Great Places to Eat

Good food, beers and wines in North Norfolk

All restaurants/pubs etc are shown on the ordanance survey map in the hall with the corresponding numbers below.

1.   Wiveton Hall Café, Wiveton, NR25 7TE
       01263 740515, www.wivetonhall.co.uk

“I want people to feel they are eating at home.” (Alison Yetman)

Wiveton Hall is home to a fruit farm where you can pick your own fruit. There is also an excellent café run by Alison Yetman which is open from April until the beginning of November from 9.30am to 5pm every day. There are also tapas evenings on Friday and Saturday from the end of May and family BBQs on a Sunday during the school holidays.

As well as the fruit farm and the café there is also a footpath that runs around the beautiful gardens of Wiveton Hall.

2.  The Hoste Arms, Burnham Market, PE31 8HD
       01328 738777, www.hostearms.co.uk

At the Hoste Arms, the chefs cook inspired, exciting and tasty food, sourced from great local produce. Sample a bowl of mussels fresh from the marshes at Brancaster, or delicious asparagus picked in the fields a few minutes away. Visit for afternoon tea and homemade cake, a delicious sandwich and a glass of wine or perfectly cooked 21 day aged New York rib steak and chips for dinner with friends.

3.  Cookies Crab Shop, The Green, Salthouse, NR25 7AJ
       01263 740352

4.  The Walpole Arms, Itteringham, Nr Aylsham, NR11 7AR
       01263 587258, www.thewalpolearms.co.uk

All food at the Walpole Arms is freshly bought and freshly prepared. Wherever possible it is both local and seasonal. The bar is a perfect place to enjoy a drink in an informal atmosphere and you can eat in this area too or choose to eat in the more formal setting of the restaurant.

“It’s worth going miles out of your way to eat at the Walpole Arms, it left our party drooling over every mouthful, washed down with local ales in front of a blazing fire.” (Mat Snow, The Sunday Times, Jan 08)

5.  The White Horse, Brancaster Staithe, PE31 8BY
       01485 210262, www.whitehorsebrancaster.co.uk

The two AA rosettes menu is changed daily and features fish bought from the village’s fishermen who trade over the kitchen door. Sit in the conservatory restaurant or on the outside decking for spectacular views over the tidal marshland.

6.  The Lifeboat Inn, Ship Lane, Thornham, PE36 6LT
       01485 512236, www.maypolehotels.com/lifeboatinn

This former 16th century smugglers’ inn features a traditional bar and welcoming open fireplace and AA rosette restaurant with views across the marshes. Bar meals are hearty – hickory pork ribs in BBQ sauce and breakfasts to fuel energetic dog walks on the beach.
The candlelit restaurant has a daily changing menu of locally caught fish, fillet steaks, Gressingham duck and Holkham venison.

7.  The Old Forge Restaurant, Fakenham Road, Thursford, NR21 0BD
       01328 878345 www.seafood.northnorfolk.co.uk/

Awarded 2 AA rosettes for culinary excellence in November 2007 and November 2008.

Seafood Restaurant with rooms, recommended as 'a must' by food critics in East Anglia. Fresh seafood is the speciality. Simple touches such as using the exquisite shrimps from The Wash topped on succulent pieces of fish make such a difference to food. Local crayfish tails cooked with different spices, many of which are grown in the garden and lobster cooked in its own juices are a must.

Local sirloin steak is also on the menu but the emphasis is on seafood. If you don't feel fishy we would be delighted to discuss another menu in advance of your booking. We do not like to exclude anyone including children.

A special pre-theatre menu is on offer for people visiting the Thursford Christmas Spectacular - visit our website for an example.

8.  Wiveton Bell, Blakeney Road, Wiveton, NR25 7TL
       01263 740101, www.wivetonbell.co.uk

A traditional pub with traditional values - the Wiveton Bell is situated on the Village Green and close to the unspoilt salt marshes of the North Norfolk coastal landscape which is a listed site of Outstanding Natural Beauty and just two minutes drive or ten minutes walk from Blakeney.
Although renowned for its cuisine, The Bell is faithful to its roots as a traditional village pub where people can wander in with walking boots and dogs to enjoy good company as well as fine ales, wine and food. Our open fire in winter is cheery and inviting as are the local welcoming staff.

