For 200 years, The Globe Inn – an historic coaching inn that overlooks a picturesque square in the heart of Wells-next-the-Sea – has offered shelter and sustenance to travellers. But today’s guests also get to enjoy a touch of luxury and charm.
The Globe Inn is comfortable, cosy and plush; offering guests a homely and relaxed setting to put their feet up after a busy day exploring the north Norfolk coast.
Hotel
Once a humble and modest coaching inn and public house, The Globe Inn has been transformed into a stylish and cosy home-away-from-home. Taken over by Chestnut Group in 2020, the Inn underwent a major renovation and now boasts 19 beautiful bedrooms arranged around a sheltered courtyard which, on warm sunny days, bustles with diners enjoying fish and chip lunches and sundowner drinks.
We arrived on a very busy Saturday afternoon and tackled the small town’s traffic to find a parking space (the Inn has no car park of its own) nearby. We checked in as staff rushed around taking drinks and meals to a packed pub, following a charity dog walk organised by the team to raise money for the county’s greyhound rescue. (Our dog Storm made a donation on our behalf!)
The Globe Inn is a cute tavern which oozes homely comfort and welcoming warmth. It’s open to all and prides itself on being both family-friendly and dog-friendly; something we were here to try out in full!
Room
We were staying in a first-floor room next to the inn’s sun-kissed terrace, lined with metal railings adorned with a tangle of sweet-smelling Wisteria and pretty purple blooms. Our room was cosy and comfortable but spacious enough for us all (including a five-month-old baby and a 26kg dog!)
A large sash window brought light into an otherwise relatively dark room, and offered views over the courtyard patio below. Decorated with marine-inspired hues and textures, guests are subtly reminded of their location by the sea, even though there isn’t a direct view from the inn itself.
The room boasted a huge, bouncy bed – space for all three of us to enjoy a Sunday morning lie-in with cartoons – and the team also provided a travel cot for our baby Skye and a goody bag for Storm, including treats (which were gobbled up before I could even see what they were!), a blanket, a water bowl and a snug bed. All of us slept very soundly in our respective beds, the thick drapes shutting out all of the early-morning sunshine meaning we could enjoy a peaceful slumber.
The colourfully-tiled bathroom was vast with a large walk-in shower, great for an early-morning wake-up but not so good for bathing an infant! Careful, the water is extremely hot – although it did make warming milk and sterilising bottles a doddle!
Food and drink
The Globe Inn offers elevated pub grub, which is wholesome, tasty, and beautifully presented, using only the finest of local (and some more far-flung) ingredients.
The team were so helpful and hospitable, moving us onto a table with space for a buggy and Storm, and kept our meals warm as we were delayed by an awkward baby who refused to nap (although I can attest that the nearby green makes an excellent route for laps while trying to get a baby to sleep!)
The menu is concise but varied, with plenty of fish dishes making the most of the seaside location as well as options for vegetarians and meat-eaters. You can start with nibbles including bread and olives, or you could get one of the grazing boards to share (the Norfolk smoked fish platter sounded delicious!) while you peruse the menu.
We kicked off with the salt and pepper squid before moving onto chicken schnitzel with coronation slaw, fries and garlic butter, as well as pan-fried seabass, crushed new potatoes, purple sprouting broccoli and buttermilk emulsion. The fish was beautifully cooked with a crispy browned skin, while the potatoes were soft and buttery, and the sauce was rich and fused the whole plate together.
It would be wrong to finish a meal without dessert, so I had the warm chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream to satisfy my sweet tooth and I certainly wasn’t disappointed with the rich, gooey treat.
To do
The Globe Inn overlooks The Buttlands – a pretty and picturesque Georgian square with a leafy green – just a stone’s throw from Staithe Street; the town’s bustling thoroughfare of seaside souvenir shops packed full of keepsakes and trinkets, chic fashion boutiques and trendy interior shops, as well as exclusive independent coffee houses and eateries.
The small port town of Wells-next-the-Sea has become a holidaying haven for couples and families from all over the UK with visitors drawn by its golden sandy beach, charming streets, and rambling footpaths.
Wells-next-the-Sea is perfect for wandering in the sunshine perusing shops, strolling along the promenade to the sweeping beach, and exploring the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You can walk along the seafront to the vast expanse of sands at Holkham Beach (warning, dogs must be on leads from April to September to protect ground nesting birds), to the west, or head east to Blakeney to see the country’s largest colony of grey seals.
Inland, the charming village of Burnham Market is a short 10-minute drive away, and the magnificent house and gardens of Holkham Hall is just two miles away.
Norfolk boasts stunning coastline and spectacular scenery – home to some of the UK’s most loved wildlife and birds – as well as chocolate-box villages and towns, with an abundance of pubs, restaurants and cafes to choose from. Walk or cycle for miles on end, or jump in the car to explore this beautiful corner of the country.
In a nutshell
Wells-next-the-Sea and the North Norfolk coast are wonderful destinations for a weekend escape or a summer staycation, whether you’re travelling with your partner, your pooch or the whole family. It’s such a beautiful part of the world with so much on offer to keep you busy, both indoors and outdoors.
The Globe Inn is the perfect homestead to offer you a warm and welcoming retreat at the beginning and end of a busy day hitting the beach or walking the coastline. The team will make you feel at home from the moment you arrive, and you’ll leave feeling well-fed, well-rested, and won over by the Inn – and the area’s – friendly vibes.
Factbox
Double bedrooms at The Globe Inn are available from £144 per night.
The Globe Inn is part of the Chestnut Group.
Address: The Globe Inn, The Buttlands, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, NR23 1EU
Phone: 01328 710206
Website: theglobeatwells.co.uk
Photography ( excluding image of Storm) courtesy of Emma Cabielles.
