Our Favourite Dog Friendly pubs and cafes in East Norfolk
If there's one thing many of us love to indulge in it's good food and drink! And lucky for you Norfolk is packed with a variety of pubs and cafes, many of them very dog friendly. We asked our guests where they and their dogs loved to go during their stay at our cottages, here's their top suggestions for the best dog-friendly pubs and cafes in our patch of East Norfolk.
Within
Walking Distance
Hill House, The Hill, Happisburgh, NR12 0PW
Walk here from: The Crib and White Cottage - a short walk. Manor Barn, The Walnut, The Peanut and Bumblebee Cottage are a little bit further.
Literally up the street from most of our Happisburgh Cottages, Hill House is a cosy, welcoming pub, dating back to 1550. Packed with period features, the pub features a central bar, dining room and a large beer garden. The kitchen serves up tasty home-cooked pub cuisine using seasonal ingredients, locally sourced produce and meats. At the bar there's a large selection of soft drinks and spirits to choose from, as well as wine, beer, cider and ales, some brewed by the on-site brewery!
"The Hill
House staff were welcoming enough to allow our six dogs in and kind enough to
let us take our meals back to The Crib when they started to play up! We
returned the plates the next day."
Sal Hickinson
The Star, School Road, Lessingham, NR12 ODN
Walk here from: Thatch Cottage, Corner Cottage, The Walnut, Bumblebee Cottage and The Peanut  A longer stroll from Sand Drift, The Lobster and Dormy but well worth it.
The Star is one of those wonderful places that everyone knows about... but no-one
tells you about (probably because we like to keep this gem of a place all to
ourselves!) Situated on a quiet country road, this pub won Rural Pub of the
Year in the CAMRA 2017 awards. There's a bar and lounge area, both with big
tables and comfy seats and a great selection of drinks including a regular
selection of local and guest ales. Food-wise, choose from traditional pub grub,
daily specials and a yummy Sunday roast! There are lots of vegetarian options
to choose from too.
"The Star in
Lessingham has great food and beer and always a great welcome for the dogs!"
Graham Farrow
Reefs Bar, Beach Road, Sea Palling, NR12 0AL
Happily situated right next to an award winning blue flag beach, The Reef bar really
comes into its own in the summer. But don't count it out for winter, especially
on a Sunday! Open all day, every day, Reefs really prides itself on being dog
friendly, with water bowls, a dog biscuit vending machine and even a dog ball
vending machine! Very handy if you lose your ball on the beach! There's a great
selection of food and drink on offer and of course the well-known and popular
local carvery!
"We love the
Reef at Sea Palling, especially their Sunday Carvery! We like to pop in with
our little pack after a long walk on the beach."
Irene Grubb
The Fisherman's Return, The Lane, Winterton-on-Sea, NR29 4BN
Walk here
from:
Hidden Gem, Skylark, Ruby Gem, Beachcomber and Jack's Shack.
The Fisherman's Return is a picturesque 300 year old brick and flint Freehouse, just
a few minutes walk from the dunes and long sandy beaches of Winterton. The bar
serves up to five real ales as well as Westons Old Rosie Cider, plus soft
drinks, on-tap beers, wine and spirits. Cosy up next to the wood burning stove
and order a delicious freshly prepared meal made from locally sourced
ingredients. Being close to the sea, fish naturally features prominently on the
specials board.
Visit The
Fishermans Return website
Poppy's, Beach Road, Winterton-on-sea, NR29 4AJ
Walk here from:
Hidden Gem, Skylark, Ruby Gem, Jack's Shack and Beachcomber.
This bustling little café offers a range of delicious homemade cakes and drinks, along with full English breakfasts, sandwiches and
seaside specials. Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegetarian and children's options
are all available.
Dogs are welcome inside and out on the patio There's also water bowls on-hand for that
post-beach walk and treat bags for sale inside.
Just down the
road...
Poppylands, Delph Farm Waxham Rd, Horsey, NR29 4EQ
Get ready to step back in time! Poppylands Café is a 1940's
haven of cosiness and nostalgia. From spot-on décor, to the 'ration book' menu
and themed dishes such as the 'Dambusters' breakfast bap this place is a real
treat for the senses and the tummy. There's even Spam on the menu, Spam! Don't
miss the delicious afternoon tea or the substantial Sunday lunch - certainly
not a rationed portion! Dogs aren't allowed in the main café area but they are
welcomed in the upstairs area which is just as much themed fun as the ground
floor! There's also a pretty courtyard outside.
"Poppylands
in Horsey has to be one of our favourites."
Jordan Wardle
Visit the Poppylands Facebook Page
Smallsticks Café, Cart Gap, Happisburgh, NR12 0QL
Walk here
from:
Dormy, The Lobster, Sand Drift, White Cottage and The Crib.
Hidden
away along a quiet country lane and just 200m from sandy Cart Gap beach,
Smallsticks is a delightful, dog-friendly café that serves up cooked
breakfasts, yummy lunches, delicious cakes, moreish ice cream and an epic fish
and chips straight off the boat and farm next door! Dogs are welcome in the
fully enclosed courtyard garden and in the specially made beach huts with tables and chairs - ideal for the colder weather. Enjoy a a view of famous Happisburgh Lighthouse in the distance.
The Kingfisher Café, Coast Rd, Walcott, Norwich NR12 0AP
Walk here from: Rose Cottage and Seaview Cottage and along the cliff top from White Cottage and The Crib.
If
you're on the hunt for a traditional English caff, then the Kingfisher is the
place for you. It's literally right opposite the beach at Walcott so you can
enjoy your food with the sound of the sea in the background! Packed out during
the summer months, this little café comes into its own in winter, when it's
much quieter and you can hang out with the friendly locals. As you might
imagine the cooked breakfasts are super popular!
"We love the
Kingfisher cafe in Walcott! Four of us stayed locally with eight Labradors and
we were made very welcome to the cafe! Their full breakfasts are the best!"
Karen Minn
Visit the Kingfisher Café Facebook page
Watsons, Coast Road, Bacton, NR12 0EU
Walk here from: Rose Cottage and Seaview Cottage
Cooked
breakfasts that feel like they're trying to escape your plate, breakfast baps
stacked higher than Norwich Cathedral, boulder-sized scones and cake slices
that are literally as big as your dog's head, Watson's doesn't scrimp
when it comes to serving up delicious food. Dogs are made very welcome in the
café, in fact on some days they outnumber the amount of humans in there. The
café has free parking at the front and sells
a range of pretty makes from local crafters and artists.
"Sugar &
Spice at Bacton has great all day breakfasts plus lots more. Plus it's super
dog friendly. In fact, we've found Norfolk to be extremely dog friendly."
Wendy Garrard
Visit the Watsons Facebook page
The Lion, The Street, Thurne, NR29 3AP
Winner
of the East Norfolk CAMRA Pub of the Year Award for 2019 The Lion loves dogs and
even lists local walks on its website! Your fur babies are allowed in all
sections of the bar area, where you can choose from a wide selection of wines,
beers, ciders, gins (there's a whole gin menu so try and get out driving if you
can!) and real ales, there's also lots soft drinks to chose from. The food here
is delish, with traditional fayre such as sausage and mash, fish and chips, pie
and mash and steak all present and correct on the menu! There's also pizza,
burgers, sandwiches and lots of vegetarian and vegan options.
"I can highly
recommend The Lion at Thurne, dogs welcome and a lovely garden too! Opposite
the river Thurne so a good walk is essential too! Lots of vegan, vegetarian and
GF meals! We love it!"
Laura Jane
Doree
