The Castle is about 30 minutes from the Swan House in Beccles and if you are considering eating out in Norwich or require an alternative to the hotels in Norwich, then the Swan House Restaurant and boutique Hotel in Beccles will be a delicious option.

Educational visits welcome
Contact: Bookings Administrator
Contact telephone: 01603 493636

Group visits welcome
Contact: Bookings Administrator
Contact Tel: 01603 493636

How to get here by public transport
For information on public transport call Traveline on 0870 608 2608.

Nearest car park
The Castle Mall car park.

There are a few Hotels relatively near by, as well as B&Bs in Framlingham. However if you are considering alternatives, the Swan House in Beccles is a unique boutique hotel, around 30 minutes drive away.

Tickets to this attraction are available from the English-Heritage society.

The Lake is around 20 minutes drive from the Swan House Restaurant and boutique Hotel in Beccles and if you are looking for an alternative to the hotels in Gt Yarmouth, the Swan House in the unspoilt market town of Beccles, is an excellent option.

Telephone: 01502 734901

The Maddermarket Theatre, St. John’s Alley, Norwich NR2 1DR

Email: mmtheatre@btconnect.com
Administration Number: 01603 626560
Box Office: 01603 620917

The building celebrated its centenary in 2001 (a miracle considering that it almost didn’t get built in the first place!) and we hope that you will come and visit us to ensure the Theatre’s survival for at least another 110 years.

Pier Gardens, Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk NR31 6PP

Opening hours: 10am – 2pm, Monday to Thursday

Box office: Telephone: (01493) 662832 (24 hour answerphone is in operation)

With about 100 associate members, a core group runs and organises the shop. We meet once a month to discuss co-op business and consider newly submitted work. We are always interested in encouraging new makers. Our aim is to provide a permanent showcase for contemporary applied arts from East Anglia.

If you are looking for an alternative to the many excellent Restaurants in Southwold, the Swan House in Beccles with is ‘al fresco’ summer dining and winter log fires will be perfect. The Swan House is also soon to become a boutique B&B in Suffolk.

We are open every day except Wednesday from 10.00 – 5.00.
Come and see our unique prints, ceramics, jewellery, textiles and toys.
If you are interested in ordering any item, please call us during opening hours.

40A High Street Southwold Suffolk IP18 6AE
Telephone: 01502 723 211
Website: www.craftco.co.uk

Lyra is Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers based in Lowestoft Suffolk U.K and has frequent Monthly meetings at the Sunrise Inn on Corton Road in North Lowestoft. Lyra also has a purpose built observatory containing a 10 inch reflector telescope situated in the grounds of Kirkley high school in Kirkley run Lowestoft. This Observatory was originally opened by Sir Patrick Moore and has recently been renovated and restored, the telescope is now operational and will soon be motorised for star tracking. If you do not have to own a telescope or have a great knowledge about Astronomy to enjoy the awesome beauty of the night sky. Knowledge comes with time and much can be seen by the naked eye or with a pair of binoculars before progressing to an astronomical telescope, we have professional Astronomers give lectures to its members and these meetings are also open to the public.

If you are looking for an alternative to the Restaurants of Lowestoft, the Swan House in Beccles, with it’s open log fires and unique ambience, will be perfect. The Swan House is also soon to become a boutique Hotel in Suffolk.

Anyone is welcome to join the Society and if you wish for more information just call:
Email: astrocomera@googlemail.com
Telephone 01502741875 (evenings preferred)

Spread over two floors the spacious well lit rooms provide an ideal space for exhibiting art. Buckenham Galleries have an on going exhibition of works by gallery artists. In conjunction with this there are eight major exhibitions each year featuring work from invited artists. With a wealth of different styles on offer, there is always something new to see. With its warm and friendly atmosphere, Buckenham Galleries has built up a first class reputation with artists and collectors alike.

If you are looking for an alternative to the many excellent restaurants in Southwold, the Swan House in Beccles with is ‘al fresco’ summer dining and winter log fires will be a fine excursion. The Swan House is also soon to become a new boutique hotel in Suffolk.

Opening Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Friday & Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-4pm. Open Bank Holidays 10am-5pm.

