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 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.
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.
The Black Lion Hotel Restaurant
The Black Lion Hotel Restaurant.
Friday Market Place, Little Walsingham, Norfolk, NR22 6DB.
Tel: 01328 820 235.
Under new management since June 2011, The Black Lion Hotel in Walsingham has several hundred years experience of offering hospitality fit for a King (the northern end of The Black Lion was built to accommodate King Edward III, who made regular pilgrimages to Walsingham).
Nowadays, The Black Lion Hotel has 7 smartly styled en-suite bedrooms and a restaurant that is elegant without being unnecessary. Being a former hostelry, the atmosphere is one of a dining pub with character that has been subtly modernised, where appropriate, to suit most tastes.
Contrary to its ancient origins, The Black Lion Restaurant is nothing but modern with its food and drink selection. Chef Greg Haye’s daily-changing menu features fresh, seasonal goodies sourced from local farmers, fishermen and producers.
As well as a hearty all-day breakfast, and tasty A la Carte menu, you’ll also find all-day Tapas (we love this little cosmopolitan twist in such a traditional and historic setting!). Marvelously, the entire menu is very reasonably priced, with a 4 course set price from the A la Carte menu totaling £19.50 and Tapas options between £1 and £2.50 a dish.
Standout choices (when available) are the Crispy Squid, Breaded Cheese & Honey and Spicy Pork Belly Tapas.
Drinks-wise, The Black Lion has a well-stocked bar that serves good coffee, hot chocolate and herbal teas as well as a wide range of alcoholic tipples. Hot Chocolate Fondant is a specialty, and well worth the 15 minute wait it takes to prepare it.
For sweet-tooths and nibbles, The Black Lion kitchen makes its own cakes and buns, potato and parsnip crisps, pork scratchings and covered nuts.
Food is available all day on Sundays, when a regularly changing roast is also on offer within a 2-course, 3-course or 4-course option (with coffee and handmade chocolates).
The Black Lion holds regular events, including a quiz on Sunday nights (more details below).
The Black Lion Hotel is dog friendly.
Hotel/Bar/Restaurant open from 8am-1am 7 days a week.
Lunch served 12noon-3pm, Dinner served 6pm-10.30pm.
Every Wednesday Night - Steak & a Pint £10
Sunday Night is Quiz Night – starts 7.30pm – entry £2 per person – winning team takes all!
Montague House
Montague House.
3 Montague Road, Sheringham, Norfolk, NR26 8LN.
Tel: 01263 822510.
When fabulous boutique Bed & Breakfast, Montague House opened in Sheringham on the North Norfolk coast, the glamour rating increased dramatically. Now well-established and going from strength to gorgeous strength, the high quality experience and exquisite attention to detail show no signs of abating.
Location-wise, the Sheringham 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 unbelievably comfy beds, 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 individual bottles of wine, 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 specialties. Veggies will find plenty to sate them with a fabulous selection of vegetarian breakfast options. View a Typical Breakfast Menu.
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 – held with no increase for 2012 – 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.
Get ‘In The Pink’ at Montague House on Valentine’s Day 2012!
Gorgeous Pink Package especially for Valentine’s Day – £100.00 per night including a bottle of pink champagne and Pink Truffles in the Pink and Garden Rooms. View full details about Valentine’s Day at Montague House B&B.
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 Norfolk House Company – Style, Measure, Make
The Norfolk House Company.
Woolwich House, Prince of Wales Road, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 9HS (next door to Cromer Library).
Tel: 01263 510888.
If you’re looking to freshen up your home decor, make your living space more beautiful, or simply more ‘you’, look no further than The Norfolk House Company.
Based in Cromer for 4 years, The Norfolk House Company offers local access to the sort of quality and design that you’d previously only find in large Cities like London.
The Norfolk House Company offers a complete home styling and design service, from concept to measuring to making the finished items. The friendly and expert team, headed by an Advanced City & Guilds qualified manager with over 20 years experience, and assisted by a professional machinist and skilled hand stitcher ensures unrivalled, exceptional quality.
The Norfolk House Company specialises in made to measure soft furnishings, including curtains, blinds, cushions, bedding, and loose covers.
Inside the shop-come-workshop, you’ll find an exciting, affordable range of designer fabrics from top designers including:
GP&J Baker
NoNo
VillaNova
MalaBar
Swatch Box
Linwood
Harlequin
Vanessa Arbuthnott
A wide selection of poles, tracks and accessories are available to order.
Expert installation and a full professional back up service supports all products.
The Norfolk House Company features a truly stunning selection of wall coverings/wallpaper and individually sourced Holkham Linseed paint.
