The Alexandra Tavern, Norwich

A nice traditional corner pub, two bars now but the door layout and residual walls suggest at least three rooms in the past. Entering on the apex brings you into an area with a curved counter with four beer engines, two from Mr Winters, one from Adnams and a Castle Rock. The servery services the left hand lounge bar though a small opening. Kegs only in the lounge and the far end of the lively public. Oddly the dart board is in the lounge. Lots of interesting ephemera in both bars, an extraordinary mix so I’m not trying to describe it.

The Alexandra is a backstreet pub with a couple of picnic tables out the front, as well as a bus stop smoking shelter that is plastered in old pump clips. Inside, there is a wooden floored bar to the right with a banquette in the front window and a serving counter up the left-hand wall. Four of the five hand pumps were in operation drawing Mr Winter’s Vanilla Latte Stout and Ale X alongside Moon Gazer’s Ostara and Humpty Dumpty’s Swallowtail. Premium keg was also available alongside Carling and on the corner of the bar was a food container full of cheese and ham rolls. Hot food is also available from lunch to early evening. The menus are on chalk boards at the rear, the pub’s speciality seems to be soups and stews, all priced well under a tenner. On the left-hand wall next to the food menus is a small green tiled fireplace with a log burner and in the left rear corner is an old style jukebox. Seating runs up the right, split mid-way by a wooden partition with stained glass windows. The carpeted left-hand lounge bar has a counter up the right which faces bench seating with tables and small stools up the left. There is another fireplace in here with an old burner. In the front left corner is a dartboard with an oche that runs past the front window. The service was very friendly and I came away thinking the this is a very good boozer that was well worth a visit.