81 High street,
Southwold,
Suffolk IP18 6DS

Telephone: (01502) 725 418
Website: www.buckenhamgalleries.co.uk

World Art Forum is designed to explore major questions in world art. It links all the Sainsbury Centre’s teaching and research organisations and bridges the worlds of academic research and public engagement. With growing emphasis everywhere on global perspectives, the whole concept of world art at the University of East Anglia is gaining new relevance. The Sainsbury Centre and other research and teaching organisations regularly programme events to discuss issues and ideas around world art. Each season there are special events linking to the temporary exhibitions and the permanent collection. Find something for you! With a wide range of events from performance evenings to film afternoons, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

The Centre is around 30minutes drive from the Swan House Restaurant and boutique B&B in Beccles and if you are looking for an alternative to a hotel in Norwich, the Swan House is an excellent option.

Website: www.scva.org.uk
Telephone: 01603 593199
The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
UEA Norwich NR4 7TJ

Telephone: 01502 500004
Website: www.lowestoft-arts.org

You Can Buy Tickets Online for most events at the Cut (not Cinema films)! Click the [book] link on each Event Details page to go to the secure shopping cart.

New Cut Arts receives no central funding and relies on the support of the local community and its 500 Club benefactors who help to pay the mortgage.

Opening times:
Cafe-bar and Exhibitions: Monday to Saturday 10am-4pm. Box Office: Tuesday – Saturday 11am – 2pm. Some events will have numbered seating, please check when you order your tickets or write in the notes section when ordering online.

Swan House is currently underdevelopment to become a new boutique hotel in Suffolk.
 

The Waterfront Norwich is a night club and concert venue, which surprisingly is by the waterfront in Norwich. There are plenty of Hotels in Norwich relatively near by, as well as B&Bs in Norwich. However if you are considering alternatives to the City, the Swan House in Beccles is a unique boutique hotel in Beccles, around 25 minutes drive away.

Box Office: 01603 508050
www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk

Around 20 miles from the Swan House Restaurant on the Norfolk Broads in Beccles, the Assembly House showcases classic music recitals, jazz evening, folk & acoustic music, even rock & blues are all regularly heard with performances in either the stunning Music Room or the elegant Noverre Ballroom.

If you are looking for an alternative to the Restaurants in Norwich, the Swan House in Beccles would be an excellent excursion. The Swan House is also soon to become a boutique hotel in Suffolk.

The Assembly House has a lively events list.

The Assembly House, Theatre Street, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1RQ
Telephone: +44 (0) 1603 626402
Email us on: admin@assemblyhousenorwich.co.uk
Web: assemblyhousenorwich.co.uk

Finally, after a year of appealing and winning our planning case, we are developing our five rooms and when they are as intrinsically characterful as the picture above, they are a joy to work on. The rooms will be lovingly designed to incorporate all that one would expect of such naturally beautiful environments. En-suite, distinctive and totally unique, our rooms will provide the perfect base to explore Norfolk and Suffolk, with easy access to the beautiful, distinctive Suffolk coastal resorts of Lowestoft, Southwold and albeburgh as well as the Norfolk Broads on the doorstep. It’s going to take around five months to create the most idiosyncratic B&B in Suffolk, with a proposed launched date of late March. And you will of course be welcome to view the rooms in our ‘Open’ week.

“Delicious bread! Worth it for that alone. But the chicken livers were perfect and the tagliatelle a terrific combination of tastes. What a find!Prof Carol Rutter, 15th December 2011, Stratford on Avon

“Wonderful lunch”Sanya Morris, 15th December 2011, Toft Monks

“Fantastic menu, staff friendly”Adams, 11th December 2011, Wymondham

“As usual the whole experience was full of ambience and beauty”Steve Knight, 11th December 2011, Local

“Food has been excellent! The waitress has been very attentive”John Patchett, 11th December 2011, Beccles

“Simply a stunning performance by ‘Keeper’s Daughter’ of ‘A Christmas Carol’. Can’t wait for a future performance! A superb evening of fine dining coupled by this great performance (Dickens). Such an enjoyable evening”Kathy Gosling, 8th December 2011, Carlton Colville

“Very enjoyable, great atmosphere of intimacy and warmth. A real treat”Agnes Lilles, 8th December 2011, Beccles

“Excellent meal andentertainment”Mike Gooch, 8th December 2011, Debenham

“Wonderful meal and very lovely service”Stewart Bugden, 4th December 2011, Worlingham

“The food is very impressive! The service is exceptional. All the staff are so attentive and personable. I am so impressed at how attentive you are especially to my elderly parents”Louise Walmsley, 4th December 2011, Pettywell, Norfolk

“Six of us and we all enjoyed a delicious lunch”Mr Hammond, 3rd December 2011, Beccles

“Lovely staff, fantastic food. All in all a memorable meal had by all”Mark Wilson, 3rd December 2011, Kings Lynn

