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Category: Two Julians

Attleborough – Griffin Hotel (Two Julians)

This post is also available at www.norfolksuffolk.org.uk where our back catalogue of posts about pubs in Norfolk and Suffolk can be found 🙂

We visited Attleborough at 21:00 on a Saturday night and the two town centre pub options listed on CAMRA’s Whatspub were the London Tavern and this former coaching inn, the Griffin Hotel. I have to some degree wax lyrical about the Griffin Hotel as it first opened in the 1560s when Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne. I’m enthralled what the atmosphere of coaching inns would have been like. Travel was more dangerous and challenging during those times, so travellers reaching their accommodation for the evening would have had an element of relief. They would have been keen to have a meal, several drinks and accommodation provided, all the elements of a positive jamboree of entertainment.

The venue notes that this passageway was once paved with wooden cobbles to muffle the sound of horses arriving and departing, to prevent disturbing the sleep of the weary travellers already in their beds.

This wing overlooking the church was added in the eighteenth century.

The venue’s dining and breakfast room. It might not look the most modern, but it’s in keeping with the building and its cosy feel.

The menu.

The special’s board.

There was just one real ale, the Battle of Britain from Wolf Brewery. It wasn’t quite the choice of four or five real ales that we had seen listed on Whatpub, but it was a well kept copper coloured ale.

The bar itself is in keeping with the general decor which is full of character and I have a sense of wonder of just how many people have walked through here over the centuries. The pub was quiet when we visited, just a couple of other customers which couldn’t have been in much more contrast to the London Tavern. Julian noted that he could hear the music from the louder pub whilst in this pub, it’s nice of them to share their entertainment like that.

The smaller snug room to the left of the main entrance.

A beer pump. There were numerous framed photos on the walls, somewhat eclectic but adding atmosphere to proceedings none the less.

I very much liked this venue, the heritage is undeniable and it had a calm and cosy feel to it. This must be one hell of a challenge to operate at the moment given the sheer size of the building and the energy demands that it must have amongst all of their other costs. Attleborough no longer needs the level of accommodation that it once did when it was a coaching town, but there were still numerous places to stay and so that means room rates aren’t likely to go that high.

Their on-line reviews on Google aren’t perhaps helping them much as they picked up several negatives a few years ago, which might put current potential diners and guests off. However, their accommodation element seems to have better reviews and I imagine that this is what is sustaining them at the moment. It’s essential to the community that venues such as this continue to thrive, as it would be horrifying for an Elizabethan pub to close after so many centuries. It’s reassuring that such places are still open and it was a delight to have a drink in an environment with so much history.

August 7, 2023
Attleborough – London Tavern (Two Julians)

This post is also available at www.norfolksuffolk.org.uk where our back catalogue of posts about pubs in Norfolk and Suffolk can be found 🙂

The London Tavern has been surprising and delighting the denizens of Attleborough since the 1830s. Norfolk Pubs has some history about how the landlords were playing a bit fast and loose during the World Wars, in 1916 they were failing to close their premises to soldiers and during the Second World War there were repeated breaches of blackout rules.

It would be wrong of me not to mention in passing that there was something of an absence of welcome when we entered, although we were left sufficiently entertained as the member of bar staff decided that she was going to go into detail with other customers about matters that I cannot possibly write about for fear of spoiling this blog’s PG rating. I don’t mind listening to more personal information than I could possibly know what to do with, but it meant that we were just standing waiting to be served for a few minutes which was a little sub-optimal as no-one was being served. But, the venue itself seemed inviting enough and it had attracted quite a number of characters so Julian was entirely in his element. A well run pub really should have an element of theatre about it, I was sensing that Julian was near to writing one of his theatre reviews with the amount of material being provided to us.

