Norfolk Broads food and drink
Eating out is one of the great pleasures of being on holiday, of course. Whether you are looking for a family breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or an evening meal for two in a gourmet restaurant, you'll be spoilt for choice while you're visiting the Broads.
Fresh local produce features on the menus of many of the pubs, cafes, restaurants and tea rooms in the area, and with the coast so near, it's no surprise that seafood and fish feature amongst the treats. Norfolk is a prime agricultural area so you'll readily find home grown fruit and vegetables and organically reared meat at local markets and farm shops, too. All our accommodation offers excellent cooking facilities so you may well be tempted to cook at home at least once during your visit. If so, a browse round the Truly Local Shop in Stalham will provide plenty of inspiration. Visited and praised by Prince Charles last year, it stocks a huge range of delicious local produce from cheeses and meats to fruit, vegetables, preserves and sweets.
The choice of places is huge and here we can mention just a few tried and trusted recommended eateries but you'll have fun discovering more for yourself. The family-friendly Hotel Wroxham Carvery on the river at Wroxham is a popular choice with families and offers an excellent carvery in a family-friendly setting with riverside garden seating and lovely views. For a real fine dining experience, book well ahead for a meal at Richard Hughes' famous Lavendar House at Brundall. His creative ‘Modern Norfolk’ dishes are nationally acclaimed and promise a real treat.
The Ingham Swan is another gem and holds the prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand. Situated in a pretty hamlet and right next door to an ancient priory, this ancient thatched inn offers an excellent seasonal menu overseen by Chef Daniel Smith and also serves local ales from Woodfordes Brewery. That same ale is very much on the menu at the friendly and welcoming Fur and Feather in Woodbastwick, owned and run by the Woodfordes Brewery within the same grounds. Featured in CAMRA and good pub guides and regularly nominated for local awards, the Fur and Feather is recommended by visitors and locals alike for its great, freshly prepared food as well as the full range of Woodfordes beers.
At Coltishall, the RAF may have moved out but the Recruiting Sergeant remains and is an ever-popular gourmet pub which receives rave reviews from its visitors, both for its friendly welcome and for its generously-portioned, fresh and tasty food. Wherever you're staying in the Broads, you'll be bound to find your own family favourite place to eat and drink. The restaurants, pubs, cafes and tea rooms are often in lovely settings with great views over water. It's part of what makes a holiday here so special.
