The Bull Inn, Walsingham

Old, well most things in Walsingham are, pub in village centre. Two rooms with additional spaces off plus garden front and rear. The counter is in the right hand space that was once two rooms and so it’s up a couple of steps. Three pulls with Adnams, Wherry and Doombar plus the expected kegs. My Wherry was good to excellent. Wall plaster has been removed in places showing the various changes made over the years. Mix of boards and tartan carpet on the floor, the furniture is an eclectic mix of styles and materials, needless to say what woodwork there is is grey. There’s a cabinet of 20th century curios in the leftmost room. Pre Reformation the village was home to number two (after Canterbury) in the pilgrimage league table, it still attracts religious and otherwise pilgrims so gets rammed in summer, the locals however are fairly sweary.

The Bull Inn is situated between Walsingham Abbey and the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in this religious and touristy village and is now the only pub serving real ale in the village, namely Wherry & Ghost Ship. The pub possessed plenty of character, with religious frescoes above the bar and other religious items scattered around. There is a basic room primarily used for dining to the right hand side of the main bar, whilst a tiny snug at the rear is quite atmospheric. With a small outdoor drinking patio at the front, this does feel like a proper pub, despite the obvious tourist appeal of the village.