Norwich Wine Festival 2011

Festival Venues In Detail

There are 14 venues involved in the Norwich Wine Festival, all of whom have interesting wine lists and are genuinely passionate about the wine that they serve. See venues on Norwich map

Note: While all of the venues serve food, some are specifically restaurants and will only accept festival vouchers for wine ordered with a meal. We have marked restaurant venues with a distinct icon – although please be aware that food is available at the bar venues as well.

= Bar

= Restaurant

103 Unthank

103 Unthank Road, Norwich, NR2 2PE // Tel: 01603 610047

This exquisite deli-come-restaurant-come-shop is a gorgeous venue in the heart of the Golden Triangle. With a warm and energetic atmosphere and delicious food, we’ve always been impressed by 103’s wine menu. The seating area is small, but in the summer is augmented by an outdoor seating area directly on Unthank Road. With exceptional food, delightful wine and a truly lovely atmosphere, it’s no wonder 103 is such a popular Norwich venue!

The Iron House Brasserie

1 St John Maddermarket, Norwich NR2 1DQ // Tel: 01603 763388

The Ironhouse is new to the scene in Norwich this year and is already a favourite for many. The restaurant combines Artisan baking and classic dining in a historic building that has been renovated to give a contemporary, uncomplicated feel that is reflected in the menu.

The Bicycle Shop

17 St Benedict’s Street, Norwich, NR2 4PE // Tel: 01603 625777

The Bicycle Shop is an incredibly popular destination in Norwich for both visitors and locals. A relaxed and friendly venue, they host regular music events and serve delicious locally sourced and organic food. With an atmospheric cellar room as well as a peaceful room upstairs, the Festival organisers are all huge fans of this excellent independent venue – and are delighted to see how much care has very obviously gone in to the wine list.

The Garden House

1 Pembroke Road, Norwich, NR2 3HD // Tel: 01603 628059

The Garden House is one of the most popular venues in the Golden Triangle area of Norwich – and while we are huge fans of its beautiful garden, delicious food and generally vibrant atmosphere, what really excited us about the Garden House is its thoughtfully compiled wine list. With fairy lights adorning the trees, flowers and even a small waterfall and pond – this is a wondrous haven in which to spend evenings with friends.

The Lawyer

12 – 14 Wensum Street, Norwich, NR3 1HY // Tel: 01603 633122

One of Norwich’s most up-market bars, the Lawyer is in the heart of Tombland. With an expansive and interesting wine list, its traditional wood panelled interior offers the perfect atmosphere to enjoy fine wines in luxury and comfort. The owners have designed it to be a London-style bar – offering all of the fashion of the Big City in one of the most beautiful areas of Norwich. We certainly recommend taking the time to properly explore their rich and varied wine list.

The Unthank Arms

149 Newmarket Street, Norwich, NR2 2DR // Tel: 01603 631557

This traditional Victorian pub in the Golden Triangle has over 40 wines on offer and it’s plain to see that its landlord of over 20 years, Nick De’Ath, really cares about the quality and complexity of the wine list. A lively and welcoming venue, the high ceilings and wooden floors give this Norwich pub an airy atmosphere. It also has beautiful upstairs rooms and a large garden. The Unthank Arms kitchen serves incredibly good food – perfect for enjoying alongside a glass of wine.

Workshop

53 Earlham Road, Norwich, NR2 3AD // Tel. 01603 615853

The Workshop is a wonderful café and bar on Earlham Road. With ground level and basement seating areas, the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming. They are known as one of the most vibrant Norwich venues for live music – with regular Saturday Sessions, gigs and visiting artists. As well as a delicious food, nibbles and snacks menu, the Workshop has a really lovely wine list. If you’ve never visited The Workshop, the Norwich Wine Festival is a great excuse to see for yourself.

Wine Press @ Wensum in the Maids Head Hotel

20 Tombland, Norwich, NR3 1LB // Tel: 01603 272010

The first thing to say about the WinePress @ Wensum is that it has a staggering forty wines on offer by the glass – meaning that it is the ultimate venue in which to sample new wines and expand your knowledge of wine. This is the Norwich outpost for The Vineyard, a Michelin starred restaurant in Stockcross near Newbury. Their multi-award-winning chefs have worked hard to develop exquisite menus for the The WinePress @ Wensum – and to our delight, the Vineyard’s Director of Wine has also hand-picked the perfect wines to complement the food.

St Benedicts Restaurant

9 St Benedicts St, Norwich NR2 4PE // Tel: 01603 765377

All four Norwich restaurants run by Jayne and Nigel Raffles are taking part in the Norwich Wine Festival, and while we love them all, we are absolutely thrilled that St Benedicts Restaurant is one of them. Offering stunning fine dining, this restaurant has the feel of a high-class French bistro – and the food and wine to match it. Their expansive wine list really complements the rich and diverse menu. St Benedicts Restaurant also runs Wine Tasting Dinners throughout the year.

Pinocchio’s Restaurant

11 St Benedicts St, Norwich NR2 4PE // Tel: 01603 613318

Next door to St Benedicts Restaurant, you’ll find another favourite Raffles restaurant – Pinnochio’s. With exquisite pizzas, pastas and a wide variety of mains, this is a more relaxed environment than St Benedicts Restaurant – but still has an extremely high quality menu, and of course a wine menu to go with it. With a hand-carved mahogany bar, pitch pine flooring and a bright and lively wall mural, Pinocchio’s has become a landmark in Norwich.

Pulse Café Bar

Labour in Vain Yard, Guildhall Hill, Norwich, NR2 1JD // Tel: 01603 765562

The third of the Raffles restaurants taking part in this year’s Norwich Wine Festival is Pulse Café Bar. Set back from the busy streets of Norwich city centre, Pulse is a laid-back vegetarian restaurant that caters for vegan and gluten and dairy-free diets using a range of local and organic produce. For lunch, why not try a wrap, salad or sharing platter? And for dinner their burgers and pizzas are not to be missed. Pulse boasts a range of wines that are suitable for both vegan and vegetarian diets – what’s not to like?

The Library Bar and Grill

4A Guildhall Hill, Norwich, NR2 1JH // Tel: 01603 616606

The fourth and final of the Raffles’ fantastic restaurants is The Library Bar and Grill. Famous throughout Norwich for its delicious burgers, The Library is a treat to visit. It is set on the historic Guildhall Hill, just a stones throw away from sister restaurant, Pulse Café Bar. Perfect for light lunches but also for evening dining.

The King’s Head

6 Norwich Road, Brooke, Norwich, NR15 1AB // Tel: 01508 550335

This year we are expanding the Norwich Wine Festival to venues outside of the city centre and featuring The King’s Head. Just a 20 minute drive South of Norwich lies the village of Brooke. Managed by the same team as The Unthank Arms and The Lawyer, this country pub serves fantastic food that can be enjoyed in the garden in the summer or by the fire in the winter. The wine list has been carefully selected, providing a fabulous choice of different wines by the glass or by the bottle.

Caistor Hall Hotel

Caistor St Edmund, Norwich NR14 8QN // Tel: 01508 494998

The second of our venues outside of Norwich city centre is the stunning Caistor Hall Hotel - think chandeliers, fine-dining and gorgeous gardens. With 21 luxury guest rooms, the hotel is a popular choice for those visiting Norwich and Norfolk, as well as for local diners. Caistor Hall Hotel’s executive chef regularly updates their fantastic menu – selecting the perfect wines to complement every meal.