Norwich

[Mobyduck]

I've decided to spend two nights (best part of three days) in Norwich early next month,regardless of restrictions being lifted or not. Any must dos and hidden gems will be much appreciated.

[sheffield hatter]

I've decided to spend two nights (best part of three days) in Norwich early next month,regardless of restrictions being lifted or not. Any must dos and hidden gems will be much appreciated.

Well, my best memory of my visit to Norwich three years ago was The Woolpack Yard (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/28734/), but it seems to have closed, so that's my reputation as an influencer gone for a Burton. The one I didn't much like was The Plasterers Arms (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/28599/), from which you may conclude that a) it is now the most successful pub in Norwich, and b) you'll really, really like it.

One that will definitely still be open (where's that fervent prayer emoji: :pray:, yes, that one) is the Kings Head (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/28536/), and also worth a try but a bit further out is The Duke of Wellington (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/28516/). On the opposite side of town is The Jubilee (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/28522/). Close to the station is the Coach & Horses (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/28431/).

I haven't reviewed The White Lion (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/65548/), but I had a very enjoyable pint there in 2013, when Luton Town beat Norwich City. More to the point, Real Ale Ray gave it a "defo" when he was there. Hope it's still as good.

I'm sure you'll get plenty of recommendations for a few more. Hope you have a great visit.

[Quinno]

Norrrich has been on my re-visit list for a long time.

I went in 2009; so long ago as to be fairly useless for a recommendation. But I understand that the Fat Cat is still a destination pub -I said at the time that you weren't a "proper drinker" if you hadn't visited.

[Mobyduck]

Norrrich has been on my re-visit list for a long time.

I went in 2009; so long ago as to be fairly useless for a recommendation. But I understand that the Fat Cat is still a destination pub -I said at the time that you weren't a "proper drinker" if you hadn't visited.

I shall have to go there then. :D

[london calling]

Never been but Camra rates these ones
leopard
st Andrews brew house
jubilee
coach and horses
fat cat brewery tap
red lion
fatcat and canary
murderers
artichoke
duke of wellington
wig and pen
fat cat pub
kings head
Alexandra tavern

[london calling]

ratebeer recommend some of but also these
brewdog
roseberry
plasterers
Camra,s best pub is the Hop In in north walsham but presume that's out of Norwich
Norwich,s first micro called the Malt and Mardle should open on the 21stjune.
no recommendations but im sure you will find some good uns
cheers john

[trainman]

Like Quinno, a return visit for me is well overdue to this excellent beer city - so many good pubs. I don't have access to details of previous trips but really liked the Fat Cat & Canary, Kings Arms (Hall Rd, strangely without a map-pointer here), Fat Cat (obvs), but did not like the pub with two names ('Murderers'?) which would not be on my list for a re-visit.
Norwich also usually has decent travel prices available from London, and I notice some £10ew offerings in July.

[Mobyduck]

Thanks guys, I'm looking forward to it, some good looking pubs mentioned, the nearest to my hotel being The Coach & Horses (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/28431/) mentioned by Will, so thats looking like a decent start while waiting for check in.
Jim, I managed to get train tickets at £13.30 each way from Hook, so pretty good I think, the prospect of likely still having to wear a mask on the journey, not so.

[sheffield hatter]

... really liked the Kings Arms (Hall Rd, strangely without a map-pointer here)

It's map point is in Norwich South and Lakenham, so if you were looking in Norwich Central you won't have seen it.


...but did not like the pub with two names ('Murderers'?) which would not be on my list for a re-visit.

Tend to agree - this is a pub for regular tourists rather than beer tourists.

[sheffield hatter]

I managed to get train tickets at £13.30 each way from Hook, so pretty good I think...

That's a pretty good ticket! Norwich should be an easy one from Sheffield, as the Liverpool to Norwich service, run by East Midlands, goes straight there (except for detaching half the coaches at Nottingham), but it always seems to be expensive. So I usually end up going via Doncaster and Peterborough, which can be quicker, too.


...the prospect of likely still having to wear a mask on the journey, not so.

I know - it makes my glasses steam up, so reading my paper or my phone is a nightmare, and there's only so much staring out of the window I can take before I start climbing the walls.

[trainman]

It's map point is in Norwich South and Lakenham, so if you were looking in Norwich Central you won't have seen it.

I was looking at Norwich as a whole, don't like all these subdivisions, but though it is listed under Norwich, and Norwich South, it doesn't have a map 'pin' in either location.

