NorfolkNog

Great stuff Jean, keep it coming That's the way I like to see moorings - Quiet and Peaceful - you can't beat it

Just spotted on Twitter that the Ship at Reedham has just been awarded a maximum score of 5 Well done to them. Their steak pie is excellent too

Hi Andy Sorry for the delay in replying. Many thanks for the heads up on the Reedlighter it souunds vey much to my taste, I was hopng that it wouuld be hoppy. Great stuff. I think that the new head brewer likes hops wheras the old one (ex Bass) didn't believe in them. Knowing Phil it would be kept on top form too. I know some folks do like Doombar as it's not hoppy, so if Mrs S wasn't keen that could actually be a good sign! After all the great thing with beers is we can all like different things Thanks again for thinking of me and I'm even more keen to try it now!

Wise words from Dan I think. And I agree, one shouldn’t be penalised for loyalty. I hired from Swancraft for many years. They weren’t the cheapest around but the quality of the fleet and the service was second to none. I think the cost was well justified for the quality. They never discounted to any great extent apart from the odd 100 quid which they occasionally offered through Hoseasons. They didn’t really need to offer discounts. I think Dan’s point about loyal, early bookers is a good one. I think in addition I personally got added value with Swancraft in all the help and attention they gave us which was well over and above the normal course of duty so to speak. And of course I always booked with them from one year to the next. However regarding Herbert Woods, I have hired from them many times in February. They do offer discounts which are clear and well documented. I benefited from a 5% loyalty discount, a 5% early booking discount and a further discount of 5% for payment in full. I guess the recent fuel offer is perhaps an added carrot possibly if bookings are a bit slow. I think generally though the yards should consider offers very carefully, ensure they are clear and well publicised and avoid, were possible, penalising loyal, early bookers. Of course the one advantage of booking early is that you can guarantee the exact boat you want on the exact date you want. If you hang on for a possible discount you may of course have to take your chances somewhat. I would add that I have always been very pleased with the service I have received from Herbert Woods. Their boats are well presented and the staff very helpful. I cannot praise them enough for the support we received from them recently. I would fully endorse Griff’s comments also.

The 'proper ones ' probably South Downs or the Peak District. The Park District may have it by a short head

Well I counted at least 8 and that was without even going through the small print

Thanks for letting us know. I guess that just leaves Brooms and Silverline in Brundall although I think Buccaneer do houseboats. Hope you enjoy your holiday nonetheless - I'm sure you'll have a great time.

...or more a beer I haven't tried but would very much like to. It looks as if Belinda Jennings, Woodfordes new Head Brewer, is making her mark already. Hopefully this should have a lot more flavour than Woodfordes standard offerings. I'd be very interested to hear any feedback as sadly it could be a while until I get to try it

Ha ha, definitely not smarter JA (bit of help from Mrs Nog)

Sounds like Tesco beefburgers

Looks a bit like Eaton or Cringleford to me

Have a great time Mark and keep a look out for some of that S & P too! Oh, and as Grace said, please keep us posted!

Crew on a hire boat warned of their behaviour http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/men_using_bangers_on_broads_hire_boat_prompt_gunfire_999_call_1_4445314

......we sometimes get Belgian Blue in our manor too - very fine beer I would agree.

Actually that is a very fine quality beer Iain, even though its alcohol free its got more flavour to it than Fosters any day!!!!

I agree Iain, it was not bad at all. Certainly a vast improvement on the keg Norwich Bitter! I

That's very interesting Barry, it sounds the same system they used for the Norwich Castle bitter. I'm guessing they ditched all their traditional casks as part of the 'red revolution' and hence used the converted kegs. Unfortunately I didn't have the pleasure of visiting the Ship during your tenure but I'm sure the beer was extremely well kept indeed!

Different breweries, same name The original Steward and Patteson brewery in Norwich brewed it's last beer in 1970 after having been taken over by the dreaded Watneys. Some of the brewery offices still remain on Barrack Street and although most of the brewery has been demolished. In the 80s 90s the Norwich Brewery (as Watneys Became) produced a reproduction Bullards Mild and an S and P bitter. We this will be the one Vanessan refers to I think. Barry will know better on these as he used to sell both beers at the Ship. However a new micro brewery has set up in 2013 at Horsford on land once owned by the old Steward nd Patteson brewery hence the name S& P. However they brew a new range of beers, which are superb in my humble opinion. But to return to Vanessan's point I think it will have been the Norwich Brewery ones

Workie Ticket was champion beer of Britain a few years back. Fine beer indeed

Pictured a fine pint of S & P in the Leopard. Hi Mark Ha ha, I suppose I'm just a Norfolk anorak. the pubs in Norwich are so much better than the ones on my Manor, although there are some excellent ones in the likes of York and Huddersfield I think I've been in pretty much every pub in Norwich worth going in. As mentioned I love the Leopard and the Kings Head plus the Beehive and of course the Fat Cats. I'm also fortunate in having the Norwich CAMRA pubs officer as a good friend too. 

