TRAVEL
THE HARPER, LANGHAM, NORTH NORFOLK
WHAT’S THE BUZZ? A newcomer to the North Norfolk holiday scene, The Harper is a contemporary boutique hotel and spa in the quiet village of Langham, a few minutes’ drive from Morston and Stiffkey on the coast, and close to Blakeney Point Nature Reserve, famous for its harbour and grey seals. The atmospheric brick-and-flint barns formerly housed Langham Glass (now based in Fakenham), a part of the hotel’s history that’s celebrated in colourful stained glass windows by local artist Julie Kirkham. Already veterans of the wedding venue business and with Norwich heritage, the Cutmore-Scott family opened The Harper, their first ever luxury hotel, in spring 2021, kitting out the old glassworks with oak floors, eclectic furniture and original art.
In a location that can become very busy during peak holiday season the spacious, ‘residents-only’ hotel is an oasis of calm run by friendly efficient staff. The Yard, the central courtyard, is the centrepiece where there are deckchairs to flop in, long tables for gathering with friends, and a flickering fire-pit (where grilled nibbles are served up at 6pm in summertime). Indoors there are plenty of options too – first-floor Ivy’s sitting room with sofas, coffee tables and two elephant folio art and photography books to browse; Stanley’s dining room next door, and downstairs a grown-up playroom, the Den, equipped with snooker table and darts board. The onus is on relaxation, so this is not a late-night hotel, however. Out and about in the locale, guests head inland to the market town of Holt for shopping and slap-up fish and chips at Eric’s, or to the unspoilt coastline where fishing villages Blakeney and Cley-next-the-Sea are spliced with salt marshes and the wildest of beaches where all you can hear are waves, wind and the soft peeping of birds.
WHAT ARE THE ROOMS LIKE? The Harper has 32 rooms ranged around The Yard, all finished to a high standard and ranging from ‘big’ (280sq ft) to ‘bigger’ (over 300sq ft) to ‘biggest’ (400sq ft). Large windows allow in lots of light and the vibe is ultra-comfy – king-size or super-king fourposters, Casper mattresses, limestone tiles in the bathroom, monsoon and rainforest showers, Irene Forte toiletries, and funky furnishings including oversized lamps and leather easy chairs for watching telly. We stayed in one of the ‘biggest’ rooms, overlooking The Yard, and loved the little extras such as packets of Heather’s Kettle Corn, the Nespresso coffee maker and a basket filled with flip-flops, beach ball and bucket and spade. A new family room, suite 309, offers two bedrooms, a sitting area and a huge ba