[sheffield hatter]

I was looking at Norwich as a whole, don't like all these subdivisions, but though it is listed under Norwich, and Norwich South, it doesn't have a map 'pin' in either location.

Bloody hell, Jim. Do I have to do all the work around here? Neither the Kings Arms or the Freemasons Arms on Hall Road had had their default locations corrected, so they were "sharing" a map point. (I guess the 'pin' belonged to the Freemasons, as being earlier in the alphabet, but if you had clicked on the Kings Arms in the list alongside the map, it would have lit up.)

I admit that I was there in 2018 and photographed them both, so I could easily have corrected their map points when I got home, but what with posting all the photos, cooking my dinner, washing my clothes, emptying the bins and dusting the mantelpiece, I guess it must have just slipped my mind. Now corrected, with a map point each (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubmap/57300/)!

[trainman]

Do I have to do all the work around here?
You certainly have a far superior knowledge of these things to me Will and, in any case, I wouldn't want to deprive you of such duties, even at the expense of a dusty mantelpiece!

[sheffield hatter]

You certainly have a far superior knowledge of these things to me Will and, in any case, I wouldn't want to deprive you of such duties, even at the expense of a dusty mantelpiece!

That's very thoughtful, mate. No more than I have come to expect.

[Thuck Phat]

My last visit was nearly 5 years ago so any recommendations have to be taken with a pinch of salt.

The place I enjoyed most was The Plasterers Arms (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/28599/) for it's eclectic range of cask and keg beers, friendly atmosphere and decent pizzas. It's just outside the city centre but an easy stroll which also goes past The Kings Head (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/28536/) which has a decent range but less interesting than others.
I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening in the Fat Cat Brewery Tap (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/28709/) which, as with most brewery taps, is a long way from being a traditional boozer and is a fair way from the city centre. The ale range though is excellent and I'd hire a bike from the station and cycle there if I was visiting again.
The most famous and renowned boozer is The Fat Cat (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/28468/) which has a superb range of beers and is probably the one must visit place. Also a walk from the town centre so the bike may come in useful again.
The two I visited in the city centre were The Vine (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/28699/) for a decent Thai but not an essential for beer and St Andrews Brewhouse (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/63891/) which had only recently opened, was something of a wild card and I was impressed.

It's a fantastic city with plenty to go at. Enjoy it.

[Mobyduck]

My last visit was nearly 5 years ago so any recommendations have to be taken with a pinch of salt.

The place I enjoyed most was The Plasterers Arms (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/28599/) for it's eclectic range of cask and keg beers, friendly atmosphere and decent pizzas. It's just outside the city centre but an easy stroll which also goes past The Kings Head (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/28536/) which has a decent range but less interesting than others.
I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening in the Fat Cat Brewery Tap (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/28709/) which, as with most brewery taps, is a long way from being a traditional boozer and is a fair way from the city centre. The ale range though is excellent and I'd hire a bike from the station and cycle there if I was visiting again.
The most famous and renowned boozer is The Fat Cat (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/28468/) which has a superb range of beers and is probably the one must visit place. Also a walk from the town centre so the bike may come in useful again.
The two I visited in the city centre were The Vine (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/28699/) for a decent Thai but not an essential for beer and St Andrews Brewhouse (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/63891/) which had only recently opened, was something of a wild card and I was impressed.

It's a fantastic city with plenty to go at. Enjoy it.

Thanks TP, an interesting bike idea.

[sheffield hatter]

Thanks TP, an interesting bike idea.

Yeah, I would tend to avoid riding a bike after two or three pints, though.

[Mobyduck]

Yeah, I would tend to avoid riding a bike after two or three pints, though.

You reckon I should stick to thirds?

[Thuck Phat]

I never cycle when I’ve had more than 8 pints. Or at least not that I can remember.

[Mobyduck]

I never cycle when I’ve had more than 8 pints. Or at least not that I can remember.

A wise choice.

[Dave M]

I was looking at Norwich as a whole, don't like all these subdivisions, but though it is listed under Norwich, and Norwich South, it doesn't have a map 'pin' in either location.

I am starting work on a pub crawl planning tool, using the maps to try to help with these sort of things.

Very early stages, but here is how Norwich might look https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pub-crawl-planner/norwich-testing.php

There are some filters on the right that change the map markers to blue. The 'recommended' filter will find pubs that have had decent reviews from one or more of the site regulars.

