Lifeboat, Thornhamback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Thanks to the pandemic and other matters I haven't been able to reach this delightful spot since at least 2019. Time marches on, but I sincerely hope I manage visit before the year's out!
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Full of character and an ideal place to stop for a couple of pints on a Monday afternoon. Greene King IPA and Abbot Ale, Woodforde's Wherry and Nelson Ale, and (Wolf's?) Lifeboat Ale were the 5 handpulls - I tried the Nelson which was in good order.
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I always try to visit when in the area. A Lovely pub just off the main road in Thornham, down near the muddy creek, marshes and staithe. Very old building (which also has rooms) with lots of nooks and crannies… The beer choice alone gives this a high overall rating (although, and this is a sign of the times, most beers were light coloured IPA’s, not that I’m complaining). Moon gazer Five candles (5%), an amber ale from the Norfolk Brewhouse, Adnams Lighthouse (3.4%) golden IPA, Adnams Prop Hop (4%), a six nations IPA, Lacons encore (3.8%) amber Ale from Great Yarmouth and (very pleased to report), Woodfordes Mardlers Mild (3.5%), a dark smooth easy drinking tipple. Food served in the bar and conservatory, which also has a quirky old vine which still fruits and flowers growing around the rafters, reportedly 200 years old!. As I have mentioned on this site already, the North Norfolk coast has a few pretentious establishments, but The Lifeboat gets the balance about right; A haven for walkers, diners, locals, holiday-makers and (!) second home owning Londoners alike!
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I was shocked to read on this week's Lynn News Website that the Lifeboat/Chequers set-up is up for sale YET AGAIN! It would appear that the "Wheeler's" group is in receivership. How can this be? The Lifeboat is packed to the rafters whenever I visit, regardless of the time of year now, as it certainly was last (freezing!) Saturday lunchtime. Or is it because - contrary to my expectations - they did actually manage to keep their prices reasonable compared with a number of other comparable establishments hereabouts?
At least they say they'll keep on trading during the interim, which is something.
Where I live (Yorkshire) a number of "failing" but otherwise excellent pubs have been saved by local buy-outs. Any chance of that here? Sure it would be expensive, but if (as is so often asserted) the so-called "locals" are actually members of the Chealsea Tractor Brigade, they ought to be able to afford it. A second pub to go with the second home, so to speak!
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Now firmly in the hands of a group called "Wheeler's" seemingly under the auspices of Marco Pierre White. Despite the big name, I'm pleased to report that food prices are still quite reasonable and the menu is more interesting than last time I called in! Some refurbishmnent - but all the essentials (such as the parafin lamps!) are still there. Enjoyed a wonderful avocado stuffed with crab, and two pints of Wherry.
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Better than the Orange Tree in my opinion... Less snooty! I sampled a few Woodefordes Nelsons Revenge (4%, really hoppy bitter), but there was also Wherry. Food is good, staff friendly. Old pub is atmoshperic, with conservatory light and airy... Garden nice front and back.
I was here July 2012 during the hottest month of the year (to date) with family. If you are hereabouts and have children, try crab fishing down at the staithe (road opposite the pub on corner)
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Had lunch here again last week. Prices still quite reasonable, so perhaps the take-over scare story is precisely that! Atmosphere/ambience wonderful as usual - especially by the fire on a bitterly cold day. Menu still a touch unimaginative though. Not much in the way of seafood (no crab, lobster or oysters!) but perhaps it can't compete with the Orange Tree.
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Doing the coast Path from Hunstanton, we arrived for lunch at tghe Lifeboat Inn. At least, I think that it was the Lifeboat,as curiously there is no sign outside to tell you it's even a pub, let alone what its name is.
Inside is a traditional seaside pub, with lots of nooks and crannies and a big conservatory type area out of the back. Small serving hatches instead of bars, reminding me of the Bell at Aldworth, an essential stop for those walking the Ridgeway.
The food was quite expensive and portions nothing to write home about. One of our party ordered fishcake with wilted spinach and flavoured butter from the specials menu. And that's exactly what she got - a fishcake, one wilted sorry looking leaf and a squiggle of butter dribbled across the plate. Barely enough to feed a mouse, special it wasn't.
A number of real ales available; I settled for Mauldens Mole Trap - at 3.8% it had far more flavour than the ubiquituos Wherry with the same strength.
The Lifeboat is OK but don't bother with the fishcake !
