A couple who took on a vacant pub a year ago has brought a slice of something different to a Norfolk Broads village.

Husband-and-wife duo Paul and Sarah Longley have been at the helm of The Horse and Groom in Rollesby, along the A149, since March 2022.

It had been empty for three years and before that was a Thai restaurant and takeaway.

It has an eclectic new look, complete with a resin bar, and it is also a hotel with work starting soon to renovate the 18 rooms.

Eastern Daily Press: Paul and Sarah Longley who run The Horse and Groom in Rollesby. Paul and Sarah Longley who run The Horse and Groom in Rollesby. (Image: Horse and Groom)

In late 2019, the couple launched The Piazza Wheel woodfired pizza business in a horsebox and due to its success they now have two vans and a separate mobile wood oven available for events. 

Mrs Longley, 49, who previously worked as a school teacher, said: "We had so many people asking for our pizzas so we needed more kitchen space, which led to us taking on the pub." 

Woodfired pizzas are available at The Horse and Groom on Tuesdays to Saturdays from 5pm, with delivery launching soon, alongside pub classics.

Eastern Daily Press: A woodfired pizza from The Horse and Groom. A woodfired pizza from The Horse and Groom. (Image: Horse and Groom)

There are also themed nights with Italian on Tuesdays, £1 jacket potatoes on Wednesdays and rotisserie chicken on Thursdays. 

There are games on Friday and live music on Saturdays, with £5 cocktails available, and woodfired Sunday roasts are on offer from midday until 4pm. 

Mrs Longley said: "People say we are a hidden gem and that there is nothing around here like this.

Eastern Daily Press: The resin bar at The Horse and Groom in Rollesby. The resin bar at The Horse and Groom in Rollesby. (Image: Horse and Groom)

"Initially we were just going to do pizza, but a lot of the people in the village also wanted classic pub food so we branched out to other things." 

They also offer a grazing table catering service which can be booked for private events in the pub or externally. 

Eastern Daily Press: A grazing table from The Horse and Groom in Rollesby. A grazing table from The Horse and Groom in Rollesby. (Image: Horse and Groom)

The pub has a tea room and shop stocking local produce, crafts and vintage clothing, which is open from 9.30am Wednesday to Friday and 10am at weekends through to 2.30pm with fry-ups, waffles, homemade cakes and more. 

She added: "If you are looking for something a little bit different then this is a good place to head."