In short, The Norfolk House Company home styling/design service aims to empower you to create great interiors according to your specific lifestyle, budget, needs and personality. Be it a simple blind, or complete house furnishing, the passionate and professional team will guide you every step of the way.
The Norfolk House Company also offers hands on courses in Soft Furnishing.
Mon-Sat 9am-4.30pm. Home consultations by appointment.
Parking available nearby in The Meadow Car Park.
The Norfolk House Company
The Norfolk House Company.
Woolwich House, Prince of Wales Road, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 9HS (next door to Cromer Library).
Tel: 01263 510888.
If you’re looking to freshen up your home decor, make your living space more beautiful, or simply more ‘you’, look no further than The Norfolk House Company.
Based in Cromer for 4 years, The Norfolk House Company offers local access to the sort of quality and design that you’d previously only find in large Cities like London.
Aside from their complete made to measure service, The Norfolk House Company has an extensive selection of fabulous home decoration items and gifts for sale in its Cromer shop. Indulge your wildest interior design fantasies as you browse gorgeous throws, tea cosies, decorative antique furniture & mirrors, bags, cushions (we love the nautical and coastal themed cushions), home ware and ornaments. Many items are handmade by the Norfolk House Company design team.
The Norfolk House Company also stocks a range of divine wallpapers and fabrics, including Globaltex PVC & Globaltex cotton.
If home decoration and interior design are your passion, then you’ll have a wonderful time perusing every inch of the Norfolk House Company – inspiration inhabits every corner.
The Norfolk House Company also offers hands on courses in Soft Furnishing.
Mon-Sat 9am-4.30pm. Home consultations by appointment.
Parking available nearby in The Meadow Car Park.
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.
Norfolk Home and Garden
Norfolk Home & Garden.
32 High Street, Hunstanton, Norfolk, PE36 5AF.
Tel: 01485 534509.
Norfolk Home & Garden has been carefully sourcing unusual plants and distinctive decorations for the home and garden since 2008. Customer demand has seen the business expand to deliver their wonderful products from a shop on the main High Street in Hunstanton town centre, as well as through their website.
A business run by family and friends, Norfolk Home & Garden is passionate about quality and being able to offer accessories and gifts that are ‘just that little bit different’. Some items in store are locally made, while others (such as the delightful wood carvings) come from as far a field as Indonesia, where they are Fair Trade, being bought directly from the woodcarvers themselves. Around 90% of what you’ll find on offer is hand crafted, making for a really unique gift or talking point for your home or living space.
Wood, and natural materials feature quite heavily on the ranges stocked at Norfolk Home & Garden. The fabulous ‘Driftwood’ collection (as featured on TVs ’60 Minute Makeover’) comprises one-off pieces such as mirrors, clocks and candleholders that are, as the name suggests, formed from genuine driftwood washed up on the North Norfolk Coast.
Norfolk Home & Garden are happy to discuss bespoke items – they make signs to order, for example. If you have something in mind (be it a lampshade, a mirror or a bird house), owner Debbie and team are more than happy to talk it through with you.
A great place to find beautiful and special objects for your home or garden, or to give as a gift, Norfolk Home & Garden is well worth a visit.
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).
Great To Be Green
Great to be Green.
9 Chapel Yard, Albert Street, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 6HG.
Tel: 01263 711733.
With its warm, friendly atmosphere and eye-catching displays, Great to be Green in Holt is quickly gaining a reputation for it’s stylish gifts for the home and garden.
Everything within is British made or Fair Trade, from locally grown herbs to beautiful soft furnishings. Add in a healthy serving of vintage collectibles, and you’re sure to find something for every occasion and taste.
Wonderfully, the shop is conveniently located right next to Chapel Yard car park, so there’s no trek back to the car with all those bags! When in Holt, and if you like beautiful things, a visit to the shop is simply a must.
One Internet review that we found of Great to be Green said:
“5 stars. Fabulous shop a real treasure trove of wonderfully diverse things – from hand made cards to beautiful throws. Very friendly staff. This shop is tucked away – but well worth finding.” – C of Norwich (2010).
Couldn’t put it better ourselves…
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 Deli
The CockerDeli (The Cockerel Deli).
6 North Street, North Walsham, Norfolk, NR28 9DH.
Tel: 01692 403743.
The CockerDeli Delicatessen in North Walsham is a treat for those with a passion for good quality, local produce (and that from further a field if it’s up to scratch).
Small, but perfectly formed in a brick out-building on the same site as The Cockerel Restaurant, the Deli stocks cheese, bread, pies, charcuterie, veg, drinks, sauces, jams, cereals and cakes. Products you’ll find inside include Bray’s Cottage renowned Pork Pies, Essence Conserves (divine), Mrs Temple’s cheeses, bread from the Metfield Bakery and milk from Nortons Dairy.
