Norwich pub and bar guide

Here's a guide to the pubs and bars of Norwich - good or bad, we bring you the most talked about venues and the places you have to visit at least once. We've included a few user reviews, to give you an idea of what to expect when you get there. Or you can follow the links to see full details and all reviews for each pub.

The Fat Cat, Norwich

picture of The Fat Cat, Norwich

Address: 49, West End St, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 4NA [map]
Phone: 01603 624364
See full pub details


Nearest train station: Norwich (1.5 miles)


Reviews by BITE users:

Always more than 24 real ales on at a time when I've visited...and their beers of the world selection is great for non-beardies. Given they know how to serve ale you know that the pint in your hand has been given the best chance to shine that it is going to get outside its natural home!! Always been able to strike up an interesting converrsation in here too (so that is why the missus loves it!). So...Good Beer, Good service, Good Conversation - make this a must see on your next trip to "Norwich - A Fine City"
14 May 2008 13:59
Agree with all previous comments (well except for bobotinks - why come to a pub like this and drink Stella?)

This is a fine pub. Has an excellent range of drink - there's the Fat Cat's own brews (of which I sampled the Top Cat and the Stout - both very good) numerous real ales, eight belgian beers on tap (oh if only I had time to sample these!) ciders and bottled beers.

Great olde world style pub, and very well kept. Just out of the city centre, so no townies. Friendly staff are the icing on this alcoholic cake.

Very recommended!
4 May 2008 01:28
Wicked pub!! There like 40 beer on tap!!.....Still choose stella though ;O)
22 Apr 2008 02:13

The Kings Arms, Norwich

picture of The Kings Arms, Norwich

Address: 22, Hall Rd, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 3HQ [map]
Phone: 01603 766361
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Nearest train station: Norwich (0.6 miles)


Reviews by BITE users:

The Kings Arms still manages to be one of the best beer pubs in the city. Although it's now owned by Bateman's (so has to stock their beers), there is always a good selection of constantly changing guest beers. You'll find Adnams Bitter and Hopback Summer Lightming and a Wolf beer on all the time, Castlerock Harvest Pale is available much of the time (as it's so popular) but the other 4 or 5 beers could be from almost anywhere (sometimes local, often not). And in the evening you can bring in food from the nearby takeaway food outlets! It's one pub I try to visit at least once a week (not easy in a city with so much choice).
8 Apr 2008 09:28
There's so many nice things about this pub - a great choice of good quality beers, a pleasant, cosy atmosphere (no jukebox or fruit machines) and excellent food. However, I have one major grumble - they can be over-zealous in clearing the pub at closing time. On a couple of occasions this winter they've used the extremely annoying tactic of opening the doors and letting the ice-cold air blown in from outside, in the hope it'll make you hurry your last pint. I find this very irritating - particularly if you're sat at the bar, just yards from the doors. A simple "drink up gentleman, please" would suffice. If anyone from the pub reads this review, please stop doing this - it's guaranteed to cheese off even loyal regulars!
30 Mar 2008 15:22
Another excellent Norwich pub. Many hand pumped ales possibly 12. I am afraid no notes or phone reminders on this pub so I will definitely be back to review again. I know they had a TV with the well known Satellite broadcaster who provides sport. I believe good value food was also available.
24 Mar 2008 14:45

The Rose, Norwich

picture of The Rose, Norwich

Address: 235, Queens Rd, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 3AE [map]
Phone: 01603 767713
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Nearest train station: Norwich (0.5 miles)


Reviews by BITE users:

