clapboard walls, The Neptune could easily be fragranced by either home-baked apple pie or salty sea air. The Lloyd Loom sofas and chairs add to the relaxed ambience of the bar, lounge and restaurant.
True to its origin as a coaching inn, The Neptune offers elegant accommodation in 7 fabulous en-suite bedrooms, all furnished with the clean lines of white, hand made New England furniture. A 4-Star Inn (EnjoyEngland.com), you are assured a high level of hospitality at this charming bed and breakfast, which is perfectly located for easy access to the North Norfolk coast, Sandringham, the Burnhams and the wider County.
Under Head Chef Kevin, the classic-modern food at The Neptune is lovingly created from fresh local produce such as Thornham Oysters and Plums from Orchard Farm. Already a prestigious 3 AA Rosette restaurant, The Neptune has also recently been awarded a Michelin Star.
The Neptune Restaurant is open Tues-Sun (Closed Mon).
EnjoyMent Offer:
- Complementary glass of champagne on arrival at The Neptune for dining cardholders plus one guest.
Click here to become a member.
The Lifeboat Inn.
Ship Lane, Thornham, Norfolk, PE36 6LT.
Tel: 01485 512236.
www.maypolehotels.com/lifeboatinn
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, where the Brabazon Trophy was held in 2003. The Lifeboat comes into its own throughout the winter months when it is an inviting and snug bolthole.
For dining, there is a lovely walled patio garden and bright conservatory, the roof of which is covered by an ancient vine that apparently thrives on Abbot Ale. For evenings and special occasions, try the more formal dining room with its welcoming traditional décor and daily-changing one rosette standard menu (3 courses for £28.50). Year-round, the reasonably priced bar menu features local delights and daily specials and is very popular in the evenings. 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.
The Lifeboat, and its nearby sister Inn, The Old Coach House, offer comfortable and traditional bed and breakfast (all rooms en-suite) from around £50 pppn (£60 Fri, Sat and Bank Holiday Sundays). Offers and special deals are available for 3-night stays and throughout January and February.
Dogs are welcome (£5 per stay) and extra beds can be provided for Children.
Please ask about the special Midweek Dinner, B&B Break.
Plenty of parking is available.
EnjoyMent Offer:
- 10 per cent off your food bill (bar & restaurant) Oct-Jun 31st upon presentation of an EnjoyMent Card. Excludes School Holidays, Bank Holiday Mondays, Saturdays & Sunday Lunch. Please book in advance if possible.
Click here to become a member.
Titchwell Manor Hotel.
Titchwell, Nr Brancaster, Norfolk, PE31 8BB.
Tel: 01485 210221.
*Featured in Sunday Times Travel Magazine November 2008 – The World’s 100 Best Hotels*
Perfectly located for exploring Brancaster, Burnham Market and Holkham, taking in the rich diversity of flora and fauna on the RSPB Titchwell Nature Reserve or simply enjoying a spot of golf at the championship courses nearby, Titchwell Manor offers exceptional luxury and quality without sacrificing the charm of its family-run pedigree. A 3-star hotel, it feels 5-star on every level.
Beautiful and modern throughout, with emphasis on details that create an inviting romantic atmosphere, Titchwell Manor has 30 rooms in all, including 13 stunning chalet-style cabins built around a herb garden. Rooms in the main hotel building offer more traditional elegance with sumptuous fabrics and warm lighting, while the herb garden rooms are light and contemporary, decorated with a coastal-chic flair. All rooms are en-suite, some with baths and/or showers or wet rooms. Other delights to expect include views over the RSPB reserve (Room 1 Lavender Fields) or out to the sea (Room 3 Scolt Head Island), original period features such as an amazing oak open fire (Room 12 The Lounge), handcrafted furniture (various rooms), a 32-inch plasma TV (Room 19 The Potting Shed) and French doors leading to a private patio area (various rooms).
For drinking and dining, Titchwell Manor has a 2 AA Rosette restaurant and the brand new ‘Eating Rooms’, offering a less-formal atmosphere and a fabulous well-stocked marble bar.
Ground floor rooms provide accessible accommodation for wheelchair users or those who have difficulty with stairs.
Children are welcome at Titchwell Manor. Please ask about the larger rooms – ideal for a family stay.
Titchwell Manor is pet-friendly! There are some dog-friendly rooms. Dogs are also welcome in the bar and lounge areas.
Planning a special occasion? Ask about the function rooms at Titchwell Manor. Titchwell manor is licensed to hold Civil Ceremonies and bespoke menus and cakes can be made according to your personal requirements.
Tariffs range from £65 pp pn (B&B) to £125 pp pn (B&B), depending on season and room. Visit the Titchwell Manor website for further details.
