Sculthorpe Mill

Norfolk, Sculthorpe - Modern British - Pub/Restaurant with Rooms - £££

Swish pub restaurant in an idyllic watermill setting

Overall Rating: Good

Uniqueness:Does the establishment stand out in the context of the local area? Good

Deliciousness:How delicious is the food? Good

Warmth:How warm is the service and the hospitality in general? Good

Strength of recommendation:How enthusiastically and widely would you recommend the establishment? Good

An 18th-century stone-built watermill not far from Fakenham on the river Wensum, Sculthorpe has been reborn as a modern-day pub with rooms in the capable hands of sister act Caitriona and Siobhan Peyton. It's a smart pick for an outdoor summer lunch, but makes an equally appealing impression indoors, too, where a whole bundle of dining spaces, upstairs and down, look freshly minted in shades of yellow, blue, green and red. Chef Dominic Aslett's food is unapologetically hearty, starting perhaps with potted duck, served with pickled cherries and toasted walnut bread, or grilled local asparagus in truffled mayo with a precision-timed soft-boiled egg. The chef also keeps a watchful eye on the clock when it comes to premium rump steak, which arrives with darkly fried chips, a little béarnaise (no refill, disappointingly) and ranch-dressed gem leaves, while our crisp-skinned Norfolk Black chicken breast in spring vegetable broth (broad beans and peas) was good and tasty – even ...

An 18th-century stone-built watermill not far from Fakenham on the river Wensum, Sculthorpe has been reborn as a modern-day pub with rooms in the capable hands of sister act Caitriona and Siobhan Peyton. It's a smart pick for an outdoor summer lunch, but makes an equally appealing impression indoors, too, where a whole bundle of dining spaces, upstairs and down, look freshly minted in shades of yellow, blue, green and red.

Chef Dominic Aslett's food is unapologetically hearty, starting perhaps with potted duck, served with pickled cherries and toasted walnut bread, or grilled local asparagus in truffled mayo with a precision-timed soft-boiled egg. The chef also keeps a watchful eye on the clock when it comes to premium rump steak, which arrives with darkly fried chips, a little béarnaise (no refill, disappointingly) and ranch-dressed gem leaves, while our crisp-skinned Norfolk Black chicken breast in spring vegetable broth (broad beans and peas) was good and tasty – even if its relish of tarragon aïoli dissolved into the broth so quickly, we thought we might have imagined it. Fish could be sea trout with wild garlic hollandaise, or roast cod with orzo and chilli, while the show-stopping sharing dishes might take in lamb shoulder with braised haricot beans and fennel. 

To finish, there might be tarte tatin, or creamy rhubarb and elderflower trifle scattered with toasted almonds. And speaking of rhubarb, some of its distinctive flavour found its way happily into our Negroni. Wines are an enterprising, well-chosen bunch at mostly manageable prices, and there is London-brewed Lucky Saint IPA on tap, for the alcohol free brigade.

 

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VENUE DETAILS

Lynn Road
Sculthorpe
Norfolk
NR21 9QGGB

01328 633001

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OTHER INFORMATION

Accommodation, Private dining room, Separate bar, Outdoor dining, Wheelchair access, Parking, Family friendly, Dog friendly

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