Eight weeks of restoration and refurbishment have enhanced the character of this eighteenth century pub, creating an exquisite environment in which to savour the delights of outstanding cuisine served by trained and well motivated staff. Produce is sourced locally.
As well as classic bistro favourites there is always a daily fish special alongside their unrivalled homemade puddings and pastries.

9.  The Three Horseshoes, Bridge Street, Warham, NR23 1NL
       01328 710547

A genuine and traditional village pub. The Three Horseshoes is renowned for unfussy, fairly priced food which is cooked with care. Beer is local and sparklingly fresh.

The Three Horseshoes is renowned for good, home-made food - soups and pies dominate the menu. Soused herrings might precede game and wine pie. Alternatively, choose from the blackboard menu by the bar. From here, creamy artichoke soup can be followed by a seafood and salmon pie bountiful with fish, fresh mussels, cockles and prawns. Equally praiseworthy are the vegetables, the own-made puds (date and syrup pudding, marvellous) and the no-chips policy.

The Three Horseshoes prides itself in being a Real Ale pub serving the best of local and national cask-conditioned ales. Owner, Iain Salmon ensures a superb selection of guest Real Ales is always available alongside our regular favourites, Woodfordes Norfolk Wherry and Greene King. They are all kept in first-rate condition.

10.  The Crown Hotel, The Buttlands, Wells Next to Sea, NR23 1EX
       01328 710209, www.thecrownhotelwells.co.uk

The Crown Bar, with its open fire and ancient beams, is a lively spot to drop in for a drink, or a light meal from the bar menu. Try the Crown Black Slate - a sampler of European and Asian appetizers served on a dramatic black slate tile.

Whether you eat casually in the bar, or more formally in the restaurant, every meal at The Crown is freshly prepared from the best ingredients.

The menu features traditional favourites, the best of modern British cuisine, and dishes influenced by the cooking of the Pacific Rim. Every dish is cooked and presented with flair and imagination.

A superb wine list compliments the menu.

11.  The Butlers Café Bar Restaurant, 9 Appleyard, Holt, NR25 6BN
       01263 710790, www.butlersrestaurants.com

Butlers cafe bar restaurant is in a beautiful new building in the historic, bustling market town of Holt. It is spacious and full of light with a sloping glass roof and large double doors opening onto a secluded walled garden and patio at the back where, in fine weather, you can sit under the shade of a magnificent copper beech tree. This is floodlit at night creating a romantic backdrop to the restaurant.

Butlers has a full license and there is an attractive, large oak wood bar which makes it a lovely place to come and have a drink at any time of the day. There is a great wine list with several wines served by the glass to choose from and a well stocked bar.

The food is modern European and, most importantly, always seasonal and heavily influenced by the fantastic Norfolk produce we have on offer. Head chef, Sean Creasey, sources his ingredients from good quality, local suppliers. Lunch is served from 12-3 and dinner from 6-9.

The best Italian 'Illy' coffee is served all day and, to accompany it, a wonderful selection of homemade cakes and pastries.

12.  The Victoria at Holkham
       01328 711008, www.victoriaatholkham.co.uk

At The Victoria the chefs source the freshest local produce. The menu relying heavily on the best ingredients the surrounding area has to offer and what is seasonally available, whether it be crabs from Cromer, mussels from Brancaster or venison, beef, game and eel from the Holkham Estate.

· Lunch: - From 12.00 noon every day; last orders at 2.30pm
· Dinner: - From 7.00pm every evening; last orders at 9.00pm

We can cater for most dietary requirements and we will always try to accommodate any special requests.

To complement your meal there is a diverse range of well-priced global wines on both our bar and restaurant wine lists, and a comprehensive list of digestifs, liqueurs and Cuban cigars. For the drinkers, in our two bars we have a selection of well conditioned real ales - Adnams Best, the local Woodforde's Wherry and Branthill Best which use barley from Holkham estate.