“Great meal & great service”Lianne & Peter Miller, 3rd December 2011, Southwold

“A lovely evening. Super food…super service…and lovely atmosphere”Ellen Blake, 28th November 2011, Dereham

“Absolutely wonderful meal. Service was brilliant and added music was very enjoyable”Elaine Prewer, 28th November 2011, Diss

“Wonderful food and service”Anne West, 27th November 2011, Harrow

“Everything was fantastic”David Cushing, 26th November 2011, Worlingham

“What a wonderful evening we have all had. Food menu was superb. Well done to all”Ms Basey-Fisher, 26th November 2011, Horam

“Fabulous pasta, great waiting staff…lovely evening”Sarah Kirkpatrick, 26th November 2011, Beccles

“Better than Gordon Ramsay”Mr Bennett, 23rd November 2011, Blundeston

“Lovely meal, will come again”T Heyes, 20th November 2011, Beccles

“Friendly, welcoming and outstanding food”Victoria Skipp, 20th November 2011, Colchester

“Awsome. Every course better than the last. Fantastic staff”Chris Dolland, 18th November 2011, Milton Keynes

“Fantastic food”Norman Manners, 17th November 2011, Norwich

“As always, welcoming warm reception and great food”Sheryl Balls, 17th November 2011, Henstead

“A wonderful meal, fabulous!”Lisa Chapman, 17th November 2011, Lowestoft

“Wonderful as always! Especially enjoyed the marmalade pudding, delicious!”Verity Payne, 17th November 2011, Beccles

“A veritable delight as usual. Superb food, delightful service.”Yvonne Barnes, 13th November 2011, Pakefield

“Fantastic food. Great flavours in a wonderful room.”Darren Brown, 13th November 2011, Upminster

“Really amazing food and great hospitality. Thoroughly enjoyed our evening out”Emma Riches, 12th November 2011, Lowestoft

“Absolutely perfect!”Aidan McHugh, 11th November 2011, Carters of Norwich

“Very impressed with service, presentation, & quality of food. Cannot think of anywhere closer to home that matches your standard!”AJ Elms, 11th November 2011, Lowestoft

“The quality of the food you serve is absolutely first class. I haven’t yet found anywhere in Norfolk or Suffolk to beat it”Diane Collier, 11th November 2011, Beccles

“Great food, love the fire”Anna Tonison, 10th November 2011, Waveney Valley

“Wonderful meal, intense flavour combinations, beautifully presented. Very friendly staff”Ms Lam, 10th November 2011, Norton Subcourse

“Meals and service were excellent”James Nesbitt, 8th November 2011, Barnby

“An excellent meal. Beautiful in presentation and delicious. Just perfect. PS I am not easily pleased!”Ann Oliver, 8th November 2011, Beccles

“Excellent as always! Super, will return again and again”Rudd/Futter, 8th November 2011, Local

“We all had a fabulous time!”Liz Tyler, 6th November 2011, Ipswich

“Unique ambiance with great style. A cosmopolitan vibe in rural Suffolk”Marilyn Jackson, 6th November 2011, Beccles

“As someone her loves her food, I’d highly recommend the Swan House”Phoebe Little (15), 6th November 2011, Beccles

“Great meal will come again”Jackie Higham, 6th November 2011, Bramerton

The cinema opens at least 15 minutes before the start of the first film each day. Their telephone lines are open from 9.30am – 8.30pm, seven days a week.

You can book tickets online by clicking on the time of a film or using the Quick Book function found in the header.

Cinema City, Norwich, St Andrew’s Street, Norwich NR2 4AD
Box Office Number: 0871 902 5724
email: cinemacity@picturehouses.co.uk
Web: www.picturehouses.co.uk

If you are looking for an alternative to the Restaurants in Norfolk, why not consider the Swan House and if you are looking for a posh B&B in Beccles, the Swan House restaurant and Hotel can provide the perfect setting.

Redwings Caldecott Visitor Centre, Fritton, near Great Yarmouth Norfolk NR31 9AB

10am to 5pm daily from April to October. Entry is free.

The Seagull Theatre was originally a junior day school; The Morton Road School until the early 60s, where it was converted to the current building that exists today.

Morton Road School in Pakefield was later opened in 1967 as The Seagull Theatre in Pakefield. The design of the building is of Victorian origin.