Sunday Jazz at The Manor:
Every second Sunday of the month is Jazz Night with The Matt Hodges Jazz Band. Traditional Sunday lunch and full a la carte menu available.
Latest News/Offers From Titchwell Manor:
Romantic Break.
Two nights dinner bed and breakfast in one of the romantic rooms with sea views or garden views. Champagne in your room on arrival with homemade chocolate and fresh flowers, followed by dinner in the conservatory restaurant.
Sunday-Thursday from £215 per person for 2 nights.
Weekend Break from £250 per person for 2 nights.
Go on – spoil him/her!
Offer valid all year round excl. Bank Holidays.
Sunday Night Special.
Make your Sunday night truly special with relaxation and a great meal at Titchwell Manor.
£75 – £95 Per Person Dinner Bed and Breakfast. (Excludes Bank Holidays. Cannot be taken as part of a longer stay).
Offer valid all year round.
EnjoyMent Offers:
- Complimentary upgrade upon booking your room for Cardholders (please mention you hold a card when you book and bring it along with you).
- Bed and breakfast from £55 per person midweek.
Click here to become a member.
The Briarfields Hotel.
Main Street, Titchwell, Norfolk, PE31 8BB.
Tel: 01485 210742.
www.briarfieldshotelnorfolk.co.uk
Conveniently located on the A149 coast road in the pretty village of Titchwell, and with prestigious 3-Star Silver (Visit Britain) and 3-Star (AA) 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 £100 for a double room, bed and breakfast in high season and £80 in low season. Dogs are welcome at a nominal charge of £7.50 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.
Happenings/Events At Briarfields:
Seafood Bar – 12Noon-5pm – Sunday 18th/25th July, 8th/15th/22nd/29th August.
Jazz & Seafood Bar – Sunday 1st August 12Noon-5pm.
Old Town Hall House.
Coast Road, Cley-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, NR25 7RB.
Tel: 01263 740284.
Old Town Hall House is an AA 5-Star rated Bed and Breakfast in the charming North Norfolk coastal village of Cley-next-the-Sea. While this guarantees the obvious high standards of hospitality and furnishings, this top-level accolade also recognises that such a B&B goes above and beyond when it comes to the finer details that make a stay there simply fabulous. As well as a heightened sensitivity to guests’ needs, with nothing being too much trouble, breakfast itself must include special or home-made components, made from high-quality fresh, local ingredients. Certainly all this is evident at Old Town Hall House.
Each of the three gorgeous en-suite rooms – wonderfully called The Star Room (a King-sized double with an amazing view out on to Cley Marshes), The Globe Room (also a King) and The Heart Room (a Super-King size double), have touches such as jugs of filtered water (more eco-friendly than bottled water), mini-fridges for fresh milk with your tea or coffee, bathrobes, handmade toiletries and a tasty little ‘treat’ placed everyday that may be a cake or delicious biscuits. Intended to be a haven of peace and quiet, you will not find a TV or Wi-Fi in the rooms. The emphasis is on a technology-free stay to help you unwind (and Cley has a notoriously bad mobile signal, so that’s out too). Radios in each room provide a sedate, low-level connection to the 21st-Century.
Awarded the prestigious AA Breakfast Award, breakfast is a relaxed but special affair, including homemade bread and preserves.
Ideal as a base from which to discover the wider county, Old Town Hall House is unquestionably a Bed and Breakfast of the highest standard. Owners Louise and Fraser have made sure that nothing is overlooked and with an emphasis on high quality and guest satisfaction, a stay here is bound to leave you feeling thoroughly spoiled and rested.
Minimum stay is 2 nights. Rates range from £90-£105 per room per night. To reward their loyalty, returning guests receive a little extra-special treatment, including complimentary snacks and red wine (white also available!) in their room.
In the interest of quiet and calm, Old Town Hall House does not take children or pets.
Please click here to view an example breakfast menu (PDF 56KB).
Montague House.
3 Montague Road, Sheringham, Norfolk, NR26 8LN.
Tel: 01263 822510.
The beginning of April 2010 saw the glamour rating in Sheringham on the North Norfolk coast increase dramatically with the opening of fabulous boutique Bed & Breakfast, Montague House.
Location-wise, the B&B competes with the best holiday lets and hotels, being only a 5-minute walk from the town centre, the railway station and the beach. Step inside though, and you’re in for a treat that is delightfully atypical of the usual seaside accommodation. In fact, if it weren’t for the fresh sea air, and aforementioned proximity to the Norfolk coast, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in some slickly designed London bolthole.
