NORFOLK NIPS | Pub News
PUB NEWS OPENINGS, CLOSINGS AND HAPPENINGS WEST NORFOLK Let’s start with some good news. The Victory in Clenchwarton has reopened as the Partridge and so far the signs are encouraging. The refurbishment has been sympathetic and improved areas such as the toilets. The beer was good, the staff friendly and Rod is continuing with his monthly quizzes.
The Crown at Northwold have added well known chef Charlie Hodson to the team and with their fish and chip, curry and steak nights it should be well worth a visit, with four beers recently on offer. It is not such good news for other pubs. The Deer’s Leap on Wootton Road in Kings Lynn announced its closure in January and was put on the market. Back in the days when it was the New Inn this was a thriving pub and as it is at the junction of two main routes as well as being the only pub in a residential area, this could once again have a great future in the right hands.
The Saxon at Weeting has been reported open again after a period of closure.
Work is progressing on the Lord Nelson at Burnham Thorpe, further planning applications have been submitted and there is a projected opening date of July, almost four years after it closed. A major refurbishment and rear extension are under way, expected to cost close to £1m. The pub, which was a haunt of Admiral Lord Nelson in the late 18C, will cater for up to 130 diners in summer, 70 in winter - and will hopefully stock some decent real ales! A couple of local pubs have changed their name. The Farmer’s Arms at Knight’s Hill is now just Farmers and its sister pub, the Ancient Mariner in Old Hunstanton is now Mariners.
In Lynn, Goldings looked to have cemented its place in the market, with decent food and excellent beer from Grain brewery. However, in early January they announced they could not afford the rent, quoted at £10,000 per month and were vacating the premises. They have reopened next door in the premises once occupied by the Recruiting Sergeant (until 1907), Market Bistro and more recently by the Dough Dealers pizza place. There are reports that the original Goldings is to reopen as an Ale and Chop House. The Rathskellar on the riverside in Lynn is under new management and serving an excellent pint! The quiz nights are as popular as ever, and look out for some new ideas, especially linking in to all the events that are held in this historic area. In Downham Market, the Castle Hotel has been for sale for a while, but as there have been no offers an application has been made for a change of use. Back in the early 1980’s there was a brewery here, which could possibly be resurrected by a far-sighted new owner. Spring 2020 | 7