The vibe of the venue is perhaps evident from this review and the pub’s response:

“Got covered in dog slime from owners dog then it did a dump beside me which left there”

Got the rather elegant reply of:

“We are very sorry that you witnessed an extremely disturbing and upsetting incident in our garden approximately 9.4 meters from where you sat. We thank you for bringing the incident to our staff and customers attention and the world at large, hopefully in doing so it will help others never experience such an awful totally preventable occurrence.

However we must thank you for how you relaid the incident it was extremely useful for our new 18yr old barmaid having only been in the role for 5 days it gave her – her first opportunity to experience an irate customer and learn from it, sadly you left so abruptly she/we never got the opportunity to apologise to you in person.

It’s also unfortunate it would seem that Steve missed you by only a few moments as he went outside via one door whilst you entered by another so he also missed the opportunity to apologise to you in person. However as he was out there so quickly he was able to apologise to those customers still in the garden for your foul mouthed outburst you directed at them and thankfully turn it into a light hearted moment.

We are grateful for the constructive criticism and we will discuss her bad manners with her and actively look at ways we can prevent this type of incident happening again. We totally appreciate that you will never wish to visit again so will take this opportunity to offer you our sincere apologies.”

I think that’s a fair reply 🙂

They had one real ale, which was the Iceni Queenie from Steam Shed Brewing of Swaffham, a well kept golden ale. At the appropriate temperature and an interesting beer that I haven’t had before, so all was well there. They did brew their own beer, Taylor’s Brewery, on site but this stopped during lockdown and hasn’t yet restarted although there are plans to do so at some stage.

Julian enjoying the atmosphere, which had a considerable climate of activity to keep him absorbed in people watching. I can’t possibly go into too much detail, but Julian even got the attention of Facebook with his commentary on what he saw. What more praise could a pub want?

There wasn’t much pub activity in the centre of Attleborough on the Saturday evening that we visited, it was here and the Griffin which were open for our entertainment. I think it’s fair to say that for those want a lively and noisy atmosphere, go for this one, there’s likely always going to be something happening. The welcome could have been a bit more immediate, but we were in no hurry and the pub was kept clean and tidy. Definitely something of a community hub and the place to party, the number of customers suggests that they’re doing something right so worth popping into for anyone who happens to be passing by.

August 7, 2023
Two Julians – Study Tour to Cromer

This post, and all the linked ones, are also available at www.norfolksuffolk.org.uk where lucky readers can also find the ‘back catalogue’ of posts from our previous trips around Norfolk and Suffolk.

Another day, another onerous study tour. This time we boarded the Sanders thunderbolt to Cromer where we expected to visit nine pubs during the day. These were:

Wellington Pub

Kings Head (closed)

Pavilion Bar on Cromer Pier

Red Lion

Albion

Gangway

Hotel de Paris (bar closed)

Cliftonville Hotel

White Horse

With two pubs that we couldn’t access, that took our total number of venues to seven during the day, which is still a creditable effort we thought.

We also made time to visit the town’s church.

Since we were at the seaside our sustenance was chips. These were £2.50 from Mary Jane’s Fish Bar, suitably filling and the service was efficient so I wasn’t left waiting in the queue full of anticipation for them.

Back again at the transportation hub of North Norfolk, connecting in with routes to the international multimodal hub at North Walsham.

I was pleased with my view out of the window on the way back to Norwich.

Julian commented on his rather more obstructed view.

Safely back in Norwich. It was another fulfilling day, with perhaps the unexpected treat being the Cliftonville Hotel and the wide range of local beers at the Red Lion. The Gangway offered the best craft beer and I’d say it was also the friendliest welcome of the day. However, the pubs were all credits to the community that they serve and they’re doing a marvellous job of staying open in these troubled times. All of the pubs that we visited served real ale in some form, with most having at least some effort at offering craft beer as well.

August 3, 2023
Cromer – White Horse (Two Julians)

The final pub on our study tour to Cromer was the Good Beer Guide listed White Horse and the owners mention on their web-site that it has been a coaching inn since the sixteenth century, although I’m assuming that it has been entirely rebuilt since then as it feels more Victorian.