In 2006 Suffolk County Council decided to withdraw their funding to the theatre which caused its temporary closure. As a result of this the SOS (‘Save our Seagull’) group was formed, the patrons of which are oscar-winning Dame Judi Dench and Desmond Barrit. Dench pledged to support campaigners fighting to save the theatre

The theatre soon opened up again in 2007 under the rebrand ‘The Seagull’. Since the theatre has re-opened, the building has been renovated and restored to it’s former glory. In October 2009, the theatre sourced a grant for new technical equipment as part of continued re-development. If you are considering an alternative to the Restaurants in Great Yarmouth, why not consider the Swan House and if you are looking for a B&B in Suffolk, the Swan House restaurant and Inn can provide the perfect setting.

http://www.theseagull.co.uk

The Marina Theatre in Lowestoft, situated close to Beccles and Southwold is at the cultural heart of the community with a mixture of live entertainment and great cinema. However the Theatre has had a chequered existence. The original theatre started life in the 1870’s as a roller skating rink into which owners erected a make-shift stage and renamed it The Rink Theatre.

The ‘Rink’ was converted into the Marina in 1897 and on April 26, the Haymarket Drama Society were the first to perform on the stage with Peter the Penman by Sir Charles Young. The basis of the present theatre building was then erected, largely on the foundations of the old and was designed by Ernest Runtz and Co. During its heyday, seven different pantomimes were presented during the Christmas period along with summer shows such as the musical comedies of McDonald and Young. The theatre also enjoyed visits from legends such as Gracie Fields and Ralph Richardson. The Marina operated as a live venue until 1929 when the onset of cinema made the future uncertain. However it survived after Associated British Cinemas took it over in 1931 until it was operated by EMI. Briefly used during the second world war as a temporary mortuary and a reception centre for evacuated children, the Marina began to struggle in the late 1960’s with the introduction of colour television and this resulted in cinema attendances dropping, The Marina soldiered on as a cinema before finally closing on Christmas Eve, 1984.

After being bought by Waveney District Council in 1985, 24 hours before a demolition deadline set by EMI, the Marina underwent a huge renovation which included the reconstruction of the dressing room area, and the construction of a new toilet block to serve the circle and bar areas. On 1st October 1988, almost four years after its closure, the Marina re-opened as the new Civic Theatre and Cultural Centre in Lowestoft with a concert given by 1970’s rock and roll star Rick Wakeman.

In the past three years the Marina has become one of the leading Civic Venues in the country.

Following the first visit of the Moscow City Ballet and Orchestra, the venue has hosted world-class opera and acts as diverse as Chinese Acrobats to Ken Dodd. In 2005 Tony Christie made history at the Marina as he became the last artiste to top the original record charts and the first to top the new combined sales and download chart whilst performing on the Marina stage. Also in 2005, the Marina became a residence of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, one of only two venues outside London to be granted such a prestigious honour.

The Theatre is about a 25 minute drive from the Swan House Restaurant and Hotel in Beccles, Suffolk. So if you are looking for an alternative to the Restaurants in Lowestoft, Swan House will be perfect and just a minute’s walk from the Norfolk Broads.

Box Office, The Marina Theatre,
The Marina, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 1HH
Telephone (01502) 533200
Contact: info@marinatheatre.co.uk
Web: www.marinatheatre.co.uk
Box Office Opening Hours
Monday to Saturday: 10.00am to 4.00pm
On Live Show Evenings: 10.00am to 8.00pm
On Film Evenings: Open 1 hour before the scheduled film start time
Sundays: Open two hours before the scheduled start time of a live event.
Sunday Film Screenings: Open 1 hour before the scheduled film start time

However on this visit it was the lesser known areas caught the eye. We had a splendid evening in Costello, a small mountain village that puts on a series of Festas at this time of year (above pic).

But it was in the small Roman walled city of Alife, pronounced ‘a-leaf-a’, that caused my biggest surprise. Usually I have my camera ready for the unexpected, but what happened next as I wandered the tightly packed streets of the Tuesday morning market, was a moment of pure Felliniesque magic, that could have graced the great director’s ‘La Strada’. I found myself strolling a few strides behind a woman who was perhaps thirty, slender and tall by local standards, wearing a flowing calf length white dress. Just behind her was a young lad, no older than 5 or 6, that I took to be her son. All of a sudden in one magically naughty moment, the son lifted the tail of his mother’s dress above her waist as if it were a bridal gown, for all to see she was wearing no underwear! The lad collected a sharp slap on his cheek. Oh that the Beccles market could be so entertaining!

Above photo of flag juggling

We are asking those involved in the arts, sports, media or in a word ‘celebrities’, to draw and sign a one minute 12cm x 12cm ‘self portrait’ however simplistic or sophisticated and return it to us at the Swan House (the small format is important to reduce framing costs).