CockerDeli also stocks delicious homemade cakes and scones (made in the next-door restaurant kitchen), fresh homemade soup and homemade ready meals to take away – ideal if you’re on holiday in the area.
If you fancy a picnic lunch to go, but don’t want the hassle of making it yourself, why not stop in for one of the CockerDeli’s fab filled flatbreads or sandwiches. With the emphasis on high quality ingredients, these are sure to be some of the best sandwiches you’ll ever taste.
All tastes are well catered for within the Deli (Vegetarian Scotch Eggs, for example), and we noticed that many items have been awarded Great Taste Awards. Not surprisingly I suppose when all items have to pass the owners Mark and Claire Rushen’s own rigorous taste tests before inclusion in the Deli.
With the emphasis on well-produced food and drink without chemicals and preservatives, you won’t find the average, mass-produced treats from the usual high-street brands. You will, however, find tasty, delightful groceries made with fabulous ingredients, sold in a modern, convenient way from a forward-looking deli with reassuringly traditional values. Perfect.
The Cockerel also offers outside catering with its ‘Flying Cockerel’ service. Please visit the Cockerel website for further information.
Opening Times:
Deli: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm
Restaurant: Mon-Sat 9am-4pm
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
Made In Cley
Made In Cley.
High Street, Cley-next-the-Sea, near Holt, Norfolk, NR25 7RF.
Tel: 01263 740134.
Made In Cley is a veritable gem on the high street in Cley-next-the-Sea, one of the most authentic and charming North Norfolk coastal villages you’re likely to encounter.
Established in 1983 with 3 potters and 1 jeweller, Made In Cley occupies a gorgeous double fronted Grade II listed regency shop building that used to be the Village Store (so nice that it is still operating as a purveyor of local wares). Now with a team of 8 resident potters and a jeweller, Made In Cley exists as a high quality gallery, showcasing work made in the on-site workshops.
Inside, you’ll find a wide selection of stoneware pottery for the kitchen and dining table, ranging from the very functional to the highly decorative. You’ll also find a few one off ornamental pieces. Not only beautiful to look at, the pots, plates and bowls produced here are ovenproof and dishwasher safe. No wonder then, that restaurants in London, Dublin, Paris and Amsterdam use tableware by Made in Cley. Bowls from Made In Cley have been spotted on Simon Hopkinson’s ‘The Good Cook’, shown on BBC1.
In addition to functional pottery, there is an inspiring range of sculptural and decorative ceramics to admire and buy, including tile panels and garden pots.
As well as pottery, Made In Cley sells exquisite contemporary jewellery in silver and gold, often incorporating precious and semi-precious stones and pearls. Each piece is individually designed and handmade and commissions are welcome.
Stunning photography and art prints, predominantly of North Norfolk coastal scenes, by Wolfgang Altmann are also for sale at Made In Cley.
Gift vouchers and wedding list service available.
Open all year round: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm.
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 White Horse 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 drink, dine and relax 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 bar at The White Horse is well stocked with real ale on tap from the associated Brancaster Brewery (view tasting notes and a Brief History of the Brancaster Brewery), along with other local brews including Woodfordes Wherry, Adnams Bitter and changing guest ales.
A well-chosen wine list offers choices from around the world both by the bottle or the glass.
There are plenty of non-alcoholic choices too, including a variety of teas and coffee. We like the wonderfully refreshing ‘Norfolk Orchards’ assortment, with locally produced Cox apple juice and non-alcoholic Pippin cocktail (local cider also featured, which is alcoholic. As cider should be).
For the peckish, a bar menu features delicious local, seasonal fare all day long.
Dining is an unhurried experience, intended to be savored. Food can be eaten at the bar or, if you want to dine al fresco, there is the landscaped sunken garden.
Breakfast menu available 9-11am.
Bar Menu available 11am-9pm.
The bar is open for drinks 11am-11pm (Mon-Sat) and 12Noon-10.30pm (Sun).
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.
Field House
Field House.
Moorgate Road, Hindringham, Norfolk, NR21 0PT.
Tel: 01328 878726.
Field House luxury Bed & Breakfast is a gem of a B&B 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 here. If you’re planning on visiting Thursford for the Christmas Spectacular, then Field House is literally on the doorstep.
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 (the top award from the AA), receiving a Breakfast Award from the AA as well as being one of the first B&Bs to receive the recently introduced VisitEngland Breakfast Award, 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.
Titchwell Manor Hotel
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 / Regional EnjoyEngland Awards For Excellence Winner 2010 / EDP Tourism In Norfolk Awards Winner 2010 *
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 ‘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 £55 pp pn (B&B) to £125 pp pn (B&B), depending on season and room. Visit the Titchwell Manor website for further details and additional special offers.
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.
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.