There were three real ales to choose from, although nothing which surprised and delighted me. We went with the Ghost Ship from Adnams which was well kept and tasted as expected. The service was again efficient and friendly, with a prompt welcome after I reached the bar.

The pub seems to have a generally very good reputation for food judging by the on-line reviews and there was some interesting specials available.

And the standard menu.

The food area of the pub. Timing meant that we had a bus to catch (which meant we had opted for chip shop chips…..), as there are a limited number of evening options back to Norwich, otherwise this looked like one of the most tempting locations to get food. The pub is close to the town centre, but it’s located just away from the main area and it seemed to be getting more local trade than from visitors.

And the main bar area, with another section of the pub to the other side of the bar having a pool table. It was all clean and tidy with a laid-back and relaxed atmosphere. They also offered accommodation, with one family room, three doubles and two singles. Perhaps, from the customer perspective and I’m conscious that there are a number of factors with this, on the margins of the Good Beer Guide as the real ale choice wasn’t spectacular, but it was a welcoming pub which clearly has a loyal following. All clean and comfortable, this was a perfectly respectable way to end the day’s study tour and just a short walk to the bus station.

August 3, 2023
Cromer – Cliftonville Hotel (Two Julians)

The next venue in our Cromer study tour was the Cliftonville Hotel which opened in 1867 and received its licence to serve non residents in 1963. After our failed visit to the Hotel de Paris we were a little unsure what to expect, but we could see a sign saying that non residents were welcome and the doors were open so it looked positive.

Some drinks offers to tempt passer-bys.

This is a bit decadent.

There were two real ales, both from Barsham Brewery, the Oaks and the Golden Close IPA. Some craft beer options there and no bloody Cruzcampo, so another win.

I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t this. The bar and restaurant is in this grand room with a Minstrel’s gallery and plenty of character. It wasn’t particularly busy, but it seemed a suitably glamorous location for us to discuss how the study tour was progressing.

Oops, the photo is slightly on the lean…. The beer was the Oaks bitter from Barsham Brewery and it was well-kept and tasted as it was meant to. The prices were moderate and there was no obvious hotel premium charged.

Other than needing a lick of paint, it was all in a good state of repair and everything seemed clean and well maintained.

I was impressed by the whole arrangement here, the hotel had a bar which was interesting enough for non residents and I’m sure that the hotel’s guests would mostly find what they needed here as well. The staff were friendly, helpful and polite, with the atmosphere feeling inviting.

August 2, 2023
Cromer – Hotel de Paris (Two Julians)

On our study tours, we initially base our list of visits on CAMRA’s Whatpub and then add anywhere else that we think might be of interest. I was sceptical of this hotel as its web-site was lacking in information and it’s clear they’re not particularly aiming at non residents so it didn’t seem entirely worthy of a listing when so many other hotels with bars aren’t on there.

We visited the hotel first at lunchtime to find that the bar was closed with no signage, but we thought that we’d return later on in the day. We arrived just before 17:00 and were told that they weren’t ready for opening yet. It was evident that there are no real ales or craft beer and a generally highly limited drinks range. I’m sure that the bar is sufficient for their residents and anyone dropping in for convenience, but I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone else as there are much better options in the nearby pubs.

I’m a little surprised that they don’t do a little more with their bar area, which has some of the best sea views on the North Norfolk coast. There’s pretty much a licence to print money with a bar arrangement there, imagine the decadent craft beer micropub type set-up that they could install to surprise and delight tourists. For anyone who does go in, there’s a history of the pub on the wall (turn left when going into the building). I will say that they have very clean toilets though, so that was a win.

August 2, 2023
Cromer – Gangway (Two Julians)

Next pub on the day’s adventure was the Gangway, a cafe bar type set-up which also has a sister outlet in Sheringham. It’s divided into two, by necessity of the building shape, with shared access at the rear, all a little unusual but it adds to the character. Not knowing this in advance, I went in the first door that I saw and I think that we were in the smaller section of the building.