All very much a work in progress.

[Mobyduck]

I am starting work on a pub crawl planning tool, using the maps to try to help with these sort of things.

Very early stages, but here is how Norwich might look https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pub-crawl-planner/norwich-testing.php

There are some filters on the right that change the map markers to blue. The 'recommended' filter will find pubs that have had decent reviews from one or more of the site regulars.

All very much a work in progress.

Wow, looks really good Dave, I'm off to work in a minute so will have a play this evening.

[sheffield hatter]

I am starting work on a pub crawl planning tool, using the maps to try to help with these sort of things.


All very much a work in progress.

Nice idea, Dave.

A thought: as well as a filter to highlight pubs that we might want to *include* on a crawl, would it be possible to filter out pubs that we would definitely want to swerve?

[Brainypool]

Nice idea, Dave.

A thought: as well as a filter to highlight pubs that we might want to *include* on a crawl, would it be possible to filter out pubs that we would definitely want to swerve?

Definitely. Not to mention filtering out those places that are not pubs- chain restaurants, cocktail/wine/tapas bars etc. - it's a real pain trying to find the gems in a big city centre because of these places clogging up the map. Wonder if there would be an easy way to filter them out.

Complaining aside- the pub crawl idea is a really good one, I have used Google maps in the past to do this manually, using this site for my research of course.

[Dave M]

Definitely. Not to mention filtering out those places that are not pubs- chain restaurants, cocktail/wine/tapas bars etc. - it's a real pain trying to find the gems in a big city centre because of these places clogging up the map. Wonder if there would be an easy way to filter them out.

Yes this is the key, trying to extract enough data to help with that sort of thing is the awkward bit. The recommended filter will currently do a decent job in a town centre that has been visited by plenty of our regulars.



Complaining aside- the pub crawl idea is a really good one, I have used Google maps in the past to do this manually, using this site for my research of course.

Complaining is good! I have never attempted to plan a pub crawl, I don't know exactly everyone goes about it but I want to try to make it easier.

At the moment I am trying to think about how I'd use the tool, which is more likely to be finding myself in a city centre that I don't know with a couple of hours to spare and wanting to quickly identify pubs I could go to.

[sheffield hatter]

At the moment I am trying to think about how I'd use the tool, which is more likely to be finding myself in a city centre that I don't know with a couple of hours to spare and wanting to quickly identify pubs I could go to.


Yeah, that doesn't fit the definition of a pub crawl, which is that a) it must be planned in advance, b) there must be at least three pubs, and c) it must last longer than two hours ( ;) ). What you're trying to do is avoid having to go window shopping and ending up with a cup of coffee you didn't really want. I can see how the map tool you are working on could help you with that too, though.

[sheffield hatter]

Would it be a good idea to split this from the original thread, because people with no interest in Moby's visit to Norwich might be interested in this, and vice versa.

[Pangolin]

A fine piece of work which will save me considerable effort. Great job!


Would it be a good idea to split this from the original thread, because people with no interest in Moby's visit to Norwich might be interested in this, and vice versa.

Quite agree, as should discussions on the other mapping tools etc. Probably in the Technical area, with stickies?

[Mobyduck]

I've decided to spend two nights (best part of three days) in Norwich early next month,regardless of restrictions being lifted or not. Any must dos and hidden gems will be much appreciated.

Well I'm back from a very enjoyable and pretty succesful trip to Norwich. Have planned my ports of call based on Daves very useful map (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pub-crawl-planner/norwich-testing.php) , using the recomended filter, I had targeted some 25 + pubs , of those original choices I managed 15 visits plus another 3 pubs not on my original list. The reasons some were not ticked varied between some being closed, a couple just physically too busy and some I just timed out on with various current odd opening and closing hours. Of those visited the standard was very high in both pubs and beer , so I found it too difficult to just flit in and out of a pub Winfield style. Of those on the maps recommended
filter only a couple failed to impress, the general standard was very high. I would put Norwich Strongly forward for a future return PUG crawl once things return back to normal.

[Mobyduck]

I am starting work on a pub crawl planning tool, using the maps to try to help with these sort of things.

Very early stages, but here is how Norwich might look https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pub-crawl-planner/norwich-testing.php

There are some filters on the right that change the map markers to blue. The 'recommended' filter will find pubs that have had decent reviews from one or more of the site regulars.

All very much a work in progress.

This proved to be very useful, thanks Dave.