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The Lifeboat appears to be in transition: some of its stationary (such as the fire-drill instructions) still carries the Maypole Group logo but the menues don't. I stayed at the Old Coach House annexe at the end of last week and enjoyed a couple meals in the 'boat itself. Rather to my surprise - in view of the previous comment - the menu was still quite reasonably priced, though less imaginative than it has been ... with fewer "specials". That said, I enjoyed two excellent evening meals. The atmosphere is still great, what with the real oil lamps still burning, but I was sad to note that the photographs of celebrated local characters (including the immortal "Bill and Ben" have disappeared: also the delightfully "primitive" oil of a steam drifter which used to hang between the fireplace and the Gents' door. I hope this important material has been properly archived somewhere and is not lost to posterity.
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From The Morning Advertiser:
"The Maypole Group, the under fire operator of five rural inns, is in discussions about appointing an administrator � after its bank called in its loans.
The company, which yesterday suspended it shares from trading, revealed last night that Clydesdale bank had demanded the immediate repayment of its loans.
It said: �Maypole Group announces that discussions regarding a possible re-branding initiative referred to in the company's interim results announcement have failed to reach a conclusion and that Clydesdale Bank, bankers to the company and its subsidiaries has today demanded repayment of its loans to the group.�
The Maypole group was born in November 2003. It operates the Lifeboat and Old Coach House, Thornham, Norfolk; the Angel Hotel, Lavenham, Suffolk; Wayford Bridge Inn, Stalham, Norfolk; the Pear Tree Inn, Whitley, Wiltshire; and the Bridge Inn, Norwich.
It underwent a refinancing exercise last year with the Clydesdale."
Rumour is that the favourites to buy up the chain are the Marco Pierre White group.
If so, could be bad news for the regulars who gather to drink here if it follows the model of one of his other 'pubs':
"In January 2009 it was reported that White was to charge �5 for a pint of real ale at the venue, making the Yew Tree "one of the most expensive places to drink British real ale in the country". White was quoted saying "Most pubs undercharge. You're not just paying for beer, you're paying for the place you drink it in and the people who serve it." (from Wikipedia).
Make the most of The Lifeboat while you can still afford to step inside.
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Visited the Lifeboat Man over the summer holidays. What a rare find! A pub still serving pub food and doing it very well. Service was excellent and very prompt - great when dining with young kids. Food was really good and the overall atmosphere of the pub takes you back to the years before the arrival of the 'gastro'. We shall come again when we next visit Norfolk. Children, dogs etc all very welcome.
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Having just had lunch at the excellent but expensive (newly re-opened) Ship at Brancaster, Lifeboat prices now seem quite modest! No disrespect to the Ship - I enjoyed it - but we are supposed to be in a recession. I think it'll be the Lifeboat again, next time I'm walking the Coast Path.
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Just got back from the Lifeboat and for us it was a case of mixed feelings! The good is the beer, the cider the bar food, the breakfast and the location. The not so good is the restaurant food which is too expensive and frankly not great quality unless you like your food swimming in sauces. The room we had for two nights which had cobwebs on the ceiling and stains on the bed cover and the unsmiling robot like restaurant staff - not all, but ceratinly the more senior ones! That said we had a good time and would consider visiting again.
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I find some of the comments amazing.
You have an amazing pub and restaurant,exceptional customer service and the food good.Some of he comments that have been made are truly unfair and perhaps deemed slanderous.
I visited on Sunday and was welcomed the moment i stepped in the door.
The place is probably full of visitors during the Summer and that sometimes puts the regulars off, but that is all part of a succesful destination pub.
I am sure if it relied on just its local base it would not be open now.
So where do the regulars go for a day or week out,do they visit other people's locals.
Somebody spoke about scruffy kids...How about giving the parents some credit for taking the kid's out with them instead of finding fault.Or would they prefer them to be causing problems on some street corner.
Give this pub what it deserves,support and understanding.
By the way i am a Londoner..I have respect..do some of you?
I am going to rate this pub a 10.
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We have been drinking in the Lifeboat regularly since 2004 and we have never had a bad pint of beer there in all that time. There is always one guest hand pump and the quality is always top notch for all of the beer there (Wherry, IPA, Abbott, Adnams and others). The bar food is a little on the pricey side but again, we have never been disapointed. It does get busy in the summer with the "Up From Londoners" splashing the cash but the lovely thing about this place is that it still remains a local for the locals too - we love it!
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Agree with Firedrake. This place has hardly changed in decades: a rare and precious thing these days!
