The Feathers, Holt pages

Norfolk

The Feathers, Holt

You know you are driving through deepest rural Norfolk when your journey is intermittently held up by slow moving agricultural vehicles. Still, village names like Little and Great Snoring and Old Beetley can amuse along the way, and there’s something uplifting about motoring along sun-dappled, autumn country roads with pheasants scuttling by in the hedgerows.

My destination is Holt (a lovely Georgian town surrounded by parks and open fields, yet just three miles from the coast) and The Feathers, one of Chestnut’s more recently acquired properties. It’s well situated in the High Street alongside enticing independent fashion boutiques, upmarket gift shops, a splendid bakery and an estate agent showcasing the best in north Norfolk homes for sale. Locally, perhaps

only Burnham Market can rival its upmarket appeal as a special place to stay and explore.

What isn’t apparent from the roadside is the depth of The Feathers. There are cosy nooks and crannies in the bar area at the front of the pub then you step up to a large dining area that stretches out to the rear and a small car park. A terraced area provides a pleasant corner for summer drinks.

Even on the Tuesday evening I visited the restaurant had a nice buzz about it. If I say the food here is straightforward and unpretentious hopefully that doesn’t suggest it is wanting in any way. There is a skill in the make-up of dishes like a ‘Chicken Caesar Salad’ and a ‘Market Fish Pie’ and the chef here is bang on the money. The aforementioned salad was a very nicely calibrated mix of crisp Romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, hard boiled egg, grated Parmesan, lean chicken plus salty anchovies. It was an exceptional and good sized starter.

Next up was fish pie in a deep dish with a perfectly browned cheese and potato topping (plus a bowl of greens) - undoubtedly the best of nourishing comfort food. Meanwhile if you’ve got a real appetite another main might do the trick. A fellow diner sitting

close to me cleared the decks for a well stacked ‘Swannington Bone Marrow Brisket Burger, Cheese and Tomato Relish and Fries’. I trust he loosened his belt buckle beforehand.

There had to be a sweet indulgence after these courses so the ‘Rum Sponge, BBQ Pineapple, Lime Granita and Rum Syrup’ was ideal, the icy cold granita offsetting a finger of rich, rum-dipped sponge. The ‘Milky Bar, Salted Caramel, Pistachio, Coffee Ice Cream’ also caught my eye, perhaps for another time.

I had one of the ‘best’ category of bedrooms, overlooking the high street and both spacious and welcoming. The feel is a little idiosyncratic, a mix of styles working within the structures of an historic building. You get a king sized bed, large en suite bathroom, with Bramley toiletries, and a walk-in shower. All ‘best’ rooms are dog friendly and a number of the rooms can be made into twins.

Breakfast next day was spent in warmth and comfort while outside rain lashed down, beating a soft rhythm on the glass roof of the conservatory part of the restaurant. Fans of cooked breakfasts can choose from a buffet while there is an assortment of juices, porridge, cereals, fruits and all manner of egg options.

Underlying all of this are staff who are friendly, attentive and helpful so if you are looking for a break in this delightful corner of Norfolk why not make a bolt for Holt and The Feathers? Fiona Perkins

Places to visit nearby

Blakeney National Nature Reserve offers the chance to try crabbing from the quay, or a boat trip to see seals.

Alternatively - and for some nostalgia - you can experience a steam train ride on Norfolk’s longest narrow gauge line at Bure Valley Railway.

If you are roaming the coast give the award winning Cromer Pier a look, it’s home to an RNLI lifeboat station and the Pavilion Theatre. Meanwhile the winter weather usually means there is lots of space to walk the beaches at Wells, Holkham and Brancaster . . . just wrap up warm.