Harden's survey result
Summary
“An excellent gastropub” on the edge of Norwich run for 10 years by chef-patron Daniel Smith, who also owns the Ingham Swan (the memorable name is left over from its 1990s incarnation as an African-themed pub). A couple of long-term fans had their best meals of the year here, but ratings were held in the middle ground by one or two double-edged reports (“well cooked and presented, but more bucks than bang for what is essentially gastropub fare…”; “excellent Sunday lunch, but it says something about this fine city that it was the highlight!”).
Summary
This “terrific find just outside Norwich” is an “excellent gastropub” with “really pleasant staff” – owned and run by locally born chef Daniel Smith, it’s “sister to the Ingham Swan and just as good”. Originally a village pub called the Red Lion, it was re-named with an African theme as the Wildebeest by a previous owner, and the name stuck. Top Tip – “the daily fixed-price lunch is very good and very good value”.
Summary
Locally born chef Daniel Smith’s “modern British” cuisine at his village pub-restaurant on the edge of Norwich is “always a winner” for its “imaginative flavours” and “excellent service”. “We eat here regularly and it’s first-rate both for the food and the pleasant atmosphere”, while “the set lunch and the tasting menu are both brilliant”. The venue’s name is left over from a previous African-themed incarnation.
Summary
“Excellent food, beautifully prepared and presented from local produce”, ticks the boxes at this village pub-restaurant just outside Norwich, which serves a modern British menu from Norfolk-born chef Daniel Smith (ex-Le Gavroche and Morston Hall), who also runs the Ingham Swan (his third venture, Warwick Street Social in Norwich, closed during the pandemic). The Wildebeest’s name is a relic of its previous life as an African-themed gastropub. Top Tip – “the fixed-price lunch is a real bargain”.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at The Wildebeest Arms?
82-86 Norwich Rd, Stoke Holy Cross, NR14 8QJ
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Always | £30.00 | £36.00 |  |
|
|
| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 60.00 | Lunch only | 5 |
| Menu2 | 100.00 | Dinner only | 7 |
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Veggies | Pudding |
|---|---|---|---|
| £22.00 | £41.50 | £9.00 | £14.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £35.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
82-86 Norwich Rd, Stoke Holy Cross, NR14 8QJ
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑7:30 pm |
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