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This pub looks great from the outside and inside its a really nice old world style pub. The beer selection is good and I recommend going to this place for a drink. DO NOT however buy any food. The food is exceptionally poor. Average price for main couse �10. The person in the kitchen has no idea how to cook. We had a cottage pie - I looked like something bought in from a big foood warehouse in Wembley, mainly potatoe & topped with tasteless cheese ( i wouldnt be surprised if it was cheese substitute ). It came with a few boiled to death vegies - totally tastless. The burger - a disgusting tiny piece of shoe leather served with loads of chips which were under cooked. The place was packed - Do not waste your money in this place - anyone could cook better and cheaper at home.
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I've been eating/drinking here sporadically since 1977. It is one of the very few pubs I know which has hardly changed at all in that time - apart from the conservatory and accommodation in adjoining blocks etc. I think it is almost certainly still my favourite pub anywhere - but I do tend to visit in the quieter times of the year. I agree that the food is expensive, but I've never been disappointed. It is without question the best pub (or even hotel) I've ever stayed in (and that's out three continents!). I am aware that some villagers feel that it's fame has caused it to lose its "local" authenticity and this may well be true, but I still don't think it's been "spoilt" - at least not physically. In any case, since the old King's Head (Orange Tree) is now an equally famous "gastropub" and the Chequers has become an "out-station" of the Lifeboat, so to speak, thisd is hardly an issue now. The siuation could be a lot worse ... ie NO pub in the village at all.
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The service here was appalling. Why does it take every member of staff to gaze at the card machine for 10 minutes when some revolting slob wants to pay for his wife and three unruly, foul, dirty children whilst decent people wait for a bloody pint? What's wrong with cash? Too quick?
If you ate hear after seeing what others got for their money, you deserve to be cleaned out.
The beer was of excellent quality. Complain loudly to have any hope of getting served before the hordes of stinking kids.
Roll on winter - I might try again. Only a drink though.
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Huge disappointment. Pub was packed and it felt like they couldn't cope - service was abrupt, tables sticky, food was rubbish and overpriced. Struggled to cut through pork ribs (even with the specially provided sharp knife) and �12 for 3 average sausages and a small amount of mash is nothing short of a rip-off. Suggest you leave this one for the winter months.
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What can one say about the lifeboat. Good drink, good food, nice atmosphere and helpful staff. I was worried when new owners took over last year but, so far, they have not messed things up. Can only hope it keeps on that way. A great place to go and unwind - not to far from the smog of the big city - London.
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Sorry Brummyboy, I know there are exceptions-sadly though, people like you are the exception. Find me out next time you're there and I'll buy you a pint!
"Lifeboat" is great in winter with the huge log fires and gas lamps.
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This pub is slightly problematic. It is in a great location and the interior is rambling and has bags of character and visual appeal. But I've eaten here on numerous times and have always found the food disappointing and overpriced. And, as has been pointed out below, if you're not lucky you'll find yourself seated not in one of the innumerable cosy nooks and crannys but out in the canteen-style conservatory.
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This is really a great pub, good food, good beer and a cracking walk to the sea. Yes it does get busy, but hey most good pubs do, because they are popular. It follows. Just a quick point to other users, my children are not unruly, my dog doesn't run amok, and I don't bray!! I have been visiting this pub on and off for twenty years. Holiday makers contribute to the local community, pubs included. I'll be back down there in October. Please don't generalise.
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We used to go to this pub thirtyish years ago before it had electricity. The beer was on gravity (my favourite).
It's been modernised a bit but quite tastefully. The hordes of braying tourists and yotties can be a pain in the butt. We found the best time to arrive was one second after opening time on a Sunday lunchtime. Get yourself a table and hang on to it like grim death!
Good beer, good food, lets dogs in. A++.
Nice walk to the sea from this pub, by the way.
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A great pub, a good drinking pub, a pub for conversation and well met evenings. As has been already observed, is, sadly, all too often packed out by braying outsiders who hog the tables, eat the food, and let their unruly children and dogs run amok to the detriment of everything and everyone else. The best time to go here, therefore, is after 8:30, 9pm of an evening, when they have mostly gone home, at this time the pub is quiet and is ready to be civilised again, rather than the squalid version of a Beefeater that it resembles at peak times. Good beers, great food, friendly service. Recommended-but go a little later than you would normally.
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lovely pub with great food, beer and views
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Lovely pub overlooking the marshes but can get rammed with londoners up from the city for the weekend. Great beer, very low beams in places. Lovely food, and very nice fires in winter.
pete - 21 Oct 2003 11:56 |
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