There was a friendly welcome, one of the best of the day, with the team members seeming enthused and keen to help. It was table service only which I wasn’t initially convinced about as it created a separation with the drinks visible at the bar and the printed menu, which didn’t have the complete list on. However, I have to add that they have listed their beer selection on Untappd which removes that issue for me so I have no complaint. There’s a strong selection of craft beers in can and bottle, nothing quite as decadent on the tap, but still some interesting options including several from Ampersand. It’s the best craft selection that we saw in Cromer, so full credit for that.

The bar is attractive and neatly laid out.

The cocktails menu.

Appropriate glassware for my half and I went for a new beer to me, the Lemon Puff from Ampersand in conjunction with Abbeydale, two very competent breweries. A perfectly decent beer which was citrusy, but I had hoped for more lemon punchiness to the whole arrangement, but enjoyable nonetheless. It wasn’t unreasonably priced and they also had a place to charge my phone which proved to be handy.

The surrounding were comfortable and cosy, there’s a lot to be said for this soft of cafe bar approach and it’s one that Titanic is pushing with its Bod concept. This is all very much to the credit of the town, although Gangway don’t serve food other than for a fine looking selection of cakes.

Some more internal decor. All told, this was one of my favourite venues of the day. It was the only one that had listed their beers on Untappd, it had perhaps the best welcome and it was spotlessly clean. Innovative, interesting and on-trend, I hope that they do really well. And I think Julian is definitely getting a taste for all this beer modernity.

August 2, 2023
Cromer – Albion (Two Julians)

The next location on our Cromer adventure was the Albion which has been a hospitality venue since the 1830s and is now an Admiral Taverns pub.

There were three real ales to choose from which were Legacy from Lacons, Directors from Courage and London Pride from Fullers.

I went for the Directors from Courage and it’s fair to say that I was surprised and delighted by this, a beer that I haven’t had before. I enjoyed the lingering flavours of this, something like a Werther’s Original (I doubt anyone else has thought that). Nicely kept and something different to try. Interestingly, Lacons are very much in evidence in Cromer, their sales rep must have been busy in the area.

Bar runners with a welcome from Steve, Zena and the team. The service was attentive, polite and personable, so it seemed to be a genuinely welcoming environment.

Best pub in Cromer apparently according to the flag. There was a lively atmosphere to the whole arrangement, to the point that it was a little difficult to hear, but variety is the spice of life and there were quieter alternatives in the town for those who wanted that. The pub doesn’t seem to serve food any more or offer accommodation (the venue was for a long time the Albion Hotel), but they’re one of the only venues in town without a web-site so it’s hard to be precise about the offering. Possibly the most vibrant pub in the town, which for those who like karaoke is a positive draw, but it’s probably not somewhere to go for a quiet drink to read a book. Nonetheless, it was welcoming, clean and organised, so all rather lovely.

August 2, 2023
Cromer – Red Lion (Two Julians)

After enjoying a beer on the pier, we hiked up the hill to reach the Good Beer Guide listed Red Lion. This has been trading as a hospitality venue since the 1760s and Norfolk Pubs has this interesting story from the pub’s past:

“Mr. Reilly Mead was summoned on 5th January 1914 of having an unjust glass in his possession and having the same unstamped. On that day Inspector Robinson had sent his assistant, John Youngs, to purchase a pint of beer. It was served in an unjust and unstamped measure. On saying that he (Inspector Robinson) should seize the glass, Mr. Meade sent for the police and said that he would not allow Robinson to thieve the glass. Upon the police advising that the Inspector had authority to act, Mr. Meade said that they had never sold pints OR half pints since he had been at the place. Miss Gow, the barmaid confirmed that she had refused to sell a pint to Youngs and said that he could have `a large glass’. When tested the glass was found to be deficient from a pint by 5 per cent. The Bench convicted and imposed a fine and costs totalling £3/0/6d.”

