Well, we made it and got to the turn between the northern and southern broads at exactly the right time to catch the tide. We filled up with water and have now found a glorious lunchtime stop at the Bridge Inn at Acle.
More whenever wifi permits.
Lunch was at the Bridge Inn at Acle Bridge
and was an excellent experience in a very well run pub. We had at last managed to find water at Acle
Bridge and had replenished our stocks and it was fun to watch some of the
boating around us as one boat was speedily manoeuvred into one moored boat than
another!
We moved on after lunch up the River Bure
and wondered if it would be better to moor at Ludham or in Thurne Dyke. We finally chose Thurne Dyke as the pub’s
reviews were good and we were fairly confident they were dog-friendly.
Our experience at the Lion Inn was very
entertaining – as you go in there are two notices – “We don’t have wifi, but
please feel free to indulge in friendly conversation” and “We are well known
for free beer, topless barmaids and false advertising”. We suspected that fun was in store – and indeed
it was.
Sarah and Chris had just finished eating
when we arrived there and described the landlord as a cross between Basil
Fawlty and Tommy Cooper. As we entered I
asked if dogs were allowed inside and was told “Yes, in the bar”. When Andrew came in with Harris, the landlord
said, pointing to Andrew: “But you didn’t ask about him!” I knew we were in Banterland.
I tried to order a couple of drinks, but
the landlord very politely pointed out with a mischievous smile that he didn’t
actually do anything as he had staff. I
asked the barman - who was clearly very new and also very nervous – for these
two drinks which came to £3.95. I proffered
a £5 note at which point he asked me if I had the change! I explained gently that I hadn’t got 95p in
change on me, so he then asked me for 5p.
I said “Look, I’ll give you £5 and you give me £1.05p and then we’re
quits" – which he finally did!
While we were waiting for our food to arrive a
man came in and said confidently to the landlord that he had previously
reserved a table for two. The landlord’s
reply was a hesitant “Er, yes, give me a minute” which was a dead giveaway that
he had forgotten all about it!
While we were eating the landlord did some
magic at the table for a party of 8 near us.
We were well impressed, but Andrew did think he knew how he managed it.
There
was a fair range of food on offer but the menus on the website and on the board
outside the pub are similar but not the same as the real one inside –no doubt another
practical joke on the part of the landlord!
They
had run out of one of the burgers so offered a better one at the same
price. On leaving, the landlord
apologised for the missing burger. When
told it didn’t matter he said that it did as he had lost money as a result!
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| The Bridge Inn at Acle - excellent all round |
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| Local bird life |
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| Thurne - eccentric but entertaining landlord - no wifi! |
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