November 2024. Castle Rising. King’s Lynn/Lynn.
And here’s why I still use the GBG to plan our travel.
A rare new Guide entry in That North Norfolk on the road to Sunny Hunny, and a chance to re-evaluate that odd bit of nothingness near Sandringham.
In my mind I’d confused Castle Rising with Castle Acre, which isn’t that much of a mistake as they’re both flat Norfolk villages with a vowel.
Despite a sign to the contrary, that castle was firmly closed at 2.30pm. What did they think I was going to steal ? Typical micro castle hours.
Actually, nice village, barely a hamlet though I suspect Trip Advisor says it’s a city.
There’s a sign at the entrance to the Black Horse saying “closed at 3:30 for staff meeting” and I realise I’d have found it shut if the castle had been open. Fortune smiles on the righteous, except in America.
Loads of pubs like this for the London weekenders to stop for lunch,
tastefully decorated,
“wait here to be seated”, Chesterfield instead of bench.
But you’ll know by now I only see the positive in folk. A cheery welcome, two beers you’ve heard of,
free iced water.
“I’ve got cash if you want it, or card if you prefer that”.
“That’s fine !” she says enthusiastically. Er..
It’s just been featured in one of those Norfolk Life (an oxymoron if ever there was one), so you can read the gush below.
In fairness, again, a pint of Broadside under a fiver in front of a roaring fire in Autumn with “Electricity” by OMD playing is a treat,
and though it starts a bit sharp and chilled it’s a comfortable 3 by the end.
I go and stare at the giant sausage rolls, ambitiously priced at £6,
imagine what Stafford Paul would think, and resist.
retiredmartin 
You would need a long nap after that sausage roll
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I’ve concluded the answer “that’s fine” in those situations is eager response meaning we can do either. It is a bit weird to hear as answer though, isn’t it?
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When asked “Will you be dining with us or just drinking?” I’ve never yet summoned up the courage to reply with the simple, logically perfectly correct “Yes”, Dave.
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And yet you should!
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She was lovely but it wasn’t an answer!
I’m aware I might be coming across as a cash zealot (I’m not) but having been told off for both attempting to pay with cash and card recently I’d love businesses to express a preference. Do you have that issue at the Town Hall Tavern ?
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No, the bulk of the places I go are cash or card. Some cash only because of the card fees.
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I was in a pub in Norwich last year where they would only take card payments. I was able to pay by card, but what would they have done if I couldn’t? What is the legal position?
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The legal position is that it is their prerogative to choose which method of payment to accept or not accept.
I find that about one per cent of pubs have a ‘Card Only’ policy. I instead went to a pub yards away last Wednesday, in one two months ago the barman took my cash and entered the payment from his own card, last July one actually preferred cash despite a sign to the contrary.
It’s their choice, and it’s our choice which pubs we use.
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Most places here do cash and card. You seem to see one permitted a lot more than I do.
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“In my mind I’d confused Castle Rising with Castle Acre”. A bit more time in the Midlands and you might have confused it with Castle Ring on Cannock Chase.
“that castle was firmly closed at 2.30pm”. But isn’t entry to a castle meant to be a challenge ?
“That’s fine !” is fine, but what narks me is when I draw to a bar(wo)man’s attention a slight problem and invariably get the reply “no problem” !
It’s lunchtime now and I could do with one of those sausage rolls. I might instead go for a curry in a couple of hours.
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Yes I guess it would be a useless castle if you could walk in, Paul 😉
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Yes, except in Macclesfield.
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No one should ever resist a giant sausage.
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Having used four Wareham pubs by 1.15pm, I had a very similar sausage roll ( £4.80 I think ) with my couple of pints at Worth Mathavers last Wednesday.
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And how do you rate the Square and Compasses against the rest of the Famous Five, Paul ?
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Probably the best.
I got in another two again on Wednesday, the Buckingham Arms marred by excessively loud music but the Star Tavern as good as ever, especially with meeting by chance other members since 1973 and having Dark Star’s 9% Prize Old Ale for a very reasonable £7.95 – could have been £6.75 with the discount.
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I think I’d pick the Star, though it’s about 7 years since I last visited, and the Victoria at Paddington pips it as a Fuller’s pub.
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Yes, on second thoughts there’s not much to choose between the Star, the Queens Head and the Square and Compass. The Roscoe Head is excellent, but not Liverpool’s best. That makes the Buckingham Arms the worst of the five.
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