From the freshest of coffee to a locally sourced Full English, here’s where you can breakfast like a king or queen
The Old Store, Snettisham
A microbakery and coffee shop, which also serves an excellent brunch. Provenance is key here with meat sourced from two villages away, salmon kiln smoked at Staithe Smokehouse, cultured butter from The Edinburgh Butter Company… plus delicious sourdough, cakes and pastries which are made in-house. The menu covers brunch every which way, from the Full English and Truffled Mushrooms on Toast to the Buttermilk Pancake Stack and Poached Eggs with Smashed Avocado and Chilli Jam. The coffee is from the Norfolk Coffee Company based near Holt, and the smoothies are great (we’re loving ‘The Mean Green’ – a healthy blend of banana, kale, spinach, avocado, ‘Sproud’ peas milk and agave).
The Old Store, 5 Pedlars Mews, Snettisham, PE31 7XQ; theoldstorenorfolk.co.uk
The Parlour, Binham
The Parlour is a popular destination for brunch-lovers – and rightly so. It’s set in a beautifully converted 17th century barn, on a working dairy farm in Binham (you can see the cows from the windows), with flint walls, exposed beams and a soaring ceiling. But it’s not just the location you come for – it’s the food (they also do lunch and afternoon tea with excellent cakes, pastries and scones). Again, much of it is locally sourced and they use milk from the farm, of course. The menu is comprehensive – will it be the Parlour Full English, Huevos rancheros or the deliciously fluffy Scotch pancakes? Afterwards, work it off by exploring the ancient ruins of the adjacent Binham Priory.
The Parlour, Warham Road, Binham, NR21 0DQ; theparlourbinham.co.uk
Back to the Garden, Holt
Back to the Garden, just outside Holt, is many things: farm shop, deli, café, restaurant. You could easily stay a couple of hours here. Breakfast/brunch is served under the soaring 18th century oak ceiling or, if it’s warm, in the lavender scented garden. The menu has something for everyone. We are particularly partial to the Garden breakfast: smashed avocado on toasted sourdough with poached egg, roasted tomatoes, coriander and feta cheese – add smoked salmon for a gourmet flourish. And the Brioche French Toast – streaky bacon and banana with maple and peanut butter syrup – will more than satisfy the sweet-toothed. If you like your coffee strong, this is the place to go.
Back to the Garden, Holt, NR25 7JJ; www.back-to-the-garden.co.uk
Wiveton Hall, Wiveton
You might well recognise Wiveton Hall from the BBC documentary series Normal for Norfolk, which followed the efforts of owner Desmond MacCarthy as he tried to keep his 17th century manor afloat. A few years on, and the flint-faced, Dutch-gables manor house continues to thrive. What’s particularly wonderful about Wiveton is the bright and cheery cafe, which offers stunning views across the marsh and out to sea. Breakfasts cater to all tastes – from the pared back toast with Wiveton jam (Wiveton grows its own fruit in the summer) to the full monty of sausage, bacon, field mushrooms, tomatoes, poached egg and toast. Adults will love the fact that there’s ample space for kids to run around outside, plus there’s a small shop and pretty gardens to explore in summer.
Wiveton Hall, Holt, NR25 7TE; wivetonhall.co.uk
Bang, Wells-next-the-Sea
Family run Bang in Wells, is a popular haunt with both locals and holiday makers alike. Open daily their brunches showcase the most delicious home cooked dishes you’d expect – traditional full English; eggs Royale; eggs Benedict; and stacks of warm buttermilk pancakes with berry compotes, caramelised apple, jugs of maple syrup and dry cured bacon – all washed down with lashings of proper coffee, loose leaf teas and a Bang Bloody Mary! Burn off the calories with a wander down to the Quay and pretty walk along the scenic path and down to the beach. Booking is recommended.
2 Staithe Street, Wells, Norfolk NR23 1AF; banginwells.co.uk
The Old Rock Shop Bistro, Cromer
You know somewhere is a promising breakfast destination when it has not one, not two but three breakfast menus – The Old Rock Shop Bistro offers one for the week, another for the weekend and another for specials. All are great, especially for a Saturday or Sunday blow-out, but we’re particularly loving the Autumnal Weekend Breakfast Special. Think the likes of Hedgerow Bramble Porridge & Pancakes, and Sauteéd Mushrooms on Toast – accompanied, of course, by the signature Bistro Bloody Mary. You’ll never want to leave this warm and welcoming bistro, but nothing beats a blustery walk along Cromer beach. Booking is advised.
The Old Rock Shop Bistro, 10 Hamilton Road, Cromer, NR27 9HL; theoldrockshopbistro.co.uk
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