Tuesday 28 May 2013

The Ferry House, Surlingham, Norfolk, UK

This is a pub with a great setting on the banks of the River Ouse a few miles outside Norwich. You can walk there along the Wherryman's Way (long distance footpath) or drive - there's a car park -, or take your boat (!) and moor alongside. It's a bit out of the way, so no trains or buses.

It was a Bank Holiday and, as so often in Britain on those rare sunny days, we had to queue for a long time only to be told the food would take up to an hour to prepare, as "most dishes are freshly prepared". Hmm. Should be worth the wait, then.

There were five vegetarian alternatives, which is unusual enough for a "proper" restaurant, let alone a public house, so we decided to go for it. I had the canneloni, with chips and a salad, and my partner had the chilli wrap, which was specifically advertised as being "home made". It didn't take as long as an hour in the end, or maybe sitting by the river with a glass of cool, sweet cider helped to make the time pass - I don't know. The food was good, just the right amount of it (I often find there's too much): though neither of us particularly wanted a dessert, we could have chosen from such staples as tiramasu, banoffee pie, chocolate fudge cake etc. The prices were reasonable too: ours, including drinks, came to £23.

We would definitely consider going there again, but maybe not on a Bank Holiday!