Fishmongers Tavern, Sheringham

Pub and restaurant on the outskirts of the town heading for Cromer. The front has a bar and a series of interconnected dining areas. There’s another bar at the rear known as the Tavern Bar. The front bar has four pulls, Fullers London Pride, Lacons Legacy , a reversed Old Speckled Hen and the last unclipped on my visit. It also has a big horseshoe with eight taps, a couple of ciders, John Smith’s Smooth, naturally Guinness and four lagers. There’s a solo thing with a tornado serving something botanical. The ceiling and walls have the half timbered treatment with white plaster, to match the vaguely mock Tudor exterior, the floor is old parquet and there’s a couple of brick fireplaces. The rear bar is reached via a corridor passing the semi open kitchen or via a sticky side door up the left side of the building. The rear bar has a similar beer range and being a public has a screen, machine and a pool table.

Formerly the Dunstable Arms, this 1930s pub in brewer's tudor style used to be in Camra's inventory of well-preserved interiors. After several years of closure and neglect it was bought by local people in the fishing industry and reopened as a seafood restaurant and bar. Unfortunately the cellar was flooded when they examined the property and the damp had permeated all the fittings, and all gas and water pipes had been stolen, leaving them with no option other than to strip everything out and start again. I heard all this from one of the owners, who I found having a well-earned beer after working an unaccustomed shift owing to staff shortage. He observed my interest in the pub and gave me some of the background. The beers are from Moon Gazer, a local brewery, with added dry hops and a change of name: Low Tide 3.9% is Jumper, a session bitter, and High Tide 5% is Pintail, an IPA; they have plans to also do Rip Tide, a stronger beer, and Slack Water, a low alcohol option. The front part of the pub is food oriented but there's an extension at the rear, which is more like a sports bar, and a beer garden too. I came back the next day after my cycle ride and had a beer in the garden. Beers, all in good or very good condition, were £4.90 a pint in the front (or two halves, in fact) but £4.60 at the back. Date of visit: 15th July 2023

Facebook page of the Fishmongers Tavern - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of the Fishmongers Tavern - www.facebook.com

Official site of the Fishmongers Tavern - www.fishmongerstavern.co.uk

Official site of the Fishmongers Tavern - www.fishmongerstavern.co.uk