The Brisley Bell.
The Green, Brisley, Norfolk.
Set amongst fields on the edge of the village of Brisley, The Bell is a recently renovated 17th century inn that retains an old-world charm to complement its expansive views. Roughly halfway between Norwich and the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it is a great base for touring Norfolk.
With almost two acres of grounds, the Bell's large beer garden and croquet lawn are the perfect place to relax, while watching the cricket on the common, pint in hand as the sun goes down, is an ideal way to spend a lazy summer’s evening. In colder months, you can relax by roaring fires after a hearty walk or a long lingering lunch; play games, read a book or settle down with a bottle of wine.
Working with local suppliers, Michelin-trained Head Chef Hervé Stouvenel creates meat-led, fresh and seasonal dishes, full of fantastic flavours, combining classic English cuisine with global influences.
As a freehouse, The Brisley Bell is licensed to serve anything from the traditional to the exotic! The bar is stocked with a diverse range of cask-conditioned Adnams ales and guest beers from various small East Anglia breweries. You’ll find everything from rich, full-bodied stout to light, refreshing lagers and the cider comes from a small producer in Herefordshire. The wine list is a spread of vintages to cover the majority of regions and grape varieties, including an organic wine and English sparkling wine. And of course there is a range of refreshing, non-alcoholic beverages too.
There are six en-suite bedrooms individually designed with a focus on quality, comfort and relaxation; one room with full disabled access and two rooms that are dog friendly. Each room features Egyptian cotton sheets, free wi-fi, a television, tea and coffee making facilities and some homemade biscuits on your arrival. Lots of small hotels give their room names a local theme (places, flowers, trees, etc) but we think The Bell has found something original: the rooms are named after local places as spoken in Norfolk dialect. So Stewkey = Stifkey and Windum = Wymondham; you get the idea!
For visitors to Norwich the cathedral and castle are must-see sights, along with the largest outdoor market in the UK and the picturesque Elm Hill. Other destinations in North Norfolk include Wells-next-the-Sea (including boat trips to see the seals), Sandringham, Holkham Hall and Walsingham. There are lovely sandy beaches but also salt marsh and mud flats that are a bird-watcher's paradise. Try too Oxburgh Hall, Raynham Hall, the Mid-Norfolk Railway, Dereham Windmill and North Elmham Chapel.