hi everyone, i just wanted to invite you all to our next beer festival it starts
Friday 6TH July - Sunday 15th July
Sausage and Beer Summer festival at the Rose pub (235 Queens road, Norwich)
We would like to welcome all, to our second sausage and beer festival of the year, for this summerfest we have chosen the region of Staffordshire to supply us with 24 different types of beer, from eight different breweries. Accompanying these fine beers we also have 26 local beers all from independent breweries around our region.
Entertainment throughout the festival includes- race night for charity, Pool tournament, wine tasting, sausage and beer tasting, quiz night and lots, lots more.
With food being served every lunchtime 12-2.30pm and 6-9pm every evening and authentic curries served 5-10.30pm every evening
So please come along and support your local breweries and taste some fine beer at the same time!!
30 Jun 2008 12:23
Just thought I should praise this pub, this was the final of a crawl of pubs a group of us finished with on Saturday night.
We had never been before, I was very impressed with the friendliness of the people and the bar staff, also I would recommend this pub to anyone who loves foreign beers, this pub has it all, many ales from all over Britain, and were serving Good Indian food. Although I only visit Norwich 3 times a year, this will be one I will be heading back to when I return.
25 Mar 2008 14:34
The last pub from yesterdays post football ale crawl. As the below comment states they currently have their beer festival on. I am not to sure how many ales were available but a very wide choice. A very friendly pub both staff and customers. Yesterday was the curry tasting event as well. I tasted the madras curry once officially and once sneakily. As it had been quite a session yesterday we were rather hungry by now. I thought I better order an official one now and pay for it.
23 Mar 2008 16:08

Trafford Arms, Norwich

picture of Trafford Arms, Norwich

Address: 61 Grove Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 3RL [map]
Phone: 01603 628466
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Nearest train station: Norwich (0.8 miles)


Reviews by BITE users:

A once excellent pub, with a great selection of ales.

Plenty of room inside, and a limited number of seats outside for the summer or smoking.

Pool table, and big screen for sports. Does standard pub food at a reasonable price.

Recent departures of fit barmaids has diminished the pub in my eyes, though.

Overall, a good pub to spend a few hours in.
25 May 2008 15:38
Another fantastic pub on our Norwich crawl on Saturday. Things are starting to get a bit hazy now but at least I had some scant notes & phone pics.
A large imposing pub when you first spot it. A pub has been on this site since the about the 1860's but it was completely rebuilt after being bombed in 1942. There is a good history of the pub on their website.
10 hand pumps were in use but 9 different ales were available on Saturday. I understand 3 of the beers are permanent Adnams Best, Woodfordes Wherry and Tetleys. This means the other 6 or 7 pumps alter quite regularly so I will not bother listing. We all decided to have two halves of different beer; I had Timothy Taylor's Dark Mild and as it was very near to my birthday a Bateman's Aries Ale.
24 Mar 2008 14:13
Still excellent elcomimg Pub with good food and fine ales. Real cider also served and a good selection of bottled beers available
1 Mar 2008 14:52

The Wig and Pen, Norwich

picture of The Wig and Pen, Norwich

Address: 6 St. Martins Palace Plain, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 1RN [map]
Phone: 01603 625891
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Nearest train station: Norwich (0.6 miles)


Reviews by BITE users:

Great range of well kept ale. Quite compact inside but has some outside seating over-looking the square.
5 Jul 2008 18:22
Lovely pub near (and much more worth visting than) the Cathedral
27 Mar 2008 13:48
A flying visit whilst passing as we had all been here once before. Another great Norwich pub but only a half in this pub. I think 6 hand pumps were available here. I went for Tipples Moonrocket as never seen it before and the others went for Buffy's Norwich Terrier. I made the mistake as the Buffy's Norwich Terrier was in fine form and lovely.
23 Mar 2008 19:50

The Reindeer Ale House, Norwich

picture of The Reindeer Ale House, Norwich

Address: 10 Dereham Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 4AY [map]
Phone: 01603 762223
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Nearest train station: Norwich (1.1 miles)


Reviews by BITE users:

Excellent pub serving well-kept Elgood Ales. Barman very friendly and helpful. A pub certianly worth visiting!
27 Mar 2008 13:44
A friendly and welcoming Elgood's owned pub. The barman was friendly and seemed quite experienced behind the bar. He served another customer before he took our food order but asked if it was ok. This was our second pub on yesterdays pre football ale crawl. Five Elgood's beers were on and 3 genuine guests. I had the Black Dog Mild which was very good. We decided to make this our food pub and most of our group ordered the cheese burger and chips. This did not take to long to arrive and was quite tasty. A large screen was showing the early Premiership match.
23 Mar 2008 17:27
A year on since my last visit and things just keep getting better. The full range of Elgoods beers are served along with three guests from Micros like Castle Rock. Food is still excellent value for money. the Staff are friendly and cheery too.
1 Mar 2008 14:49