The images will then be posted on our website (www.swan-house.com) and offered for auction, whilst others will be displayed at the restaurant, for visitors to bid at a live auction. How you can help is by bringing this event to the attention of any ‘celebs’ that you may directly or indirectly know. The event will be backed by PR in the local press, glossy magazines, radio and posters, and hopefully the national press. Galleries of the ‘Self-portraits’ will be available here soon to bid for. Dates of the fund raising schedule will be announced, once contributors have agreed to participate.

If you are a ‘celeb’ or can assist by your knowlege of ‘celebs’ who may contribute to the appeal, or you wish to find out more about this exciting project, please contact Roland Blunk at the Swan House, By the Tower, Beccles NR34 9HE, United Kingdom or call +44 (0)1502 713474

Many thanks for your anticipated support, Roland Blunk

Contact:
Tel: 07767 647242
Website: www.becclesrufc.co.uk

Contact: J. Humby
Telephone: 01502 713776
Website: www.becclestownfc.co.uk

Contact: Mr M Jermey
Telephone: 01502 713075
Website: www.becclestowncc.co.uk

The Golf Club has been in existance since 1899 and is a great place to play golf. The common is on the north side of the town with access via Common Lane. The club itself is voluntary run except for the wonderful part time greenkeeper who has transformed the greens back to their former glory. The course consists of 9 holes varying from par 3’s through to a par 5, all laid out on what many call an inland links setting. Although there are no bunkers or water on the course there is a lot of gorse and small, fast greens to make good course management a requirement for a good round. After a round, why not visit the Swan House Restaurant in Beccles town centre. Swan House is also becoming a boutique B&B in Beccles.

The Common, Beccles, Suffolk NR34 9BX
Telephone: 01502 712244

Their team of valuers and auctioneers provide advice on the sale of antiques and collectables as well as preparing valuations for inheritance tax, insurance and family division. With professional staff, magnificent auction rooms and their own removal vehicles, they are able to offer a comprehensive and cost-effective service to executors, solicitors and private clients.

The nearby Swan House restaurant is also soon to become a boutique hotel in Beccles.

Their services:

Valuation
On-site appraisals
Verbal advice or full written reports
Professional and confidential service.
Specialist Valuers for furniture, ceramics, pictures, silver, jewellery, clocks and watches, books, militaria, toys and dolls
Collection and clearance

They are able to undertake
Whole or partial house clearances
Collection and storage prior to auction
Disposal of low value or unsaleable items

The Auction
With two auction rooms, cafe and reception area, our facilities at The Old School House, Peddars Lane, Beccles offer a superb experience for the buyer or seller alike
Periodic specialist sales
Antique and Fine Art sales every month
Sales advertised regionally, nationally and worldwide on the internet
Computerised reconciliation for vendors providing clarity and detailed analysis
RICS audited accounts.

Auction rooms
The Old School House, Peddars Lane, Beccles, Suffolk NR34 9UE
Telephone: 01502 713490

http://www.durrants.com/auction-calendar.asp

If you are visiting Beccles, we are developing Swan House as a boutique B&B in Beccles which should be available soon. Please call us for details.

The Theatre is about 30 minutes from the Swan House Restaurant in Suffolk, by the Broads in Beccles, so if you are looking for an alternative to the Restaurants in Norwich, Swan House will be perfect. The Swan House is also soon to become a quality B&B in Suffolk.

Box office
Telephone: (01603) 63 00 00, Fax: (01603) 62 27 77
Theatre Royal, Theatre Street, Norwich, NR2 1RL
Email: boxoffice@theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
Web: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

Whenever I travel, I’m always looking for ideas to bring back to Suffolk and the Swan House Restaurant and our recent visit to Bad Gastein in the Austrian Alps, not so far from Salzburg, was one such opportunity. The Austrian Alpine menu is invariably very traditional, with a selection of heavy dishes that, although quite tasty and certainly filling, do not ooze subtlety. Oodles of calories and maybe just the ticket if you are about to assault the Hahnenkamm, but perhaps not for our delicate palettes. However, just when I was on the verge of giving up the thought of exporting a little bit of Austria back to Beccles, I discovered their cheese dumpling soup. The Austrians don’t believe in using three words where just one will do, and so ‘Kaspressknodelsuppe’ has made it onto our Swan House ‘bar menu’.

The Austrians don’t do ‘light’, but the dish is an unusual and wonderfully tasty Swan House bar meal all in one.

