For regional foods, specialist wines and delectable treats, nothing beats a good delicatessen and there are some excellent ones in North Norfolk to savour
Picnic Fayre, Cley-next-the-Sea
Set in the old forge on the high street in Cley-next-the-Sea, Picnic Fayre has been selling deliciousness since it opened in 1984. You’ll find every manner of artisan delight here: excellent locally-baked sourdough and viennoiserie (try one of the cruffins, a croissant-muffin hybrid filled with crème pâtissière – they’re incredible), cheese, charcuterie, groceries including olive oils, local honey, balsamic vinegar et al, and a great wine selection. You can buy takeout coffees and ice-creams from the hatch.
Picnic Fayre, High Street, Cley-next-the-Sea, NR25 7AP; picnic-fayre.co.uk
Humble Pie, Burnham Market
Set in the picturesque village of Burnham Market, Humble Pie has long been a go-to for foodies – since 1980, in fact. The counter groans with edible delights – think homemade quiches and pies, marinated olives, local cheese and homemade bread, while the sweet-toothed will love the fruit tarts, chocolatey bakes and cakes. Below Humble Pie you’ll find Gurneys Fish Shop, its bright exterior highly Instagrammable, which sells smoked fish, shellfish and wet fish, mainly landed locally. Hark our words: they do a divine fishcake.
Humble Pie, Market Place, Burnham Market, PE31 8HF; 01328 738581
Back To The Garden, Letheringsett
As well as being a café-restaurant – incidentally, set in a soaring 18th-century oak barn – Back To The Garden is also a well-stocked butcher, deli and shop. All the meat, except the rare breed, outdoor-reared pork, is raised organically at their farm (the maple-cured bacon is delicious), veggies are grown biodynamically, and you’ll find a good selection of gooey cheeses, charcuterie, homemade salads, cakes and more. Wines are selected in conjunction with well-known importers Fields, Morris & Verdin.
Back To The Garden, Letheringsett, Holt, NR25 7JJ; back-to-the-garden.co.uk
Thornham Deli, Thornham
Picnics to parties, Thornham Deli has you covered. From fresh patés and flavoursome pies to tarts and tortillas, you can find everything here, not to mention a smorgasbord of sweet treats, including macarons, biscuits and cakes. The freezer section is packed with freshly-made meals – ideal if you don’t want to spend your time slaving over a hot stove. There’s a restaurant and lifestyle shop, too. We’re loving the fact that environmental responsibility is key, including Tesla car charges in the carpark and 100% recyclable coffee cups.
Thornham Deli, High Street, Thornham, PE36 6LX; thornhamdeli.co.uk
The Norfolk Deli, Hunstanton
The Observer Food Monthly once describedThe Norfolk Deli as offering customers the “best of Norfolk produce and beyond”. The deli’s not long ago had a refurb and now has a cheese wall, with around multiple varieties available. Fromage aside, their wares run the gamut of antipasti to vinegar, sourced locally and from further afield including Andalusia, Greece, Italy, France, the Middle East and beyond. They’ll also put together grazing platters, sandwiches, ready meals and pre-prepared picnics on request.
The Norfolk Deli, Greevegate, Hunstanton, PE36 6AA; norfolk-deli.co.uk
Blakeney Deli, Blakeney
Tucked away on the sloping high street, Blakeney Deli is charming. Recently taken over by Emma Darby and Georgie Hall, the deli has a refreshed focus on stocking as much Norfolk-made produce as possible. And so you have cakes (you have to try the cheesecake), pastries, salads, sandwiches and ready meals made in the onsite kitchen, as well as shelves stacked with local goodies. Chocolate, chutneys, cider… you name it, you’ll find it. They also put together special packages and hampers including breakfast boxes and the Sun’s Down cheese box.
Blakeney Deli, High Street, Blakeney, NR25 7AL; blakeneydeli.co.uk
Walsingham Farm Shop, Little Walsingham
A farm shop-butchers-deli, Walsingham Farm Shop is all about sourcing locally. While their own Walsingham label is made by them, other products come from local suppliers or producers (their aim is for at least 75% of the range to come from within Norfolk, and 95% from the UK). There’s a deli and open kitchen, fresh fruit and veggies, store cupboard essentials, wine and local ales, and a butchery stocking estate farmed beef, pork and lamb from South Creake. Planning a celebration? Check out the DIY hog roasts and bespoke cakes.
Walsingham Farm Shop, Guild Street, Little Walsingham, NR22 6BU; walsingham.co
Star Plain Stores, Holt
If you’re after artisan cheese, wine and coffee, look no further than Star Plain Stores in Holt. Opened in 2021, owner Tom Brady is both passionate and highly knowledgeable about sourcing only the best from Britain, France, Spain and Italy – speciality coffee is from Climpson & Sons of London, while the cheeses cover Binham Blue to Medieval cheese produced in rural France, with an emphasis on natural, organic and biodynamic. Tom has recently opened a Cheese & Wine Lounge next door which serves an ever-changing menu that includes charcuterie boards, cheese plates, pizzas, salads and the perfect Ploughman’s.
Star Plain Stores, Fish Hill, Holt, NR25 6BD; starplainstores.com
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