The Gunton Arms in Norfolk is no ordinary country pub. Set on the edge of a vast deer park near Cromer, this imposing flint building sits at the end of a long drive behind a gate that clangs to protect the deer, not the drinkers. Inside, the eccentricity ramps up: a room dedicated to Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, and Lucian Freud adorns the loos, while a 10,000-year-old fossilised Irish elk skull hangs above the fire.
Art and Atmosphere
The pub's owner, art dealer Ivor Braka, has filled the building and grounds with his extensive collection of art and sculpture. Despite the gallery-like ambiance, the pub retains a lively local feel with a pool table, Sky Sports screen, and Norfolk ales on tap. The open fire grills venison from the estate, served beneath the elk skull.
Sister Pub: The Suffield Arms
For those seeking tapas, the Gunton's sister pub, the Suffield Arms, is a couple of miles away. It features a whitewashed, sunlit garden room where the open kitchen produces boquerones and patatas bravas. The Suffield Arms also boasts more art and a red-wallpapered cocktail bar upstairs.
Accommodation
Visitors can stay overnight in grandly decorated rooms at the Gunton Arms, perfect after a night of drinking, dining, or admiring masterpieces. The Gunton Arms is located at Cromer Road, Thorpe Market, Norfolk NR11 8TZ. More information is available at theguntonarms.co.uk.
