'Iconic' coastal pub reopens

Richard Parr

A man who has known an historic North Norfolk coastal pub for 50 years has now made it his own and given it a �100,000 re-vamp.

Cliff Nye, 62, owner of the award-winning White Horse pub and restaurant at Brancaster Staithe, has now taken the lease on the Jolly Sailors, an 18th century free house pub in the same village and is re-opening it from 6pm tomorrow after extensive refurbishment.

It means that Mr Nye runs two licensed premises in the same village separated by a distance of only 300 yards.

Mr Nye acquired the pub in November last year and closed it on January 5 to allow for the refurbishment work to be undertaken.

He describes its new style as a “value-for-money traditional pub with a new twist”. Features include a traditional pizza oven.

“Yes, we are bucking the trend at a time when pubs are closing down daily. I have had my eye on the Jolly for two or three years. The pub, once an icon of the North Norfolk coastline, has been in my blood since I was a teenager. I feel very proud that I have had the opportunity to take on the leasehold of this grass roots traditional pub even in this economic climate,” said Mr Nye.

Re-launching of the pub means that up to 12 full and part-time jobs will be created with staff working under the manager, Heather Tidd . The head chef is Richard Martin.

“The Jolly's has been an iconic pub for many years and people have fond nostalgic memories of the place. It has always been a fun pub and lords and ladies would come into the bar with their wellies on. People remember the Jolly with great nostalgia and I first went in there 50 years ago when I was 12 ,” said Mr Nye.