Adam & Eve, Norwich

A very attractive looking old pub which unfortunately for me at the time of my visit was only offering outside drinking at the front of the pub due to continuing covid 19 restrictions presumably also because of it's small size, I did consider taking a bogus trip to the loos to get a glimpse at the inside of the pub but there was a constant queue and a one in one out system in place, so that didn't happen.I was informed by the outside server there was a choice of four cask beers available , Woodfordes Volt,Adnams Mosaic, Theakstons Old Peculiar and my choice of Wolf Golden Jackal. The one possible downside apart from not being allowed inside was that the pub faces onto a less than scenic public car park and the steady to and fro of the associated traffic, but facing away from that it was still an enjoyable half hour.

This is an aesthetically pleasing brick and flint pub, predominantly built in the 17th Century, although parts of the building are believed to date back to 1249. The pub has had an interesting history, with stories ranging from the monks who once used the building as a brew house, to the former landlady who owned a wherry which she used to transport sand with contraband liquor hidden in it. Amusingly, in 1972 the brewery supplied the pub with a new sign that was deemed far to risqué by the locals, resulting in it being sent back for modesty preserving fig leaves to be added! The pub today has a lovely rural feel to it, despite being within striking distance of the bustling city centre and train station. On approach the Flemish gable ends make a good first impression, enhanced as you pass through the front outdoor seating area with its fine floral displays. You enter to the main bar with the servery directly opposite the door. This room is bare boarded with a slightly raised seating area over to the right. This is the oldest part of the pub and has a few old pictures on the walls and dark wood beams across the ceiling. To the front is a small snug with some lovely 1930's fixed bench seating, a small brick fireplace, black and white photos of the city and some pleasant etchings. A lower bar can be accessed via a flight of stairs from the main bar, but this area was roped off for a private function on my visit, so I was unable to explore. It is apparently a relatively recent addition to the pub, having been converted from the pub's cellars in 1973. A good soundtrack was playing away on my Saturday evening visit, although it wasn't clear if this was normal practise or just for the benefit of the party downstairs. On the bar there was a decent ale range comprising Adnams Ghost Ship and Southwold Bitter, Wolf Golden Jackal, Woodfordes Sundew and Theakston Old Peculiar. The Ghost Ship, so often kept poorly in other pubs, was in great shape here, rounding off a fine crawl around the city nicely. The bar staff were really nice and friendly and coped very well with a group of French tourists who put in one of the most complex and confusing orders I've ever heard. I really enjoyed this pub and could imagine sitting outside on a warm summer's day, enjoying well kept beer for many an hour. It has a lovely historic, traditional feel and the friendly staff make you feel very welcome. Its relative proximity to the train station makes this a good final port of call if enjoying a crawl around Norwich.

Update – April 2013 An enjoyable revisit found 4 beers on – Wolf Golden Jackal, Woodfordes, Adnams and Theakstons Old Peculier. The Wolf Goden Jackal - £ 3.70p – was in good form, but pricey and, in retrospect, I should have gone for the much better value Old Peculier at £ 3.80p. The pub displays various “City of Ale” awards above the bar and there’s a collection of prints / drawins of the pub for sale. There’s a downstairs bar which I don’t remember from last time, but otherwise the pub is as described below on my previous visit. I imagine that food trade can dominate at times, but this is a likeable pub, well worth seeking out. Original review – April 2009 Splendid cottage type pub with flint and brick walls and timber beams hidden away slightly off the beaten track in a country lane quite close to the cathedral. The Adam and Eve lays claim to being the oldest pub in Norwich - 1249 AD - and it was apparently used as a brewhouse for workmen building the nearby Norwich Cathedral which dates back to that time. In the 19th Century, it was a wherrymans' pub. Nowadays, it seems to attract a mix of locals and visitors to the city, many of whom are obviously attracted by the history and its frequent appearance in the Good Food Guide, Good Pub Guide etc - stickers aplenty in the front window. The pub has a real country feel to it, enhanced by flower buckets outside and the carved corbels above the entrance door. The interior has, perhaps inevitably, been knocked about quite a bit, but it's not unpleasant. Perhaps inevitably, there's ghost stories in the pub's history and Norwich Ghost Trail tours start here. Perhaps surprisingly, its Cask Marque accredited and the CM symbol is proudly displayed. My pint of Adnams - at what might be considered a reasonable price of £ 2.70p - was on good form. There's some outside seating at the front and a large pay and display car park opposite. Despite not having a great range of real ales - only 4 in total - this is a fine pub, well worth seeking out

Don't know about the claim to be the "oldest pub in Norwich" (quoting a date of 1249), but it certainly looks a picture with a very attractive floral display enhancing the ancient flint-faced exterior. Extended with a later Flemish gable end. Difficult to describe the two bar layout beacuse the place was so packed, but thankfully there are also a good few benches out front. Five real ales on handpumps in each bar: Little Sharpie, Theakston Old Peculier, Wolf Straw Dog, Adnams Southwold and Woodforde's Once Bittern (£3.60). Justifiably popular. (NB - Review dates from August 2012.)