Three individually styled en-suite rooms (The Pink Room, The Garden Room and The Gold Suite) offer luxury and quirkiness in equal measure, with sumptuous bedding, original artwork and antique furniture.
The Gold Suite is a whopping 27-feet of space to unwind and incorporates a dressing room, four posted bed and lounging area. As well as an en-suite with power shower, there is also a generous tub.
Each room features a flat screen TV, complimentary fruit bowls, chocolates by the Norfolk Truffle Company and bathroom products from Aroma Natural (who also customised bespoke scents for each of the rooms – HOW fabulous?!).
Breakfast is a feast of local produce that incorporates free range and organic choices whenever possible as well as seasonal specialities. Veggies will find plenty to sate them.
All things considered, it is hard to describe Montague House as ‘home from home’, because your home would have to be very, very special to compete!
Room rates are from £100.00 for the Gold Suite or from £80.00 per room for the Pink and Garden Rooms depending on season (please note that there is a 2-night minimum stay in high season).
Montague House cannot accommodate children or pets.
Field House.
Moorgate Road, Hindringham, Norfolk, NR21 0PT.
Tel: 01328 878726.
www.fieldhousehindringham.co.uk
Field House is a real gem of a bed and breakfast for so many reasons…
Firstly, its location in the sleepy, rural village of Hindringham is perfect for access to mid- and north-Norfolk, the City of Norwich, and everything in between. It is an ideal base for walkers, birdwatchers or those steeling away for a break in Norfolk, and also perfect for a romantic escape from Norwich or environs if you live in Norfolk.
Second, Field House is multi-award winning and can boast (though it is modestly proud, rather than being ‘brash’ about its numerous accolades), among others, being a AA 5 Yellow Stars Highly Commended Guesthouse 2008/09 (the top award from the AA), receiving a Breakfast Award from the AA, winning ‘Bed & Breakfast Of The Year’ in the Excellence in England Awards 2004-05, being holder of the English Tourism Council ‘Gold Award’, being an English Tourism 5 diamond Guesthouse…. you get the idea!
Finally, and this is the reason why Field House has received so many awards, is the extremely high quality of not only the guest house and rooms itself, but also the warm hospitality of The Doltons, who own it. The three rooms are beautifully decorated in a chic but homely style, with superb fixtures, fittings and facilities (including flat-screen TV, DVD player, mini-fridge). Lavender Cottage is a highlight in many respects, being a secluded apartment that is separate from the main house (and accessible to wheelchairs due to its ground floor location). Breakfasts are top quality, prepared with fresh, locally produced ingredients and include delights such as the ‘Norfolk Platter’, local sea-lavender honey with toast and buttermilk blueberry pancakes. Wendy even operates a ‘turn down’ service (the practice of folding back the blanket and sheet of the bed each day so you can just slide in and drift off to dreamland, usually only practised in the finest hotels).
The Sunday Times remarked, “The Doltons should be hired by the government to run a Bed and Breakfast academy”. It’s easy to see why…
Tariffs start at £45 – £55 per person per night.
Latest News: Field House awarded new VisitEngland Breakfast Award for Hotels & Guest Accommodation 2009/10.
EnjoyMent Offers:
- Five per cent discount off any purchase in the Farm Shop.
- Five per cent discount in the nearby Norfolk Riddle Restaurant (excludes chip shop).
Click here to become a member.
Drove Orchards Farm Shop.
Main Road, Thornham, Norfolk,
PE36 6LS.
Tel: 01485 525652.
EnjoyMent Offer:
- Five per cent discount off any purchase in the Farm Shop.
Click here to become a member.
Back to the Garden.
Letheringsett, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 7JJ.
Tel: 01263 715996.
The Blakeney Hotel.
Blakeney, Norfolk, NR25 7NE.
Tel: 01263 740797.
Memorable and inspiring, 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). 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 for holding a conference or function away from the usual distractions and limitations of an inner-city venue.
The Mayflower conference suite can accommodate up to 240 delegates. Comprised of five rooms (Billiard, Trinity, Victory, Trafalgar and Revenge) that have adjustable sliding walls, it can be adapted for smaller or more intimate functions.
Conference equipment, including wireless Internet access, flip charts and pads, overhead projectors, audio-visual equipment is available and other equipment and facilities can be arranged at an additional cost. The Hotel can support your conference by providing photocopying, fax, secretarial and office facilities. The Revenge room features a private bar and double doors that lead out onto the garden.
The hotel has on-site free car parking.
Both residential and non-residential packages are available. 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. The Hotel has a heated indoor swimming pool with adjacent Jacuzzi, two saunas and an 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-awarded restaurant and a bar, offering hearty English breakfasts, light lunches and seasonal À la Carte choices.
