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La Fête du ChampagneCode: PEARL
Mediterranean Tapas Pub
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Thorpe Market, United Kingdom

The Suffield Arms

Dress CodeCasual
ServiceUpscale Casual
NoiseConversational
CapacityMedium

Reopened in 2021 after being closed for nine years, the Suffield Arms is the second pub in the area to be relaunched and reimagined by London art dealer Ivor Braka, following his success with the Gunton Arms. Opposite the train station on the Norwich to Cromer line, the building was designed to accommodate workers on Gunton Estate and has been extended and developed by Braka into a complex of sharply different spaces for eating and drinking, all adorned with original artworks. Be warned, some of them are quite edgy. The main bar retains the site’s 19th Century feel, serves local ales and, surprisingly, has a pool table. The saloon upstairs is furnished with plush armchairs and serves cocktails, while the Mediterranean restaurant and tapas bar at the back is bright and modern. A wide variety of tapas dishes from patatas bravas to wild boar with crispy polenta are served alongside a couple of large plates, such as sea bass, pasta and pizzas, and wines from Spain, Portugal and Italy. A more limited tapas and pizza menu is available in the bar.

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Address
393 Station Rd, Lower Street, Norwich NR11 8UE
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The Suffield Arms restaurant in Thorpe Market, United Kingdom
About

Reopened in 2021 after being closed for nine years, the Suffield Arms is the second pub in the area to be relaunched and reimagined by London art dealer Ivor Braka, following his success with the Gunton Arms. Opposite the train station on the Norwich to Cromer line, the building was designed to accommodate workers on Gunton Estate and has been extended and developed by Braka into a complex of sharply different spaces for eating and drinking, all adorned with original artworks. Be warned, some of them are quite edgy. The main bar retains the site’s 19th Century feel, serves local ales and, surprisingly, has a pool table.

The saloon upstairs is furnished with plush armchairs and serves cocktails, while the Mediterranean restaurant and tapas bar at the back is bright and modern. A wide variety of tapas dishes from patatas bravas to wild boar with crispy polenta are served alongside a couple of large plates, such as sea bass, pasta and pizzas, and wines from Spain, Portugal and Italy. A more limited tapas and pizza menu is available in the bar.

Signature Dishes
tapaspatatas bravascrab and chilli pizzafocaccia
The record

Recognition history

Dated appearances from independent guides and award organizations, with the underlying list record or original source where available.

  1. Top 50 Gastropubs 2026 Estrella Damm Top 100 Gastropubs #95

    Top 50 Gastropubs

At a Glance
Vibe
  • Elegant
  • Whimsical
  • Historic
  • Sophisticated
  • Cozy
Best For
  • Group Dining
  • Casual Hangout
  • Celebration
  • After Work
Experience
  • Standalone
  • Design Destination
  • Historic Building
  • Terrace
Drink Program
  • Craft Cocktails
  • Beer Program
Dress CodeCasual
Noise LevelConversational
CapacityMedium
Service StyleUpscale Casual
Meal PacingLeisurely

Edgy, elegant, and eccentric, with a bright modern tapas room, a classic old-school pub bar, and an upstairs cocktail lounge with plush seating and a roof terrace.