Pub News
| NORFOLK NIPS
Pub News
The lease of the Cottage, Silver Road, Norwich has been sold to James and Amanda Roe, who will also continue to run the Red Lion in Bishopgate. Sally Mann, who has run the pub since Mauldon’s took it over in 2009, will be a hard act to follow. For most people, running a pub, keeping a great selection of beers, putting on two or more bands a week, organising tapas nights, quizzes, and various other events including a Beer Festival and a Cider Festival would be taxing enough - but to do all of the above while also bringing up a young family deserves massive respect - thank you Sally, for all the great Friday nights and Sunday afternoons and for all your hard work over the last four years. We wish you all the best for the future! Good news from the White Hart, Rockland All Saints, where local residents have formed an Association, with the intention of buying and running the pub as a community venture. Their offer to buy the pub has been accepted, and they’re in final negotiations with HMRC to set up a special enterprise investment scheme which means that early investors could get back 50% of their investment in tax relief - if you’re interested in investing, keep an eye out for their publicity, or visit Facebook.com and search for “The Rocklands White Hart Community Group”. 10
| AUTUMN 2013
The Market Tavern opened in North Walsham in July, in the old Carpenter’s Arms pub, which had been a drop-in centre for a number of years. Targeted at the “more mature” audience, the pub offers pi-and-mash, and at the time of our visit stocked one real ale from Ole Slewfoot. Also in North Walsham, the Black Swan, controversially closed by Enterprise in April, has re-opened with new landlords, initially only using the function room while the rest of the pub is being refurbished. The Robert Kett at Wymondham re-opened in May. Also reported as re-opened is the Keswick Hotel in Bacton. The Carpenters Arms in Wigton has re-opened and was serving Adnams and Warwickshire Pure Gold at a visit in July. Punch have sold the lease of the Ship at Mundesley, with a view to a freehold sale in the next 12 months, and the Leopard, Norwich is up for sale by Bateman’s. The Woods End, Bramerton is now called the Waters Edge, and has been refurbished and relaunched as a food-led operation. And finally, Squares, Norwich will re-open as a TGI Friday in September.
News from the West Let’s get the bad news out of
the way first. In Kings Lynn, the Woolpack on Tennyson Avenue is closed as I write and has a ‘To Let’ sign outside. This is despite having been refurbished recently and having a large potential custom base next door at the College. Maybe students are more sensible and hardworking than in my day. Not far away, the Fenman opposite the railway station has also been closed in recent weeks. However all is not lost. The Fenman was being decorated when I walked past, and the Woolpack had a letter pinned in the window indicating that the company owning the property had taken possession, so it is possible that by the time you read this that one or both maybe reopen. Better news out on the Gayton Road, where the Wildfowler is back in business, and selling real ale. Also open again is the Blue Bell at Stoke Ferry, selling what their website describes as traditional ales. Up in Hunstanton the new build Marston’s pub is now open. Called the Honeystone, it has been reported as being very busy by all my informants who have tried it. If you do make the trip up to the coast, several people have contacted me recently with praise for the Wash and Tope, so give that a try as well. It looks like we will finally get our Greene King Hungry Horse pub in Kings Lynn. Work seems to be once again under way at the old lorry park, near the South Gates and a planning application was recently lodged on behalf of Greene King for signs