Amelia and Marcus have transformed a derelict 17th-century pub overlooking the village common into a handsome inn with two stylish dining rooms, a book-lined garden room and a cosy snug with an open fire for winter. Sit at the friendly bar or in one of the many nooks and crannies.
Bedrooms are in the converted barns set around a courtyard in the garden; find some homemade shortbread as a welcome. Breakfast is in the Garden Room or outside on the terrace – on Mondays and Tuesdays it’s continental, and for the rest of the week you can choose anything you like cooked to order. You’ll want to stay for lunch and dinner too – the French chef’s hearty pub fare attracts plenty of locals.
Settle in the snug or out in the garden with a good book and a coffee, or chat in the bar over a hand-drawn local ale. The nearest town is Dereham, six miles away; Norwich is 20 miles, and the many attractions of the north Norfolk coast about the same.
The Brisley Bell is another example of the enthusiasm and flair of a young couple turning round completely an almost derelict old country pub, to retain its original appeal but through careful additions to add modern style and attention to the needs of the guests, which are clearly paramount.