http://www.spbrewery.co.uk/

Superb beer Mark. Probably almost impossible to find on the Broads sadly even though it's only brewed a few miles away. The Red Lion at Coltishall would be the best bet otherwise the Leopard and Kings Head in Norwich stock it regularly, the Plasterers And Lord Roseberry could be worth a look too. I had the pleasure of drinking it in the Leopard very recently and I have to say it's one of the finest beers I have drunk in Norfolk (in my humblest opinion of course) The great thing about all these excellent drinks we have been talking about is that they do have individuality and it would be very boring if we all drank the same thing, bit like 1984

Yep, pretty much agree with Eric, Grace and Peter there. The Bridge Inn is superb and arguably the model for others to follow. I also highly rate the Dog Inn at Ludham Bridge and the Pleasure Boat is pretty good too. I agree with Eric, there, most Broads pubs are pretty good. There are a small handful I tend to be less keen on but there are no real horrors

That's fascinating and good to see Mark. We tend to think of Americans drinking Bud and Millers and such rubbish. Think Homer Simpson with his Duffs beer can! It's really pleasing to see these micro breweries springing up and producing beers with some flavour to them. I keep banging on about Norfolk beers for the same reason. There are now over 40 small breweries in Norfolk proving some superb beers all with individual flavours. Names like Lacons, S & P, Buffeys , Humpty Dumpty, Winters, Wolf, Beeston, Panther, Grain, Norfolk Brewhouse, Jo C's - the list goes on and on. Try drinking the superb S & P First Light and you will never touch Woodfordes again, I promise And of course over the 'border' you have the superb Green Jack Brewery

Hi Sarah Looks like you have 4 days to play with and with younger children I would suggest giving Great Yarmouth a miss. I would tend to give Coltishall a miss too, I think the boat you have will probably not go under Wroxham Bridge anyway and although it’s a pretty place there is not a lot for younger children. I would be inclined to head down river to Salhouse Broad. This is a good place for kids as there is a stretch of sandy beach ideal for paddling and woodland paths to explore. Carrying on down river you will come to Horning. Very popular and as the others have said, a good place to moor is the New Inn. There you will find Gus, who is a lovely character, who will help you moor. The protocol is that if you have a meal there you can moor overnight free of charge. Otherwise Gus will usually let you moor during the day if space permits but again use of the pub is preferred. There is an arcade and a very good riverside terrace with plenty of room for the kids. There are also public moorings at Horning which are very popular. Best chance of mooring here is mid morning or mid afternoon. There is a children’s theme park called Bewilderwood between Hoveton and Horning. Unfortunately it is not readily accessible from the river but might be worth a look if you can arrange transport. Carrying on further down river, Ranworth is a very popular stop. It can get very busy though and again best time to arrive would be mid morning or mid afternoon. Downriver from Ranworth is the turn off to the left for the River Ant. A short way up you will find Ludham Bridge. There is a shop and about 400m up the road is the Dog Inn. An excellent pub with plenty of room for the kids but could be a longish walk for very little ones. Further up the Ant is How Hill with loads of moorings and space for kids to run around. You can go further up to Stalham but mooring is quite difficult and may be best avoided for your first trip. There is a good pub at Neatishead but it is quite a ‘grown up’ place and mooring is tight. Sutton may be worth a look with a nice pub and I think from memory they have pool table and kids play area at the back. If you go back down the Ant and return to the Bure there are plenty of moorings at St Bennets abbey. Carry on down the Bure and to the left is the River Thurne. Here you can carry on to Womack Water (Ludham) which is a pretty mooring with shops and a pub in the village. Carry on up the river and you will come to Potter Heigham. The boat you have will definitely not go through the bridge here I’m afraid but there are plenty of public moorings and additional space in Herbert Woods boatyard. Potter Heigham is the home of Lathams – ideal for cut priced bargain shopping! Back down the Thurne and on to the Bure again you will come to Acle. In my humble opinion the Bridge Inn is probably the best on the Broads. Good food and plenty for the kids with a big riverside garden, rides and an amusement arcade. Again it is popular so best to arrive reasonably early if you can although there are other moorings above the bridge. Finally you could continue to Stokesby where there is the Ferry Inn, again with a garden and some children’s play equipment. As others have said there is a village green again with space for the kids. I probably wouldn’t bother going any further as there isn’t much beyond this point as you would be heading for Yarmouth which is a couple of hours away. Its worth investing in a bag of corn if the kids might like to feed the ducks and swans and its a lot better for them than bread! Hope this gives some ideas but please ask any questions and I’m sure we’ll do our best to help. Many people say just chill and go with the flow and this is probably the best advice. Above all, have a great time and please let us know how you get on!