Page 4 - Town & Around - March 2024

4 Town & Around March 2024 Tel: 01485 540620 email: editor@townandaround.net
The Golden Lion roars again

uilt in 1846 and originally named The New Inn, The Golden
Lion has stood overlooking the Wash for almost 180 years and
Bfollowing an extensive refurbishment and the addition of an
orangery on the west side of the building over the past three months it
plans to re-open (barring any last minute hitches) on 22nd March.
The owners, L & J Leisure, are a locally well-established family
business who own the Lodge Hotel at Old Hunstanton and Briarfields
Hotel at Titchwell as well as other accommodation, including the
Lighthouse and local tourism-related retail businesses.
The Golden Lion is a Grade II listed building built from local
carrstone and the new orangery is constructed of glass and timber. In
addition to the extension, changes inside during this first phase include
moving the bar into the former restaurant, converting the letting
bedrooms all of which have new bathrooms, adding log burners and
updating the kitchens.

Giles Norwood (left) with Scott Lloyd
part of the refurbishment process and it has worked really well, they
have moved materials and fittings around, stripped wallpaper, and
generally supported the contractors; it’s great they wanted to be part
of it and it has meant a lot to us.”

Picture credit: Strata Architects

Managing Director Scott Lloyd said: “The garden here was
underutilised, and adding the orangery means we have increased the
number of covers to between 150 and 180 (depending on the layout)
and our customers can enjoy the stunning sea view whatever the
weather.
“We want to encourage the summer vibe, customers will be able to
eat throughout the building and we even have a private dining room
for smaller gatherings.
“The menu will be similar to our offering at The Lodge in Old
Hunstanton; good pub food, done well, all made with local produce, Some of the contractors taking a break during the renovation
and we’ll be serving food all day. Giles and the team will be taking off the high-vis jackets and
“Looking ahead we are planning a play area in the garden and preparing for the re-opening in the coming weeks. Recruitment started
offering food outside.” in February and training for the kitchen and front of house begins in
Phase two of the refurbishment is also being planned and this is all early March.
about the former Beachcomber Bar, venue for many family Lisa Plummer heads up housekeeping and there will be a friendly
celebrations over the years, that will be converted into more letting welcome for locals and visitors from Nicky Montague on reception
accommodation, all of which will be dog friendly. with her colleague Trish Earl-Brennan.
During the refurbishment the business has been closed however The Golden Lion is within walking distance from most parts of the
Manager Giles Norwood explained that this didn’t mean laying people town - what are you waiting for?
off from work. “The team were all offered the opportunity of being See you there.

Cliff fall
Dick Melton

ecently we had a fall of rock from the cliffs in Hunstanton of
about 100 tonnes. The people who are supposed to be in the
Rknow said it was caused by the high tides, but this is not so, we
have 718 tides come in each year but only about 50- 60 of these tides
reach the cliffs.
Putting revetments out to sea and groynes world just be a great waste
of money; what is needed as I have said many times before (and so
have a lot other people) the reason these rocks fall is caused by the
heavy rain and rain water that comes down the cliffs, therefore the best
way to tackle this problem is to lay drainage pipes across the green
above this would cost a lot less money.