the hotel inspector

We checked into our next hotel on friday night and after enjoying a Mojito or two we settled down to enjoy an early dinner.

Titchwell Manor was where we would be based until sunday so we chose to explore close to the village and to walk the beach at Titchwell Marshes.  To get access to the beach at Titchwell marshes, you pass through the bird sanctuary which meant wading through dozens and dozens of twitchers who had gathered at the RSPB sanctuary. It is out of season and although many twitchers are retired, there are young twitchers so it isn’t really seasonal. It certainly seemed incredibly busy for a september morning. We discovered that they were there in their droves for the opening of the new award winning Parinder hides and the siting of a Bitten (had we known……) so our quiet walk was somewhat different to what we had expected.

We’ve heard different opinions about Titchwell Manor and I have to say that some of the decor just doesn’t work. As a designer of commercial interiors myself, I can completely understand what they were trying to achieve with the bar areas and some of the rooms but it just wasn’t convincing.  There are, however some lovely areas like the gardens, the new conservatory and the extensions in the grounds which are stunning.

The service, food and wine was incredible and it made me wish I was a secret shopper for the AA or Michelin food guides so I could enjoy such superb food all of the time. Compliments to the head chef Ryan Lee who’s food really can be described as ‘absolutely beautiful’ and it was the tastiest food either JC or I have enjoyed in a while.

best end of lamb with braised neck, crackling and pea & mint jous

The produce is all sourced locally (norfolk lamb, norfolk oysters & samphire are just some of the examples), they employ the skills of a forager, have planted an orchard to the back of the grounds and visitors with dogs are asked not to allow their dogs to wee on the herb borders because the herbs are harvested for use in the kitchen.

plaice with 3 beetroots, beans and baby shoots in a herb butter sauce

Breakfast at Titchwell Manor was also lovely (I had Eggs Benedict on Saturday and Smoked Salmon & Scrambled eggs on Sunday whilst JC opted for the benchmark full english breakfast each morning) although I think that The Ship may have had the edge on them regards the Full English breakfast.

On Saturday we met up with my sister, niece and their dogs for a long fun walk along Holkham Beach we were later joined by friends for a quick whistle wetter in the garden house at The Orange Tree before another stunning meal in the restaurant at Titchwell Manor.

Quite wonderful.

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