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A to Z
| NORFOLK NIPS
Letter E It could stand for “excellence” or even “everything”, but that does not do Norfolk justice, so let’s go for “eclectivity!” It’s the eclectic mix, that broad range of all that there is to celebrate in the beer scene in the fair county of Norfolk. It’s the number of real ale pubs and breweries and the wide range of quality real ales on offer. There is so much to be proud of, as visitors from other parts of the UK will discover when they come to Norwich for the
2013 CAMRA AGM and Member’s Weekend. Let them discover Norfolk Pub of the Year The Fat Cat with it’s 31 beers found during the 2012 Survey or delight in Woodforde’s beers, although they may miss the Admiral’s Reserve or Tinseltoes which are coming soon. And there are many, many more delights in Norfolk, far too many to do them justice here. You know who you are – please take a bow! That was quick, and there is a bit of space left, so let’s do the next one, which is:
F for Fakenham Until I started delivering Norfolk NIPS to the pubs there, I have to confess that I had no reason to visit Fakenham, except for the odd day out at the races. Most visitors, I suspect, go there for the regular Thursday market, which overfills the market place. Despite having two major supermarkets at hand, the town appears to have kept a good mix of local shops,including an old fashioned sweet shop – Sweets ‘n’ things, (run by Lisa Smerdon and Glen Mallett), who were behind the first Fakenham Beer Festival, and pubs. If the Norfolk Orbital Railway succeeds in its objectives and brings the railway back to Fakenham, linking the Mid Norfolk and North Norfolk Heritage lines, some visitors may alight there and go in search of a decent pint, perhaps. And there is real choice here. As reported elsewhere in this issue, the oldest pub in the town, The Star, in Oak Street, which featured in an earlier edition of this magazine, has reopened. With it’s large secluded garden to the rear, this will make a great family pub, which will offer two real ales. In the market square, The Gallery Bistro offers the opportunity to eat inside or dine al fresco. There is always one real ale on offer, sometimes Hobgoblin. Wolf Brewery’s award winning Poppy Ale was on when I visited. Just off the market place is The Bull, which is probably the jewel in the crown. No less than five real ales and a real cider on offer here, plus great food. Down by the river is The Wensum Lodge, a small hotel on the river, which offers one 56
| AUTUMN 2012
real ale – Elgoods Cambridge on my last visit. Walk along the riverbank, or down the road to the racecourse and you will come across The Fakenham Sports and Leisure Centre, which also featured in an earlier edition of NIPS. Two real ales, Woodforde’s Wherry and a guest, sometimes Sharp’s Doombar. If you have had enough of the town, retrace your steps, cross the road, walk passed the cottages and you are in Hempton, where The Bell awaits with three real ales – John Smith’s Cask is the regular here, plus two guest ales. Further afield, there is The Henry IV, on Greenway Lane, a Greene King Hungry Horse establishment, which has Abbot as it’s regular plus one other from the Brewery, and right on the outskirts next to Morrisons is The Running Horse, a Marstons pub. Eight handpumps here, with three beers on at a time. There is good and bad news. The Crown, a former 3 star hotel in the Market Square, stands empty and neglected and The Rampart Horse Inn on Holt Road does not have real ale. But Wetherspoons will be here next year sometime as they have bought The Garden House, opposite The Bull in Bridge Street. Just for the record, I found 18 real ales and one real cider on my last visit.