If you are looking for a Restaurant to have an excellent Sunday Lunch in Beccles after training, Swan House will be perfect. The Swan House is also soon to become a quality B&B in Suffolk.

If you’d like to join or have a chat about coming along to see us, contact:

Telephone: 07836251178
Email: robin_de_vere_green@hotmail.com

Beccles Society of Artists, The Waveney Centre, New Market, Beccles
Telephone: 01502 716630

The club has sole use of the airfield which is situated in uncongested airspace on the Norfolk – Suffolk border. When you train here waiting time is kept to a minimum and every minute in the aircraft is devoted to constructive training with none wasted holding for commercial flights to come and go. The airfield is licenced by the UK Civil Aviation Authority and meets or exceeds all the required safety standards. In addition to training in the aircraft there is also ground school and an aircraft simulator, all run by a Qualified Flying Instructor. All CAA written tests and flight tests are taken on site with our own approved examiners.

After you have gained your licence aircraft can be hired for your own personal use at competitive rates. Even if you gained your licence elsewhere you will be welcomed and after a short check flight you will be able to hire the club aircraft.

You may even want to extend your flying skills and gain a night rating or IMC rating. Even if you only fly with a friend, but would like to learn more, our Co-Pilot’s course might appeal to you.

If you are looking for a B&B in Beccles, the Swan House restaurant and Inn can provide the perfect setting.

Rainer Forster
Rainair Flying Club
Beccles Airfield
NR34 7TE

Telephone 01502 476400 or 07767 827172
email info@rainair.co.uk

Ringsfield Road, Beccles NR34 9PF
Telephone: 01502 712 039

Email: business@wlog.org.uk
Website: www.wlog.org.uk

The June Glennie School of Dance has an ethos of having fun, keeping fit and never stopping learning.

Website: www.juneglenniedance.co.uk

Email: spotlightbecclesbm@hotmail.co.uk
Website: www.spotlightbeccles.org

The first mentioned ‘concert and soiree’ given by something calling itself the Beccles Choral Society was in January 1851. It took place in the Assembly Room (Public Hall), and was assisted by members of the Bungay and Halesworth choral societies. It was, the Norwich Mercury wrote, a success thanks to the efforts of Mr and Mrs Corbyn, musically active members of the Independent Chapel (today the United Reformed Church on Hungate). The event was attended by up to three hundred (where did they all sit?) Several months later there was a fund-raising event by BCS in the Beccles Assembly Room, held in aid of the Beccles Lying-in-Charity (maternity hospital) with a programme of vocal and instrumental music. Among the fourteen items were two overtures (Handel’s Saul and Mozart’s Le Nozzi di Figaro), an aria from Haydn’s Creation sung by Dr. Carnaby, four choir items, and a series of anthems, glees and madrigals. … Reserved seats were 2s. each; family tickets (for 4) were 6s.6d; back seats and gallery 1s: not inconsiderable sums in those days.

Contact: Mr J. Sayer
Telephone: 01502 717415
or
Contact: Bob Aris, telephone: 01502 716755

Beccles Yacht Station, The Quay, Beccles NR34 9BH
01502 712225 ?

During the week the green fees are £5 for adults and £2.50 for juniors and weekends and Bank Holidays are £10 and £5 respectively.

The Common, Beccles, Suffolk NR34 9BX Telephone: 01502 712244

The Club is about a ten minute walk from an excellent ‘Bar menu’ that can be enjoyed at the Swan House in the town centre of Beccles. The Swan House is soon to add to it’s Restaurant reputation by becoming a boutique B&B in Suffolk.

Common Lane, South Beccles, Suffolk, United Kingdom, NR34 9RH
Phone: 01502 713549

Open every day from 07:30am to 6:30pm
Late night opening: Thursdays until 8:30pm (phone first if weather is bad!)

If you’re looking for the best place to have a lunch, then the informal ‘Bar menu’ at the Swan House Restaurant in Beccles won’t be bettered

It would be so much easier to buy in time consuming dishes such as desserts from contract suppliers as most restaurants do, but it would be too contrary to our ethos. Sounds a bit precious, but that’s very much how we feel as a team.

The centre celebrated its 30th anniversary in June 2007. It was originally opened in a disused department store on St Benedict’s Street in 1977 and moved to its current site, St Swithin’s Church on St Benedict’s Street, in 1980. The Centre is 30 minutes away from the Swan House Restaurant in Beccles, so if you are looking for an alternative to the Restaurants in Norwich, the Swan House Restaurant in Beccles will be perfect. The Swan House is soon to become a unique boutique hotel in Beccles.