There’s always one pub wanting to do its own thing 🙂

I liked the effort that they’ve made with their external A-Board.

On first impressions, it looked a little decadent for us on the inside, but it transpired that this was just the restaurant area and there was a separate and more informal bar area. The distinction between the two areas was clear and the menu looked tempting, albeit a bit expensive for our purposes. These study tours we undertake for the community don’t come cheap…..

One side of the bar area.

And the frontage of the main bar area. Above the bar is the acronym WYBMADIITY? which I had to look up and means “will you buy me a drink if I tell you?” which is a clever little ruse for the barman or an enterprising customer to get a free drink 🙂

The Red Lion had eight different real ales available, as well as some ciders, which was the widest selection we encountered during the day. They were all local beers, from brewers including Woodfordes, Green Jack, Lacons, Mr Winters, Grain and Moon Gazer. This is a marvellous selection for any visitor to the area who wants to try beers from a number of local breweries.

This is the latest Norfolk Nips magazine that was distributed at the weekend and it contains an abbreviated write-up of our trip to Wymondham a few weeks ago. How lovely to be in print and Lucy did a marvellous job with it. As for the beer, I went for the Trawlerboys from Green Jack Brewing of Lowestoft and it was of its usual reliable quality.

And another page from the article 🙂

The draught menu.

The bar snacks and doggie menu, the latter of which is certainly intriguing in terms of its concept….

Not an unpleasant view from the window.

The bar when it became a little quieter, but this was a busy venue for the entire time that we were here and many customers were clearly locals.

You can buy your own pub merchandise if you so wish.

And some fun facts.

The Red Lion, which is also a hotel, is very well reviewed on-line and this felt like a really well run venue. There was an extensive range of real ales and other drinks, the service was immediate, there was a timely welcome and the atmosphere was inviting. It has some marvellous views of the sea, it’s got an informal and relaxed feel and their entry into the Good Beer Guide definitely seems a good shout from our experience.

August 2, 2023
Cromer – Pavilion Bar on Cromer Pier (Two Julians)

The next venue on our day out in Cromer is visible at the rear of the photo, it’s the Pavilion Theatre Bar located on Cromer Pier. It wasn’t a sunny day, but the temperature was also moderate and so it wasn’t overly chilly to perambulate down the pier. The pier opened in 1907 and it has been operated by North Norfolk District Council since 1974, being a popular destination for tourists to the region.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, although I didn’t have high hopes as I expected something expensive and limited in choice. But, the purposes of these study tours is to ensure that we give everywhere a proper chance and not go judging a pub by its cover (or whatever the appropriate phrase would be).

My initial lack of enthusiasm was misplaced as they had two Lacons beers to choose from, with one currently not available, but that’s not a bad shout as it’s a local beer and something that visitors to the area might want to try. I went for the Encore and it was well-kept, with Julian’s Legacy also passing muster. I can imagine it’s something of a challenge to serve customers quickly before a show, always the challenge for any theatre bar though.

And some mainstream craft beers, but still offering a very reasonable choice given it’s a relatively small bar. The service was efficient and polite, with everything feeling reasonably clean and ordered. The pricing was also moderate with the modern and inviting atmosphere being a pleasant surprise. There were also some food counters for those who wanted doughnuts, ice cream, waffles and that sort of sugary treat.

There weren’t many tables inside and they were all occupied, but that meant I could take this photo. There’s always something nice about beers on any trip out, but I think that train beers and pier beers might just be my favourite. Julian was busy trying to work out an issue with his iPhone which was not surprising and delighting him, but we enjoyed the environment and there are glass barriers to stop the wind impacting too much on the hardy drinkers.

And our view back along the pier, with Julian being ever so excited that the next pub was at the top of the cliff. All told, this is a very acceptable drinking venue and offered some pleasant views along the beautiful North Norfolk coast.

August 2, 2023