The Wiveton Bell

Chestnut’s outposts close to the north Norfolk coast are multiplying.

Joining The Globe at Wells, The Feathers at Holt and on to The Maltings at Weybourne is a new addition, The Wiveton Bell.

Ideally placed for visits to Blakeney (a harbour village surrounded by salt marshes teeming with birdlife) The Bell is a welcoming roadside pub overlooking fields, a dinky village green and a church. It’s a bucolic scene and - in the summer sunshine, with a glass of something chilled to sipone to be savoured from the little terraced area outside the pub.

Places to visit nearby

What struck us on an early spring weekday stay was the lively buzz of the bar and restaurant. This was a wet and chilly Thursday night yet the place was packed, with the rooms alive with conversations and, from one table, occasional bursts of raucous laughter. (A bottle or two of champagne may have been helping that particular party go with a swing).

The possession of AA Rosettes suggests the food here is of a fine standard and good value and it doesn’t disappoint. For big appetites there are meaty and mighty options from The Grill like ‘The Black Angus Burger with Bacon Jam, Applewood Cheddar, Pickles and Fries’ or ‘35 Day Dry Aged Hereford 8oz Sirloin with Triple Cooked Chips and Peppercorn Sauce.’

We took a different and lighter route to gastronomic fulfilment, kicking off with the most delightful of starters. My ‘Heritage Tomato Salad, Whipped Burrata Basil Taggiasca Olives’ was lifted by the juiciest of tomatoes and a delicious dressing. My wife’s ‘Wild Garlic and Halloumi Arancini, Beetroot Ketchup, Rocket Parmesan, Salad,’ was a tasty and inventive vegetarian option.

Equally I loved my main ‘Pan Roasted Sea Bass, Red Pepper Caponata, Wild Garlic’ while across the table my wife’s ‘Norfolk Asparagus and Broccoli Tempura, Quinoa, Cashew, Miso, Sultana and Coriander’ was a masterly vegan dish. It all points toward the head chef being a talented allrounder.

If you have room, puddings here are very good.

Full marks for the ‘Rhubarb and Vanilla Cheesecake and Ginger Ice Cream’ and the ‘Bakewell Tart, Pistachio, Raspberry Sorbet.’

For guests who wish to stay a little longer there are six individually styled bedrooms. All have private access with outside seating, Egyptian linens, Sealy Millionaire mattresses, duck and goose down bedding, plus Bramley toiletries.

Ours was the rather quirky and delightful Library Room featuring an array of French country farmhouse antiques. An antique double bed takes centre stage and a false bookcase lines one wall with shutters framing the entrance to a wet room/bathroom. The shutters (though more

Gallic than American) are almost inviting guests to push them open and show off their best John Wayne impersonation. (Or alternatively announce in a shrill voice “the Milky Bars are on me!”readers of a certain age may remember the television advert).

Hopefully the above digression shows this is not your average pub bedroom - it’s a fun place to stay. (We liked the sign ‘Out watching the seals’ that you can hang on your door.)

Breakfast in the morning was of the continental variety - warm croissants, muesli, yoghurt, etc, and it’s brought to your room to enjoy at leisure.

Susan Bamburgh