Norwich Arts Centre, St Benedict’s Street, Norwich

Management, Theatre, performance art and live literature bookings.
Telephone: 01603 697662
email: stuart@norwichartscentre.co.uk
Website: www.norwichartscentre.co.uk

Enjoy the garden trail through twelve acres of ancient trees, lawned gardens and Paxton greenhouses. Lose yourself in our famous 1846 yew maze. Tour the early Victorian stately home itself, then perhaps consider a visit to the Swan House Restaurant in nearby Beccles by the Norfolk Broads for afternoon tea or dinner. A great family day out and a taste of Old England at its finest. Swan House is also a boutique B&B in Beccles.

Somerleyton Hall, Somerleyton, Lowestoft Suffolk NR32 5QQ

Web: www.somerleyton.co.uk

10.00 – 5.00 Thurs/Sun/Bank Holidays April – October + Tues/Wed July & August

For the finest food in Beccles, look no further than the Swan House Restaurant, with an informal ‘Bar menu’ as well as ‘A la Carte’

Ellough Park Raceway, Benacre Road, Ellough, Nr Beccles, Suffolk NR34 7XD
Telephone: 01502 717718
enquiries@elloughparkraceway.co.uk

This has been my 59th ski trip to date, some of which have been pure holiday, most of which I’ve worked as a ski guide, occasionally attended training courses and other times coached. But on this occasion I was just a punter, … free to pull up and lunch wherever and whenever I liked, without worrying about a dozen skiers on my tail. Just Carmela.

Zermatt is very much my preferred destination and this trip did not disappoint. Although I know the pistes really well here, I never tire of them. The scenery is magnificently varied, with the Matterhorn dominating the entire valley (just visible in the pic above that I took with my iPhone). It’s the archetypal ‘boys own’ mountain, awesomely chilling in it’s presence, although I suspect that the top section has been added with paper mâché and chicken wire, just to acquire that finely chiselled peak.

The restaurants, generally regarded as the finest mountain eateries in the world, are the other great attraction. A couple of hours ago we pulled up at the restaurant in Zum Zee, a chocolate box mountain hamlet (pictured above) perched just above Zermatt. So popular that the only lunch option was ‘al fresco’ in -10c! Perhaps surprising for those unfamiliar with Alpine ‘dry’ air, the outside tables were almost as busy as those inside, as we grabbed the rugs provided and wrapped up.

I was keen to compare our own Swan House Rosti, that we’ve recently added to our Swan House ‘bar menu’, with the real thing.

The new site has been almost a year in the making, often a slog, sometimes a thrill, but pleasingly now on-line. You’d be hard pressed to guess how much work went into it as there’s so few words, but it’s the lack of those words that’s made it the slog. I’ve always since my Art School days been in love with photography, but food photography has been a whole new challenge. I’ve had to forget my design/advertising past of art directing specialist food photographers. Gone is the luxury of having hours to labour on a single shot to achieve with studio lighting and ‘tricks of the trade’, what I now have to achieve almost instantly, before my lunch goes cold!

Part of my web research dug up the all vital fact that the average ‘stay’ on a website was just two point something seconds. ‘Waffle’ and click they’re back to Google. That scary fact defined the brief. I knew if our new site was to deliver it had, wherever possible, to communicate almost instantly and so be highly visual as well as stimulating. For those with time to pause, the site could offer greater depth, but that would be the luxury. Every word I laid down I had to question, “do I really need to say this?” The year in the making was down to the photography and the need for both summer and winter imagery to tell the story of Swan House through the seasons. Our terrace umbrellas, awnings and almost Italianesque courtyard in the town’s centre, provides the perfect summer setting for ‘al fresco’ dining in Beccles, whilst our log fires and wafts of mulled wine, provide the unique and almost ‘Suffolk-Alpine’ winter environment. I’m still searching for that ‘scent’ plug-in!

Our next project, now that we’ve won our planning appeal is to convert the first floor of Swan House into a boutique guest house providing quality B&B in Beccles.

The problem with the internet is that more and more is being said about less and less and I didn’t want to contribute to that. But maybe I just have!

Mondays are usually our chef’s day for new menu ideas and inventiveness at the Swan House Restaurant. Recently we were looking for some classic European light lunch ideas for our ‘bar menu’. I considered some Alpine dishes and ‘Rösti’ pronounced ‘Roshte’ seemed a natural. It’s basically hash brown, fried eggs and bacon strips, but in a kind of blue eyed Ayrian format, more fit for a last snack before tackling the Eiger. Rather than check out recipe books, we jumped straight into ‘You Tube’ and quickly discovered a wonderful Swiss maid, possibly recently widowed, we christened Frau Nicentights. After some time spent studying the ‘Nicentights’ potato grating positions, we were won over by her insistence that grating ‘towards the breast’ was the most comfortable. Soon the time had come to gather ourselves up for a quick grate of our own. The resulting fry up was more perfect than we could have imagined, as the two fried eggs sat so succulently on the ample Rosti.

