The Kings Arms, Holt

The Kings Arms is a traditional, stone/cobble built, whitewashed, Norfolk pub less than a crab line from Blakeney harbour. It's the most pub like and unspoilt of Blakeney's largely gentrified selection and is where you'll find the fishermen eating and drinking. Inside is atmospheric with several small and distinct rooms featuring red velour benches, a large fireplace with a wood burner and exposed cobble walls. I felt immediately at home. The welcome was warm and friendly and the place was busy on a Wednesday evening with locals and visitors alike drawn by the location, food and letting rooms. Food is standard pub grub with a specials board offering a more interesting and local selection including crab and hake on our visit. Our food was good and decent value for this popular part of the world. I was disconcerted to be met with handpumps displaying the following clips: Greene King IPA, Golden Hen and Golden Breeze and was only mollified when the barrel on the end of the bar tagged Woodforde's Nelson's Revenge was pointed out. That seems to be how it works here - Greene King on the handpumps with one from Woodforde's straight from the barrel. The Nelson's Revenge was both welcome and excellent. There are benches at the front and a larger garden to beyond the car park all of which were popular on a warm evening. My favourite in Blakeney for some while and by a stretch. It's very good to see that changes have been gentle and few. Well worth a visit.

Just around the corner from the harbourside this pub feels small inside but has 4 or 5 compact rooms, mostly with hard wooden seating. The nicest room (immediately to the left as you enter the doorway leading into the bar) has a feature brick fireplace. The service on a Sunday lunchtime was efficient but I thought the food (scampi and chips £9.50) was a little on the expensive side for pub grub. On handpull there was Abbot, Pedigree, Adnam’s Best Bitter and Woodforde’s Wherry. GBG 2011 listed.

Close to Blakeney harbour this pub is a gem. Good selection of real ale and a great pub grub menu. The beer garden is very big with tables and you can also sit outside the front door. Well worth a visit.

Fantastic pub just inland from Blakeney Quay. Great choice of local real ales on handpump and also on gravity behind the bar. Extensive food menu. Outside seating at the front of the pub and also in the garden at the side. Rambling, multi roomed interior. Small car park.

Official site of the Kings Arms, contains menu - www.kingsarmsblakeney.co.uk

Official site of the Kings Arms, contains menu - www.kingsarmsblakeney.co.uk