The next pub on our meanderings around Norfolk was the Globe in Wells-next-the-Sea which is one of a growing number operated by the Chestnut Group. It has been a licensed premises since around the 1830s and was a locally owned venue before Greene King acquired it in the late 1960s, but they sold it in around 2010 which is probably for the best.
In 1947, Graham Cawdron (who I think was the same landlord as Herbert Graham Cawdron) who was a former Flight Lieutenant in the RAF who had won the DFC announced that he planned changes to the venue. His family owned the pub and they proposed demolishing the original bar to give more space for the entrance, adding rooms to the rear and also adding a balcony to the first floor giving access to the billiards room and a lounge. As a side note, the landlord applied for a special licence to open until 23:30 on a Saturday evening to host the annual dinner dance of the Royal Air Forces Association. There doesn’t seem much decadence in the opening hours that were normally allowed if they had to get special permission to open until 23:30, the nightlife of Wells was evidently operating under fairly strict constitutional arrangements.
All nice and clear signage with details of some future events. There’s a front bar to the arrangement, with a restaurant area to the rear and there are also rooms available, priced at a level which suggested I would not be conducting further research.
The interior which all seemed welcoming and comfortable, with a sizeable beer garden outside. The venue was much busier than these images suggest, I took the opportunity to take these photos when customers had just left.
The bar area and there were three real ales, with two from Barsham. The venue is very well reviewed online and although the food prices were towards the higher end of the scale, the drinks prices were reasonable. The team members at the bar were friendly and served us promptly enough despite there being quite a queue when we arrived.
I went for the Eastern Gold from Barsham Brewery which had a fruity edge and was nicely rounded in terms of the flavour. It was also at the appropriate slightly chilled temperature, despite the extremely hot weather outside which I hardly mentioned, so this pleased me. And I also got some free tap water infused with cucumber or something adding an unexpected spa element to proceedings. I’m not sure that’s what actually happens at spas, but I’ve never been so I’m just guessing.
I wanted to take a photo of the cellar but there was a team member working in it when I walked by. Fortunately, Jen took a photo, so I’ve used that one as I rather like seeing open cellars.
I’d note at this stage that there are no Good Beer Guide pubs in the town, which feels a little sub-optimal, but I’d say that this one must have been a close contender. There was a friendly welcome, it had an upbeat atmosphere, the beer was well-kept and there was an air of style about it. All really rather lovely.