The Angel, Norwich

Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Angel

Two room village pub that was my first stop on a tour of Norfolk pubs. I chose the room to the left-hand side where the landlady was accompanied by 3 locals. Things went a bit quiet when I entered, but things started warming up a little when the landlady engaged me in conversation.

The pub only sources Norfolk & Suffolk ales, ciders and other products such as coffee and wines. They claim to have stocked 170 different beers in 2024. At the bar, each beer has a jar in front of the handpull, to let you see what you are ordering. The 5 cask ales were Bruha Meraki Stout, Moon Gazer Jumper, Humpty Dumpty Little Sharpie, Mr Winter's Citrus Kiss & Barsham BOB. When I enquired about ciders, I was shown a list with what was still available - Crones Special Reserve & User Friendly, Giggler Dry Orchard & Sweet Caroline, Village Green Sweet Country Cider & Classic Dry Cider & Whin Hill Dabinett, Norfolk Growler, Perry & Norfolk Brandy Perry. Cocktails were also promoted, as were olives and other snacks. There was a jar of rabbit jerky on the bar.

The room to the left has a wood burner, a dartboard and various board games on a shelf behind the bar. Seating is by way of stools around the bar, along the windowsill or a high table alongside the dartboard. There are a few pumpclips on the walls and beams. The bar itself is stone with a wooden top.

A raised area to the left has mixed furniture with artwork on the walls, whilst a room down a couple of steps to the rear has a piano and a barrel for a table, as well as a bar billiard table. The gents can be found off this room are are very well appointed.

Whilst I didn't venture into the room on the right-hand side, I could hear a TV with the Cheltenham Festival horse racing on. An outdoor patio to the rear was in the process of being re-developed.

With a couple of ciders I'd never seen before on offer, I stayed for two and engaged in conversation with both the landlord and landlady. You could tell that they had a real dedication to their pub and business. The pub feels a little on the posh side, but the quality and range of the beers and ciders on offer and the passion shown by the owners make this a real gem worth seeking out. I've visited a fair few pubs around the country, but I've have no hesitation putting this one in my top 100.

On 16^th March 2025 - rating: 9
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