Booking is essential

13.  Cley Windmill, Cley, NR25 7RP
       01263 740209, www.cleywindmill.co.uk

Arrive from 6.45pm and enjoy the spectacular view from the gallery.

Pre-dinner drinks by a roaring fire in the circular sitting room or, in summer, on the lawn looking out over reeds and marshes to the sea.

Dinner served at 7.30pm, booking in advance essential subject to availability.
A three course set menu of generous, old fashioned home cooking changes daily and uses fresh seasonal produce, sourced locally where possible. As everything is made in their own kitchen, they can cheerfully accommodate pre notified dietary preferences.

14.  The Nelson, Burnham Thorpe, Walsingham Road, Burnham Thorpe, PE31 8HN
       01328 738241, www.nelsonslocal.co.uk

Burnham Thorpe is famous for being the birthplace and subsequent home from 1788 to 1793, of Horatio, Viscount Nelson of the Nile.
Famous also for The Lord Nelson pub, where Nelson drank, and wrote letters. The pub is friendly, with an original atmosphere and lots of memorabilia.

The Nelson Bar
His bar retains the ambience of a parlour with a cosy atmosphere and high-backed settles to sit on, as Nelson did under the Armada Beam. There is no bar as such, only a serving hatch, and real ales are served direct from cask in a tap room. An intimate Snug is situated just off the bar.

The Wardroom
Dine in this simple, bright and warm room, with pictures and prints of Nelson and his history and a roaring open fire in winter.

The Garden
The sunny, south-facing garden has a large wooden play area for younger children and a pétanque ground for older children! Our fabulous barbecue serves lunchtime and evening meals throughout the summer. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome.

Food & Drink
Chef-Patron Peter De Groeve uses fresh local produce, stunning Norfolk seafood and bags of creative flair in his italian orientated seasonal menus. From bar snacks to barbecues and fine dining, food is always fun and flavoursome at the Lord Nelson. Co-Patron Simon Alper’s extensive knowledge of wine has ensured a food-focussed list with a large number of wines by the glass.

The infamous Nelson’s Blood™ or devilish Lady Hamilton’s Nip™, are spiced rums blended on the premises to secret recipes handed down from landlord to landlord for generations is a must to try, but not for the faint hearted!

15.  The Old Gatehouse Tea Room, Gunthorpe
       07919 937041

The Old Gatehouse Tea Room nestles among the trees in the garden of a former Victorian Railway Crossing Keepers cottage. The original signal box still stands by the front gate.

Teas are served either in the tea room or, weather permitting, in the garden with one of the best views in Norfolk. Homemade cakes and scones are served on dainty vintage china. Light lunches are also available.

Open 11am to 5pm – Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun only. Open also on Bank Holiday Mondays.

16.  The Three Pigs, Norwich Road, Edgefield, NR24 2RL
       01263 587634, www.thepigs.org.uk

The motto of The Three Pigs is “IFFIT” – which basically means if it’s in season it’s on the menu! It is meant to be all about eating very good, locally sourced food in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

17.  The Hunny Bell, The Green, Hunworth, Melton Constable, NR24 2AA
       01263 712300, www.thehunnybell.co.uk

The Hunny Bell is the newest addition to the highly acclaimed family of pubs and restaurants known collectively as the ‘Animal Inns’, which count among their number two Michelin Bib Gourmand eateries in Norwich. As with all the Animal Inns establishments, The Hunny Bell has its own unique character that has been enhanced in style and quality by its new owners.

The menu at The Hunny Bell, devised by head Chef Martin Recchi, centres on traditional dishes, made simply from local ingredients but made very, very well. Including time-honoured favourites such as Cod and Chips and Steak and Kidney Pie, the food is already considered by many to be the best served in the locale. Under its new ownership, The Hunny Bell is still very much a country village pub at heart with a welcoming feel and uncomplicated food and drink at reasonable prices. A country village pub yes… but like a distillation of all the wonderful features of such a pub, one that would be top of its class on all fronts.

18.  The Kings Head, Holt Road, Letheringsett, NR25 7AR
       01263 712691

Following extensive renovation by Chris Couborough the Kings Head has just reopened – definitely one to try.


www.norfolkruralcottages.co.uk