I've just returned home from a few days spent in the sleepy gem of a place that is Sheringham. For those of us who were actually alive the last time England won the World Cup (I was a mere few months old at the time but a fact I feel is important to stress!) the scenery and ambience of the town invokes a nostalgic quality of the type of countryside read about as kids - it's a Secret 7, Famous 5 style environment. You interact with close knit, polite and friendly townsfolk, view pretty cottages with their perfect gardens and pass twitchers, clutching their binoculars on their way to the marshes to view some lesser spotted variety of bird that are seen at this time of year.
Hopefully I've set the scene here - it is quintessentially the most olde English town I have ever visited. However, it's not a place I would have chosen to frequent had it not been for my dear old mum, who moved to Sheringham 8 years ago for some sea air and stress free living.
Having previously just spent day trips or the odd one night at mum's, I decided the time was right was a few days of rest and relaxation by the sea with my other half to chill away from the hustle and bustle of London. So, my search through various online sites began. To cut a long and arduous story short, after a few hours I thought we would be doomed to stay in some dreary B&B or spend a small fortune at some ancient hotel that looked like the setting for 'One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest' with the cast of 'Cocoon'!
However, after spending what seemed like an ice age trawling the web, I found The Two Lifeboats. It looked good, was reasonable and right near the seafront, so I booked up. My mum seemed dubious at my choice after I'd informed her of where we would be spending our time, recalling a time she'd been there 6 years ago and never having gone there since.
On the first night, we treated her to dinner here and she has been converted. First off the place was unrecognisable from her last visit. Next, the staff are lovely and helpful. The food is above average fayre and priced well - there are tables outside to view the spectacular sunsets (to compete with my fading memories of Ibiza in the 90's!)
The room we stayed in was small but perfectly equipped and a great view of the sea. It's an old pub, so the stairs are quite narrow and steep so perhaps not best suited to all but for us, it was perfect. The breakfast is served in the pub area too and very delicious before our epic walks along the coast.
For a nostalgic and welcome short break, I would highly recommend. read more
