King's Arms, The

For years the King's Arms was my local when at Blakeney, which I frequently was. The routine was invariably the same, finish sailing, quick hose down (the boat, then me - sometimes) and up the road to the pub. Woodfordes ales did the job very well and the food was simple, nothing fancy, and very satisfying.

Then other diversions caught me in their grip, but recently having stalked out of a newly opened local restaurant who could not even be bothered to bring us a menu, in desperation we came beating on the bar of the King's Arms - after the appointed hour for serving food as well.

"Fish and chips or scampi and chips", they said. We'd have eaten hedgehog and chips, and the beer was just as good. It was like returning to a lost lover.

The food is unpretentious, very recognisable, and very edible - at any time, let alone 9.30pm with no other prospect in sight. Furthermore the social mix is just great - local fishermen and boatmen swap yarns for all to hear, the "inits" are generally of the sociable variety, you can sit outside and watch the world go by when the time's right, and on a Sunday if the tides are late you can indulge in a splendid traditional roast before clambering aboard whatever turns you on.

Norfolk is well blessed with fine eating to the point of gourmet standard. It's good that places like The King's Arms deal very handsomely with the good, honest food-like-Mum-makes-it market. Nelson would be proud of you.