Green Dragon Tavern, Wymondham

This is a cracking little timber framed, black and white pub in an intriguing market town. A mediaeval merchant’s house, this has the atmosphere of having been a pub for centuries, a spirit of conviviality. A front room, laid up with tables and chairs, accessing the internal bar by way of a kind of porthole.Further along the centre passage, a snug,screened from without by a high backed settle. On our mid week lunchtime visit, the woodstove in the fireplace was unlit, due to the pleasant April sunshine.A smallish bar top, with four handpumps, serving Adnams Southwold Bitter, and three guests, from Norfolk Brewhouse and Robinsons. Befitting the age of the house, the floors in the snug were of uneven red tiles showing a good deal of wear. The quality of the chamfering of the main beams attests to the historic status of the Dragon. Further back, in a Victorian service wing, is a small dining room decorated with old bills of sale and similar memorabilia, and a wonderfully distressed dresser. As a town centre pub, there was a good mix of drinkers and diners, and it was good to hear a few local voices. Food was enjoyable, service friendly, and I particularly appreciated the Moon Gazer Dark Mild from Norfolk Brewhouse.Though not a spirits drinker, I noted a large collection of Single Malts behind the bar.

This 14th Century Inn is well worth a visit. There were four ales on handpump on our visit, I went for Grain 316 and Nethergate Umbel Magna. The other two ales that were on were Adnams Southwold and Green Jack Orange Wheat Beer. We called in just after lunch and the pub had quietened off, so it was great to get a seat in the bar area next to the wood burning stove.