The Brisley Bell, Brisley, near Dereham, Norfolk - Explore & Book

"The Bell might just have cracked the seemingly impossible: a village pub where everyone feels happy to hang out whether for a relaxed drink, a good meal or a spoiling night’s stay. And it's all wrapped up in stylishly quirky good looks that feel entirely at home in their surrounds.Marcus Seaman and Amelia Nicholson returned to their Norfolk roots to rescue the near-derelict drinking haunt of their youth and turn the handsome brick-and-flint Georgian building into a polished yet relaxed 21st-century version of a coaching inn. Stripped-wood and stone-flagged floors, exposed brick walls and inglenook fireplaces, comfortable leather chairs and scrubbed tables give the feel of a country inn; candelabras, velvet curtains, deep-hued walls and potted plants give an understated elegance. Bedrooms – astonishingly created out of livestock sheds – are similarly stylishly rustic, with antiques jostling modern art and bold colours. Linger over drinks in the snug or jolly bar – with its vast polished-copper bar-top – or under the pergola in the garden while planning tomorrow’s day-trip: perhaps coastal walks, seal-spotting trips or seaside-y Cromer. Then fuel up on punchy, fuss-free, rather good food with a focus on great quality and locally sourced meat and fish. Highs Bold and individual bedrooms with a well-judged, uncluttered mix of antiques and re-purposed pieces, plus spoiling bathroomsImaginative planting, a covered patio – with vine-wrapped tree – and pretty pergola make for a restful and scenic gardenGenuinely warm and inviting welcome, with a real sense of being a temporary part of the local sceneVariety of places to drink and eat including a cosy snug, lively fire-warmed bar and elegant garden room Lows It’s Norfolk, so the surrounds are rather flatIt is a popular eating and drinking destination amongst locals, so can be lively, especially at weekendsNo (quiet) sitting-room apart from a couple of fireside sofas in the snug and barNote that there's a reduced food offering on Mondays & Tuesdays" - Helen Pickles