Describe your property in 3 words
Vibrant – Welcoming – Peaceful
Tell us your story
We're Alison and Mark Thompson: Mark farms in North Norfolk and I was working there on a few smaller projects. Located on the farm, The White House was very neglected and underused but had ‘good bones’ and so much potential. With the help of Mark's father, we decided to restore the house and try to make it work as a hotel. Originally, it was intended to be an add-on to a busy wedding/party barn business, also on the farm. It was hugely exciting, and with the help of an excellent builder, we designed The White House, keeping in mind all the niggles we'd noticed in hotels over the years – things like soundproofing properly, so that you can’t hear the loo flush in the adjacent room, doors that are properly solid and with sealed edges, so light doesn’t seep in around the edges, good water pressure and lots of hot water. It was important to us to restore the house sympathetically, and salvage and use all the available original features.
I was inspired by my childhood in New England and New York: huge, comfortable beds, power showers and clean lines, as well as by simply looking out the window at the colours and feel of the gentle English pastoral landscape, and bringing that inside. We love simply making people feel happy and restored – it honestly is such a great job.
What do you think makes you different from other country house boutique hotels?
We're all about little details at The White House – small things that make people comfortable and happy. There's an overall feel of calm, with individually designed bedrooms and generous living rooms with squashy sofas and local art, as well as the all-important honesty bar. The vibe is relaxed and friendly – every afternoon, guests are encouraged to help themselves to our complimentary home-baked cakes, biscuits and tea or coffee in the living room. Our restaurant, Acre at The White House, is open Thursday–Saturday evenings, and our food focuses on Norfolk's excellent local produce, including our own potatoes from the farm. Everything from the gougères to our ice cream is made in-house by our chefs, creating a menu that has a slightly nostalgic French flavour to it: comforting, delicious and cooked with care. We also offer a simpler Prix Fixe dinner on Sunday–Wednesday evenings, showcasing classic dishes from the perfect cottage pie to local salt marsh lamb ‘three ways’.
What's been your greatest success?
Growing the business from the neglected shell of a building in 2016 to a thriving hotel and restaurant on a tight budget and without any outside investment; caring for our guests and our team, and making the hotel into a lovely place to stay and work.
What's been your greatest challenge?
Always the same: balancing the books! Also, Google Maps tends to bring guests to us in unorthodox ways along farm tracks, so they arrive feeling frazzled!
What's your favourite room or feature of your property?
I especially love the feeling when you walk in the door – I can’t explain it, but there really is a very tranquil atmosphere. I also really love the original walled garden with espaliered apple and pear trees on the old flint walls. Oh, and our breakfasts: house-made granola pots and a freshly made waffle with proper maple syrup.
What's the strangest request you've had from a guest?
I don’t think that would be printable!
What's special about your local region?
The North Norfolk coast is a very special place, with gently rolling countryside, huge open beaches and marshes, lots of wonderful walks and charming, unspoilt seaside villages with independent shops, cosy pubs and restaurants. Royal Sandringham, the Holkham Estate and Houghton Hall are only a few miles away, and they offer beautiful walled gardens, miles of diverse walking paths and art and events, as well as the wonderful houses themselves. The White House is tucked away in a serene valley next to our own vineyard and is very peaceful, despite being just a few miles from the National Trust’s Brancaster Beach and busy Burnham Market.
What local hidden gem should your guests check out?
Hindringham Hall – a little moated manor with a secret garden; Burn Valley Vineyard's wine tastings, tours and secret suppers; and Wells-next-the-Sea Film Club at Wells Maltings.
What does the future hold for The White House?
Our Big Sky Art Courses are busy and well established now – budding artists come and stay with us for four or five nights on an all-inclusive basis and explore the local area painting en plein air and in our airy studio with a selection of exciting tutors from all over the world. We plan to grow Big Sky Art further, adding more tutors and courses as well as expanding into yoga and walking retreats.
We also have our own vineyard, growing Pinot Noir, Bacchus, Solaris and Chardonnay grapes, and currently make wine under the Hawker’s Hill label, which we serve at the Acre restaurant and in our honesty bar. Soon, we hope to start making wine independently under our own label. The English wine industry is still so new – it's a joy to be involved. Our guests sometimes even help with the autumn harvest, picking grapes and joining in with our friends and family while they're here.
