Bar Man: Columnist Jeff Hoyle on best beers at West Norfolk pubs according to CAMRA members
In his weekly The Bar Man column, Jeff Hoyle chats about the best beers in West Norfolk according to CAMRA members…
You have had a roundup of my personal favourites in a recent column, but what about a more objective view of the best beer in the West Norfolk branch area?
CAMRA members are encouraged to enter beer scores on the Whatpub site when they drink a pint on a scale ranging from 0-5. The highest-scoring pubs over the last calendar year are listed below.
In order to eliminate outliers with just one or two high scores, I have restricted the list to those pubs which attracted at least 10 scores.
Tenth place is the Blue Bell at Stoke Ferry (average 3,86 from 24 scores), a community-owned pub that reopened a couple of years ago.
As well as great beer, there is good food and a wealth of events and community projects going on throughout the year.
Ninth place is the historic Lord Nelson in Burnham Thorpe (3.91/11), doing well in its new incarnation after several years closure.
Eighth comes Lynn’s Live and Let Live (3.92/112), a classic street corner local with great beer, cheap prices and a real focus for the local area.
Moving up we come to the White Hart at Ashill, a former branch Pub of the Year and well in the running for next year’s award.
Look at their website for a real-time indication of the fine ales on offer. The Ferry Lane Social Club (4.02/142) in Lynn comes in at sixth.
A wonderful location a fine welcome from Tracey and Phil and numerous events in Mr P’s Bar add to the appeal of great beer.
Moving into the top five, the Kings Arms at Watton (4.09/34) makes its first entry. We were invited over by landlord Harvey earlier in the year and were hugely impressed by this pub in something of a beer desert.
Back to Lynn for number four with the Stuart House Hotel (4.09/51). Not just a hotel, but a place to meet, eat and drink. We will miss it greatly if the proposed change of use to an assisted care home is given planning permission. Lynn needs quality accommodation if the target of making the town a real tourist attraction is to be achieved.
Hockwold Red Lion (4.18/218) comes in bronze medal position. Not too long ago, the future of this village pub was uncertain, but the new team have been at the top of their game.
Runner up is Gooderstone Swan (4.29/29), perhaps a less well-known pub in the area around Oxborough, but clearly well worth seeking out.
Top of the list is the Queen Victoria at Snettisham (4.5/171), maybe aided by a very loyal band of regulars who prefer the more local atmosphere of this pub to the up-market gastro-type pubs which abound in North Norfolk.
Among the pubs that did not have the required 10 scores needed to make the list, The Willow House in Watton, Heacham Sports and Social Club, Caston Red Lion, Congham Anvil, Roydon Union Jack and Shouldham Kings Arms all should offer a decent pint.
In total 129 pubs attracted scores with Hockwold Red Lion’s 218 being the one rated most often.
Thirteen pubs had at least one perfect score of five, with Downham Crown, Lynn’s Globe, Brancaster Staithe’s Jolly Sailors, Thetford Red Lion and Larling Angel all managing to dispense a perfect pint despite not appearing on the list above.
So, seek these places out and I don’t think you will be disappointed. Better still add your own scores. You will need to be a member, so check out the website and the many benefits of joining up.
bar.man@btinternet.com
