The Hoste Arms

Several decades ago The Hoste Arms almost single-handedly turned the postcard-pretty village of Burnham Market into one of the hottest tourist spots and most coveted residences in Norfolk – second-home owners have now snaffled up over half the village, and a well-heeled crew they are too. The pub was not only well known for its food, but also for its power to pull an upmarket crowd from all over the country. The original owners have long since moved on, but it's still a terrific place to stay, and we like the fact that the latest owners (City Pub Co) have dialled it back a bit, turning the Hoste back into what it was originally – a great country inn with good food and comfortable rooms that we hope continues to prosper.

Most of all, The Hoste Arms is a supremely comfortable and even homely place to stay, right in the centre of the village and an ideal springboard for both the nearby North Norfolk Coast and the unspoilt countryside all around. Its rooms range through ‘Classic’, ‘Hoste’, ‘Signature’ and  ‘Divine’, plus three suites, including two-bed and four-bed family suites.

They come in all shapes and sizes and are spread between the original pub at the front (one of which Nelson is said to have stayed in), a couple of buildings at the back and eight very comfortable rooms in the Georgian Vine House across the green, which has a lovely garden and its own parking and is off-limits to dogs and children. Divine rooms are the largest and offer extras like robes and slippers, but all rooms have WiFi, Smart TVs, tea-and-coffee-making facilities, water, fresh milk, mini bars, air-conditioning and en-suite bathrooms that often have separate baths and showers  (the elegant Divine rooms in Vine House come with freestanding baths and roomy walk-in showers, gilt mirrors and ornate chandeliers.

As for the food, menus change regularly and are deliberately strong on local produce. The cheaper ‘Bar Menu’ features things like fish and chips, burgers, salads and sharing platters, while the A la Carte menu has more refined dishes, like local oysters, bouillabaisse, haunch of venison or local lobster when in season. Both menus offer items like steaks, chops and lobster cooked on their Josper grill. The nice thing is you can enjoy the same menu in the front bar, the bright and airy conservatory restaurant at the back, or on the adjacent terrace. Other facilities include a small spa with a treatment room in a cabin behind the hotel, a basement gym and a 20-seat cinema that shows 3 films every day, complete with complimentary popcorn and soft drinks. You can also get married here – in the Garden Rooms or outside in a secluded courtyard.

Finally Burnham Market is a great place to spend a few days or a long weekend, bristling with good restaurants and pubs, and just a few miles from the sea at Burnham Deepdale and Brancaster, where there are more good pubs and restaurants  – as indeed there are along the whole of the North Norfolk Coast. The beaches are eminently strollable, and you can go seal-watching at nearby Blakeney, birdwatching at Holme-next-the-Sea or just explore the beach and estate at Holkham – and some of the nearby villages are divine. You will be back, we guarantee it!