Just found this pic on my iPhone that I had forgotten about. Gioia in Southern Italy, pronounced ‘joya’, put on this excellent almost Bruegelesque ‘festa’ of music and dance in mid August. Oh for a little of their heat and dust to add to the annual Beccles Carnival!

Take last week, for instance. A group of four had reserved a table, but it wasnt until they received their menus that they mentioned they had specific dietary requirements. Over the course of the evening they successfully bullied the waitress to tears, despite her hard efforts to work out a special menu for them to enjoy. The bill was finally paid amid a barrage of undeserved, derogatory and inane remarks. So perhaps on this occasion I would have had a far more pleasant evening had I been the other side of the bar. But then, had I not been, I wouldn’t have met those nice people on their golden anniversary, or bumped into an old school teacher, and I certainly wouldn’t have been able to chat to that very dashing group of gentlemen (one somewhat more dashing than the others…).

So when put into perspective, despite that one unusual obstacle, I had a great night”!

From the spring of 2012, Swan House in Beccles will also become one of just a very few boutique hotels in Suffolk.

The show will includes our special two course lunch which includes a glass of wine. Lunch will be served at 1pm followed by the Denny fashion show between the courses. Please note that these events are relaxed and with no specific finishing time. However, if you have to depart a little early, you will not be pelted with brioche buns! The menu will be: A pasta salad of Falzoletti, our own Swan House pasta, filled with sundried tomato and ricotta served on a parmesan sauce with leaves followed by Swan House Honeycomb ice cream served with a brandy snap and baileys sauce. All elements of the dishes are made at Swan House.

For those of you who are as yet unaware, Swan House is currently underdevelopment and will soon be completed as a new boutique hotel near Norwich. We hope to be ready to launch during the spring and you will be most welcome to view the rooms in the week prior to opening. Please inform us of your email address and you will be invited!

£17.90 inclusive of VAT.

The menu will be: Falzoletti pasta, (home made as are all our dishes and pictured here) filled with spinach and ricotta served with a parmesan sauce followed by Braciola all a Milanese, sirloin of beef wrapped in ham and mozzarella cooked in a marrowbone, carrot and celery stock (vegetarian option by prior arrangement). All completed by a trio of Italian desserts: White chocolate panna cotta; Tiramisu and Espresso ice cream. £29.90 (inclusive of tax). The evening will begin at 7.45pm for 8pm.

A two course lunch with a glass of wine will be served at 1pm followed by Jon’s story between the courses with Q&A after dessert. Please note that these events are relaxed and with no specific finishing time. However, if you have to depart a little early, you will not be pelted with brioche buns! The menu will be: Trio of: Goat’s cheese tart; Tomato stuffed with peppers and herbs; Leek and gruyère soufflé followed by a filo basket of poached fresh fruit with chantilly cream served on crème pâtissière.

For those of you who are as yet unaware, Swan House is currently underdevelopment to become a new boutique hotel in Suffolk. We hope to be ready to launch around late spring and you will be welcome to view the rooms in the week prior to opening. Please inform us of your email address and you will be invited!

£17.90 inclusive of VAT.

The menu will be a trio of chefs starters: Deep fried brie with an onion chutney; Leek and gruyère soufflé; and cauliflower and Wissington cheese soup, followed by either Confit of duck set on a potato rosti potato with seasonal vegetables and a honey and rosemary sauce or Ravioloni, our own fresh pasta filled with spinach and ricotta on a tomato and basil sauce. All completed by a trio of chocolate desserts: Chocolate dur Mou served on a Tia Maria cream; White Chocolate Panna Cotta with a cherry compote; and Chocolate Brownie pudding. All elements of our dishes, whether it be pasta, breads or ice cream, are freshly made at the Swan House: £32.50 (inclusive of tax).

If you are considering an alternative to the restaurants in Norwich and fancy a pre-dinner film, the Swan House in Beccles can be well worth the 16 miles. Additionally, Swan House is soon to become a new boutique hotel in Beccles, early in 2012

Beccles Museum, Leman House, Ballygate, Beccles NR34 9ND?
Telephone Number: 01502 715 722