The Coach and Horses, Norwich

picture of The Coach and Horses, Norwich

Address: 82 Thorpe Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 1BA [map]
Phone: 01603 477077
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Nearest train station: Norwich (0.2 miles)


Reviews by BITE users:

Visited this pub over the weekend on a football tour. Great range of beers brewed on site at their own Chalk Hill brewery. My favourite was the Gold @ 4.3 %. Very drinkable on a warm summers afternoon.
11 May 2008 20:17
Like others have already commented an excellent pub close to the train station. This is the brewery tap for Chalk Hill. I have visited this pub many times and a visit to Norwich would not be complete if this is not included. I reviewed this pub last year but stupidly included the web site and it was removed. No flash pump clips here, Chalk Hill beers do not need any help to sell their beer. Only time for one pint here last night and went for the excellent Flintknapper's mild again.

The Coach and Horses does not have a pool table, juke box or fruit machines. It does however have a TV for the football and is not on all the time. I have sampled their food on previous visits and there is a blackboard to your right as you arrive. On it all the daily special dishes are listed. Quite a number will be sold out if you arrive later in the day. The pub believes in serving you the full pint and always in out size lined glasses.
17 Apr 2008 23:31
Had some spare minutes waiting at the station so took a quick walk up Thorpe Road to this interesting brew-pub. Had a nice pint of their Flintknapper's mild (quite strong at 5%) before dashing back to catch my train. Glad I made the effort - it finished off my visit to Norwich very nicely.
27 Feb 2008 23:09

The Belgian Monk, Norwich

picture of The Belgian Monk, Norwich

Address: 7 Pottergate, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 1DS [map]
Phone: 01603 767222
See full pub details


Nearest train station: Norwich (0.7 miles)


Reviews by BITE users:

One of the best pubs on our pre and post football ale crawl yesterday. About 8 handpumped belgium beers on draught from what I remember Grimbergen Dubbel, Grimbergen Blonde, Kwak and Kriek.
A very friendly pub from the staff and manageress. There seemed a nice atmosphere last night whilst we were there. Quite a mix of customers visiting yesterday from young student types to more mature people.
I will definitely visit again when I return to Norwich later this year.
23 Mar 2008 11:35
A bit on the pricey side, but the excellent Belgian beers and food are well worth it as a treat.
18 Jan 2008 16:16
top pub with about 20 belgian beers ranging from grimbergen blonde to kwak.
21 Dec 2007 11:28

The Duke of Wellington, Norwich

Address: 93 Waterloo Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 1EG [map]
Phone: 01603 441182
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Nearest train station: Norwich (1.3 miles)


Reviews by BITE users:

We went to this pub on the walk from the Fat Cat to the Cider Shed. Another excellent Norwich pub with possibly more on offer than the Fat Cat. 5 ales on hand pump and 14 from the tap room. On hand pump was London Pride, Elgoods Black Dog Mild, Wolf Golden Jackal & Straw Dog and Crouch Vale Golden Delicious. Quite a number of local beers were available as well as some of the best known and popular in the country. The pub was very friendly and quite large. The beer prices were the best we saw all day. They ranged from £1.90 for the Black Dog Mild and all beers were £2.50 or under.
18 Apr 2008 00:06
About a twenty minute walk from Norwich city Centre, the Duke is a fime local, with about twenty real ales on at a time, the majority being Gravity served. The Landlord could not have been more friendly, even letting us know when he'd just put onb three new beers. The quality of beers served was the best I had at any Pub in norwich, and that is up against some very stiff competition. Don't miss it if you are in Norwich
1 Mar 2008 14:43
Another great Norwich pub - similar to the Fat Cat in terms of real ales on handpump and direct from the barrels in the back room, so I don't see why it has got so few reviews in comparison (19 against 138 at the moment). The impromptu folk music session (not everybody's thing I know) going on in the back of the large bar made my visit just about perfect. Can another 5 people please visit, review and rate a.s.a.p. as I reckon that this place deserves to be in the top 40...
27 Feb 2008 22:32

The Alexandra Tavern, Norwich

Address: 16 Stafford Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 3BB [map]
Phone: 01603 627772
See full pub details


Nearest train station: Norwich (1.5 miles)


