ABOVE: Sean Portass behind the bar of the resently-opened Palmers Ale House and Kitchen in Long Sutton
A taste of something new for Long Sutton... Earlier this year, Palmers Ale House and Kitchen brought new life to one of Long Sutton’s oldest buildings and a touch of North Norfolk style to the town. KL magazine talks to Sean Portass...
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t has many examples of fine Georgian architecture, possesses the highest, oldest and best preserved lead church spire in England (if not Europe), and is a regular award-winner in the East Midlands in Bloom competition. It is, of course, Long Sutton, and it’s probably fair to say that Sean Portass is one of the market town’s greatest fans. “I think it’s by far the best town in the area,” he says. “I love it. I always have. It’s got so much going for it, and I’m determined to make it even better.” He’s in a formidable position to do so as well. Today, Sean owns six pubs in the local area (and an equal number of
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stores), and has just opened Palmers Ale House & Kitchen, a luxury boutique hotel and gastropub set in a lovinglyrestored 16th century thatched building in the town centre. Sean’s journey to Palmers is a remarkable one. His family comes from Sutton Bridge, where his grandfather used to run the local garage and where his father still runs the music store. In fact, local music fans might well remember Nigel Portass from his days with Danny Ford & the Offbeats, who were stalwarts of the local music scene for the best
part of the 1960s. “He had a great career and played alongside people such as Tom Jones and Chuck Berry,” says Sean. “He still plays in bands today, and even passed some of his musical talents on to me – I once played drums alongside him in a local band!” On leaving school, Sean studied carpentry and joinery at college before spending a short time as a local motor dealer. “I didn’t have too many qualifications and I wasn’t too sure what I wanted to do,” he remembers. “I did want to play a KLmagazine December 2015