OK, so a year or so ago, while enjoying a pint or several of Broadside after a ride, a mate and I drunkenly suggested a week long light-weight cycling tour of Norfolk and Suffolk, around 50 miles a day max, staying only in pubs that served real ale, and visiting as many breweries as possible.

And Cromer, as he likes crab. 🙄

The plan – such as it was – involved getting a train from Nottingham to Norwich, heading for Southwold to the home of Adnams, and then working our way back to Norwich (via Cromer, obviously. And any other good seafood spots as well, I guess)

I now want to flesh this out a bit, with a view to having a crack at it next year. Anyone familiar with that part of the world like to suggest any other breweries we could have a look at, decent pubs that do accomodation, big breakfasts and real ales, etc etc….

Thanks in advance

*goes off to garage and opens 8 pint keg of Broadside in anticipation*

Yes indeedy!!

Sluuurp

If you’re heading southwards to Adnams, it would be churlish to miss these guys. Great pub at Geldeston Lock and you might be able to camp in the garden… Give ’em a ring.

There’s a whisky distillery in Norfolk, I kind of remember, if that would make a change one day…

http://www.englishwhisky.co.uk/the-distillery/about-st-georges-distillery – somewhere East of Thetford.

Rachel

Spot on for the distillery, just off the A11 IIRC and signposted from there

Ah good, distilleries always welcome…..

Can I just recommend “Spirit of Broadside” if you get the chance – an experiment between the head brewer and head distiller at Adnams, available as a trial at the moment, literally distilled Broadside, and not too bad for a first try….

Now, if we are near Thetford, do we take mountain bikes or touring type bikes on this trip…..

A lot of fun can be had on the touring bikes around the runs in Theford – I ride my Kona Sutra there sometimes with Racing Ralph 35c tyres on.

Rachel

Better beers around now, but Green King do brewery tours:
click

Ah yes, sponsors of the Mighty Tractor Boys when we were good….

St Peters Brewery near Bungay:
http://www.stpetersbrewery.co.uk/brewery/default.htm
(great food in St. Peters Hall. I got married there!)

Nearby, but just across the border into Norfolk:
http://www.grainbrewery.co.uk/

If you like cider too:
http://www.aspall.co.uk/

Heading North:

http://www.woodfordes.co.uk/

Humpty Dumpty in Reedham also has a brewery tap etc, Wolf in Attleborough do some cracking beers too (tours by arrangement). Lots more here.

And if you’re going to be in Norwich, then it would be remiss of you not to visit the Fat Cat, one of the best real ale pubs in the country – about a dozen ales on draught, including their own microbrews, and a shitload more on gravity, masses of continental beers too. It’s even opposite a good bike shop, what more could you want?

The Wyndham Arms in Sheringham only serves beer from Norfolk brewers,good greek food,but no accommodation.
Then carry on along the coast road to The Ship at Weybourne,good beer B and B

I want to come, I want to come!!!

You need to come to Setchey down the A10 and visit Beers of Europe…

try the Green Dragon in Bungay – it has a microbrewery on site and is an excellent little boozer. cheap too.

+1 for the Geldeston Locks – amazing place!

http://www.laxfieldkingshead.co.uk/

Visit the Kingshead in Laxfield. They also make great pies.

The soul of every great beer is the grain

This is a relatively new brewery -set-up by a guy who used to worked for Adnams I believe. They make some things worth a taste.

I knew I could rely on this place – looks like a weeks worth there….. 😀

+1 for Woodfordes. The micro brewery is (or was when I lived there 10 years ago) at the back of The Fur and Feather in Woodbastwick. Great little thatched pub, superb food (big home cooked portions) all set in a peaceful thatched village.

Don’t know if they do accommodation, but there was a nice B&B just across the green.