Gunton Arms

Situated in the 1000-acre deer park of Gunton Hall in North Norfolk, the Gunton Arms has a reassuring country estate feel. But it’s not a typical country pub by any means. Sure, its 16 guest rooms are comfortable and very homely, with the feel of your richest friend’s country house, and its food is renowned for miles around. But as the project of London art dealer Ivor Braka its walls are plastered with works by Tracy Emin, Gilbert and George and lots of other Brit-Art biggies, and it would be no surprise to trip over a Damian Hirst creation as you stagger off to your room.

The food too is rather special: bar snacks like sausages, venison kofta, and Yorkshire pudding with gravy, and main courses literally sourced from the fat of the land with loads of venison dishes, beef, lamb, Blyburgh pork and plenty of locally sourced fish, much of it cooked on the vast French open fireplace in the main restaurant. The pub is also ideally placed for exploring North Norfolk, on the edge of the village of Thorpe Market and just a few miles from the coast at Overstrand and Cromer.