Being a Norwich girl, I like to pride myself on knowing the best places to get a decent pint on a Friday evening, but this week's Great Norfolk Pub Guide may have just introduced me to a new favourite watering hole.
Tucked away on Bethel Street in the heart of the city centre, the Coach and Horses is believed to be one of Norwich's oldest pubs.
Situated in a beautiful listed building, parts of which are thought to date back as far as 1200AD, the pub itself is thought to be 17th century and it really is a beautiful space with its low, beamed ceilings and warm and cosy atmosphere. However, this gorgeous old pub is certainly keeping up with contemporary tastes offering a vast array of craft beers and real ales from a number of local breweries, as well as world tapas made from locally sourced produce.
Deciding to serve tapas may have been a bold move by new landlord Anthony Munro and bar manager Amy King, who took on the pub together just 10 months ago, but having previously worked together in the trade as chef and sous chef they were confident they could deliver delicious food to satisfy any customer's tastes and it certainly seems as though they've managed it.
The tapas is all freshly cooked to order and delivered to the table promptly, nicely presented and smelling divine, and the dishes we sampled certainly tasted as good as they looked.As soon as I walked in I was blown away by the décor of the pub, which is beautifully decorated and feels intimate and cosy but still spacious. Alongside the bar is the snug, with small traditional booths and a wall adorned with a map of Norwich that shows all the places in the city which were bombed during the Second World War. An incredible record of an important period in our local history.
The dining area has an impressive feature wall holding a huge number of wines within it, and candles on each table. There's even a bar billiards table, which has created a winning team! The bar itself is plenty big enough for the pub's regulars to prop up with an afternoon pint, some of whom have been drinking there since the 60s and have seen the Coach and Horses go through plenty of changes in that time. But its current incarnation seems to be keeping them more than satisfied and I think that's largely due to the atmosphere Amy and Ant have created.
It was important to them when they took over the Coach and Horses that their friendship and relaxed, welcoming attitudes came through to create a friendly and happy environment for their customers, and you can feel it as soon as you walk in. Amy, having two gorgeous chihuahuas, is more than happy to welcome four-legged customers into the pub, and everyone that walks in is greeted by friendly, fun staff who are more than happy to answer questions or give recommendations.
The Coach and Horses is known as 'the Theatre pub', being situated just a street away from Norwich Theatre Royal and it's not unlikely that you'd spot a famous face fresh from treading the boards sat enjoying a post-performance drink.The pub is also the perfect setting for theatre goers to eat before a show, or indeed after as the Coach and Horses serves food until 11pm.
Although the pub is so impressive, I could see myself settling in for the night and not actually making it to the theatre! I'm already planning my next visit, and can't believe this gem has been just minutes away and I'd never visited before. It's definitely a pub that makes me proud of my home city.
Six of the Best with Coach and Horses, Bethel Street Landlord, Anthony Munro.
When is the best time to visit your pub?
Pre or post theatre.
What is the best memory you have of your pub?
Four guys in drag, dancing behind the bar after The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
What is the best pint you serve?
They're all good.
What is the best dish on your menu?
The shredded beef.
What is the best hangover cure known to man?
A full English breakfast.
And what is the best pub to visit in Norfolk, other than your own?
This one's the best, so why would you go anywhere else?!
Watch The Great Norfolk Pub Guide in association with Lacons on The Mustard Show this Friday (6.30pm on Mustard TV, Freeview Ch7 or Virgin Ch159).
Catch up on the whole series by searching 'Great Norfolk Pub Guide' on the Norfolk Now YouTube channel.
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