coast TRAVEL
THE GLOBE INN, WELLS-NEXT-THE-SEA, NORTH NORFOLK
WHAT’S THE BUZZ? There’s been a public house on the site of The Globe Inn in Wells-next-the-Sea since the 1820s and the popular watering hole has just been revamped by new owners, the awardwinning Chestnut Group. Bedrooms have been smartened up, the bar and restaurant too (interiors by Maria Hipwell), and there’s plenty of outdoor space for enjoying drinks, including a roof terrace for the exclusive use of residents. Located in the heart of town, The Globe overlooks the The Buttlands, a Georgian square ranged around a green. It’s also only seconds from the top of Staithe Street, the main shopping thoroughfare that leads downhill to the quayside on the sheltered East Fleet inlet. Here you’ll find seaside nick-nack shops rubbing shoulders with gelato parlours and fashion boutiques; another gem is the cultural centre Wells Maltings, which presents film, theatre and live music. Follow the Beach Road footpath up East Fleet to inspect the new, state-of-the-art RNLI Wells Lifeboat Station, and beyond that glorious Holkham Bay and Beach where people, dogs and horses frolic in the surf.
WHAT ARE THE ROOMS LIKE? There are 19 bedrooms at The Globe Inn, decorated with nautical-inspired fabrics, furnished with king or super-king beds and provided with Bramley toiletries. Most of the rooms are ranged around a courtyard that’s open for drinks in the summer and they are categorised as – ‘good’, ‘better’ and ‘best’. Rooms 1, 18, 19 and 22 are designated ‘best’ for reasons such as superior space, amenities and views. We stayed in Room 12 on the ground floor (also the wheelchair-accessible room), which has a wet room and a kitchenette. All the rooms and public areas at The Globe are dog-friendly, and Denzel’s dog treats are on the canine menu.
BEST VIEWS? While the sea isn’t visible from The Globe Inn, it is just a fiveminute walk away down Staithe Street. Holkham Beach is another 20 minutes on from that, along the East Fleet. The best views from the pub itself are of The Buttlands and its pretty green.
