Handily located for bracing walks, the seal beaches and North Norfolk’s many attractions, this glamorous boutique hotel was once the village’s glass-blowing factory. Today you can thoughtfully blow some of your hard-earned money on a well-earned break in this beautiful part of the country.
The Harper hotel, Norfolk
Classically constructed with flint stone walls, it offers cosy warmth in the winter both inside and outside thanks to sustainable wood log burners and fire pits on the charming enclosed terrace.
Harper Hotel Norfolk
Earthy colours weave across the walls and flumpable sofas abound in inviting spaces that are uniquely decorated and designed, plus there’s a spa and pool to ease aching limbs come evening.
Who for?
If you have a dog, your tail will really wag. Pets are allowed in all of the rooms, with dog beds provided, and there are even dog treats on reception. There’s also an outside tub to wash Rover down if he gets too muddy on his exciting walkies.
You don’t need to pack a pooch though, as this is very much a hotel to base your ideal stay in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with visits to stately homes, seaside walks, seal watching, as well charming market towns to explore and do some antiquing.
Accommodation
Thirty-two rooms come in all shapes and sizes, from couple-sized to family-sized, with two cottages for group getaways fitted with a kitchen and utility room.
All rooms are uniquely and eclectically decorated and have a faux four-poster bed that is supremely comfortable. The mini bar has complimentary snacks and drinks, the Nespresso machine is present and correct, there’s a cool little radio, and the TV is properly massive and internet enabled. There are Irene Forte Skincare products in the bathroom and robes and slippers for the pool and spa. Mobile phone reception is poor in the area, but WiFi effortlessly powers through the hotel and all its rooms.
Food
Harper’s cosy restaurant is called Stanley’s, after the owner’s grandfather, but the cooking is modern and stylish with a compact menu that won’t have you umming and erring for too long. ‘Small plates ’stand in for starters and you could make a whole meal of those as my crispy-skinned, properly pink, lamb breast with sunflower seed hummus, apricot harissa and a hunk of roasted aubergine was quite substantial.
Over the table, more traditional cured trout with salmon caviar, lemon dressing, herbs and salted cucumber was lighter and reportedly delicious. I didn’t get any, sadly.
I had to try the Norfolk 30-day aged ribeye with beef fat roasted cauliflower, Old Winchester puree and almonds. Old Winchester is a hard cheese, rather Parmesan-ish and an interesting addition to steak. The meat was excellent, which was just as well as it had been served a bit rarer than I would have expected.
My partner’s pork cutlet was superb, big and meaty and served with a grilled Hispi cabbage and chicken sauce. We shared some carrots roasted in cumin, honey and coriander and Norfolk (natch) Peer potatoes. All this meant we could only manage one dessert between two, an unctuous rice pudding flavoured with cardamom and a passion fruit egg. Breakfast the next day was lavish.
Facilities
Spend time in The Den with its games and pool table while drinking some local beer, or lounge in the bar doing much the same. The upstairs relaxing area, Lily’s, has a gorgeous wood burner and lots of interesting books to browse through in the light from stained glass windows. Did I mention it was once a glass blowing factory?
Downstairs there are bikes to borrow for free (subject to availability) so you can pedal around the mostly flat surrounding area to see seals on the coast or do a bit of crab catching.
The Spa is complimentary with a pool, sauna, steam room and hot tub.
How much
Rooms at The Harper from £230 a night Nick drove up in a Defender provided by THE OUT.
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What’s nearby
The coast, of course, for bracing walks as well as boat trips to view the beautiful grey seals. Book in advance online though, as the boats are subject to tidal changes. Burnham Market is full of quirky pubs, art galleries and fancy restaurants, and in the historic Georgian town of Holt with its cheerfully wandering lanes you’ll find boutiques and antique shops in abundance.
Cromer is for the best crabs, as well as its Victorian pier, and see how the other half live at gorgeous Holkham Hall and marvel at the incredible wide vista of its beach that was voted one of the best in Britain. Verdict Very much in the style of exclusive private retreats like Soho Farmhouse, but without the four figure membership fee, Harper’s makes you feel very privileged. And judging by the fancy cars outside a lot of people like that a lot, I know we did.
Verdict: A beautiful place to make your base camp, either for cosy winter breaks or longer stays in the summer sun, Harpers is Norfolk’s top dog.