The Olde Bull Inn

Travelling the A11 and in need of a welcome pit-stop en route to the Norfolk coast, then pull off just before Barton Mills roundabout to locate this 16th-century coaching inn. With its fine gables and dormer windows and impressive coaching courtyard, the rambling building certainly has the look and feel of a traditional roadside inn. However, step inside the spruced up bar, restaurant and rooms and expect to be wowed by Cheryl, Wayne and Sonia's contemporary makeover, which successfully blends original oak beams, big fireplaces and wooden floors with funky fabrics, designer wallpapers and bold colours - best experienced in the quirky and very individual boutique-style bedrooms. The hands-on family have breathed new life into this once faded old inn and the hub of the building (and village) is the refurbished bar, all muted Farrow and Ball hues, scrubbed pine tables and cosy seats by a blazing winter fire. Relax and peruse the bar and restaurant menus with a tip-top pint of East Anglian ale, perhaps a local Humpty Dumpty brew. Menus evolve with the seasons and every effort is made to reduce 'food miles' and source food from local farms and producers. In the bar, tuck into pub classics like Newmarket sausages with mash and caramelised red onion gravy, fresh Lowestoft cod in beer-batter with hand-cut chips, or Blythburgh ham, eggs and chips. Eat alfresco on sunny days in the delightful courtyard. Cooking moves up a gear in the AA Rosette Oak Room Restaurant, where a meal may kick off with marinated king prawn risotto with coriander and sweet chilli sauce, followed by rump of Denham Estate lamb with gratin potato and red wine and thyme jus, or Red Poll beef fillet with creamy pepper sauce and smoked garlic mash. To finish, try Matt's sticky toffee pudding with rock salt caramel and vanilla pod ice cream.