The Hill House, Norwich

Lovely, comfortable old pub, basically L shaped with a long bar at the front and a couple of rooms down the right hand side. The name of the village is a bit of a shibboleth, the local pronunciation being “Hazeburra”. So where do I start to describe a proper pub like this with an abundance of interesting “stuff”? Is it the ashtray made from a Zeppelin bomb or the photos of the landlord’s family around one of Churchill, or maybe the bookcases or the Conan Doyle connections? There’s a plaque saying the Sherlock Holmes story “The Dancing Men” was written here but that might be code for something. Internally there’s plain white walls with nautical and other paintings, horse brasses and photos, exposed brick where it should be - round the fireplaces and a carpet, the ceiling beams look genuine too. Down the side are two more rooms, sitting in the first and a pool table in the second room. All traditional furnishings, brown wood banquettes etc at the front and lighter pine further back. In a nod to modernity there’s a screen and juke box at the far left end by the toilets. Beer wise there are six pulls; today’s choice being two from Greene King, two from Mr Winters inc a stout, and a cider, the on-site brewery is meant to be up and running later this year, 2022.

Official site of The Hill House - www.hillhouseinn.co.uk

Official site of The Hill House - www.hillhouseinn.co.uk

The Hill House has the feeling of a genuinely ancient pub. It is at least Georgian. The building is rendered in white. Internally, there are two rooms - a bar area and an unvisited restaurant area. There is a feeling of 70s clutter about the place. Mrs Staal called it 'tatty' but I certainly didn't feel that. It reminded me of pubs I used to go to with my parents in the Dark Ages when I was a child. It had cream coloured walls with maritime, local and pub related ephemera on display. There was a pool table on the left as you entered the bar area. Beer wise, there was the usual stuff with a big plastic barrel of scrumpy cider on the bar and a real cider on hand pull. Real ales were Blackwater Ska, Hopback Crop Circle, Buffy's Dolly's Folly and Inveralmond Thrappledouser. The Ska and Dolly's Folly were delicious. Service was very good, and the landlord came over to us to share his knowledge of the recent archaeological dig at the place. We ate sandwiches from the menu. I had crab and Mrs Staal had prawn. Both were delicious. This was another excellent Norfolk pub. Mrs Staal may not agree with me, but I really liked the place.