Reviews by BITE users:

A good selection of well-kept ales - always including CHB and a couple of guest beers - excellent food, a pleasant atmosphere and friendly staff and locals, the Alex is a down-to-earth boozer that's equally good in winter (when there's a roaring fire in the lounge bar) or in the summer (when you can sit at the tables or park your pint on the barrels outside). If you're fortunate enough to live in the Earlham Road-dreham Road area, then you probably - and should - already know this pub. But if not, it's well worth the 25 minute walk from the city centre. All in all, the perfect Local.
6 Jun 2008 18:03
Varied Ales, Lovely atmosphere, friendly staff, good food. Excellent place to have a few jars!
14 May 2008 13:46
friendly pub, usually a few characters about. sells CHB which is good. ideal pub for a quiet sunday afternnon pint. peramnebt fixture in good beer guide.
21 Dec 2007 11:25

Belle Vue, Norwich

Address: 46 St Phillips Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 3BL [map]
See full pub details


Nearest train station: Norwich (1.5 miles)


Reviews by BITE users:

the belle vue is alright, the locals are entertaining enough and the girls are pretty fit even if they can be a bit stroppy, i'll tell you what though the kitchen manager in that dive is to die for, she,s gorgeous, intelligent, fun,well-dressed,unsmelly and i wouldn't say no to one or two of her fishcakes. i strongly suggest a visit to admire this goddess in all her glory. careful of the snakeface!
24 Mar 2008 16:29
i found this pub very friendly and nice its a city pub as they used to be.
13 Mar 2008 19:28
pleasant enough, young persons pub, friendly staff, worth a visit.
21 Dec 2007 11:24

The Murderers, Norwich

Address: 2/8, Timber Hill, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 3LB [map]
Phone: 01603 621447
See full pub details


Nearest train station: Norwich (0.5 miles)


Reviews by BITE users:

Nice interior- the space is broken up with lots of wooden beams which creates the impression of a warren of small spaces, quite like a London pub. Signs outside adverise it as Norwich's premier real ale venue but it's very far from being that- in fact there are only 3 or 4 real ales, predictable choices from national brewers eg London Pride, and whilst drinkable they aren't served in great condition. Quite food orientated and definitely less 'themed' than other city centre venues- worth visit.
16 May 2008 22:32
I think this is a very lovely pub and i am happy with the service. I think the dude who supports ipswich is very fuuny even tho ipswich are rubbish. i am a southend supporter myself.
11 Apr 2008 17:52
I visited this pub for the first time last Friday, for a colleagues leaving do. I'd never been there before but was pleasantly surprised. Instead of the cheap, generic city centre bar I had been expecting, I entered into a cosy, warm pub, full of life and atmostphere, with a GREAT range of drinks.

A few friends complained about the prices, but the quality of their Beers and Wines was by far superior to any Wetherspoons shite you can drown your sorrows with nowadays.

I didn't sample the menu, but i've been told that the food is hearty and flavoursome. The staff were very friendly and happy to help.

I give this pub a well deserved 9/10.
23 Oct 2007 13:50

The Parson Woodforde, Weston Longville

Address: Church Road, Weston Longville, Norwich, Norfolk, NR9 5JU [map]
Phone: 01603 880106
See full pub details


Reviews by BITE users:

No complaints. from us we were there in December and found the Wherry very drinkable... as was the standard GK IPA...
The food was great. Sea Bass with celeriac in a dill cream sauce, mange tout & vine tomatoes... near perfect in my opinion. my wife had the Beef fillet stroganoff with wild rice.. superb.
thought we needed to add our say....
Just read it had closed for re-furb.. i will be back.
20 Jan 2008 12:20
I went when it first changed hands and it wasa nice to see a menu with real food, I went to go yesterday for dinner but it is closed for refurbishment. Hopefully they update the decor and keep the good food. I wish the new owners all the best.
20 Jan 2008 00:39
Beware. This pub changed hands in Nov 2007. Now one of several pubs owned by Arrowsmith Inns. So far the beer range is much the same - the Woodfords is very good but the rest rather dull. But the menu has taken a step back - very much a grill and frying pan place. Need to wait and see what a keen manager will do to this previously excellent village pub.
2 Jan 2008 11:18

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