When driving home after a weekend away – especially when you have no signal to check out reviews en route – finding somewhere decent for lunch can be a bit of a gamble. We were making our way back home through Norfolk when we spotted the Acle Bridge Inn on the satnav and decided to take a chance. As it turned out, while the food was fairly average, the setting and family-friendliness made up for it.
Located on the banks of the River Bure in the Norfolk Broads, the Acle Bridge Inn occupies a prime waterside position beside Acle Bridge itself. The place has an impressively long history, with an inn on site since at least the late 18th century, serving travellers and river users crossing the Bure. Today, the pub appears to be a popular stop-off point for visitors exploring the Broads by boat, thanks to its extensive riverside moorings. As we sat outside, there was a steady stream of boats arriving, with plenty of customers pulling up alongside the garden for a drink or bite to eat before continuing their journey.
Our timing wasn’t ideal. It was a particularly hot day, and when we arrived, the kitchen had temporarily closed. Thankfully, it was only around a 25-minute wait until food orders resumed, so we decided to stay.
That gave us the perfect excuse to grab a drink from the bar and claim a table in the sunshine. The outdoor space at the Acle Bridge Inn is impressive. The garden is large, with plenty of seating spread across the riverside setting, as well as a covered section for those wanting a bit of shade.
We appreciated the sunshine and waterside views, but our eight-year-old’s focus was different – turns out this place is amazing for families. Alongside a decent outdoor play area, the pub also features coin-operated police bikes complete with their own little track to drive around, plus a small amusement arcade. Given how many people had clearly been waiting for food service to resume, the delay in our order arriving was understandable, and having plenty to keep the child entertained made the wait much easier.
The menu is extensive, covering everything from burgers, baguettes and flatbreads to salads, pub classics and a variety of lighter bites. Prices were a little higher than we expected, though. A Ploughman’s platter was £19, while burgers and fish and chips sat at a similar price point.
The haddock and chips (£18.95) arrived as a generous portion, although the verdict from across the table was that it was “pretty average” overall.
Our son had his eye on the red pepper hummus from the light bites menu, so I decided to take advantage of the pub’s three-for-£16 offer and order two additional dishes alongside it. Individually, the light bites are priced at £6 each, making the deal good value.
The hummus was easily the standout dish of the three. The portion was surprisingly generous and came served with flatbread and, unusually, pickles. The hummus itself was packed with flavour, although there wasn’t quite enough bread to tackle the sizeable serving.
Alongside it, I ordered the salt & pepper squid with garlic mayonnaise and the mac and cheese bites. The squid was tender, but could have benefited from slightly less time in the fryer. The mac and cheese bites were topped with a creamy chipotle sauce and a hefty scattering of grated Parmesan. The filling was pleasantly smooth and creamy, although they could perhaps have been a little cheesier. Like the squid, they were slightly overcooked, and both dishes had a uniform appearance that suggested they were bought-in rather than made in-house.
The riverside setting is lovely, the garden is excellent, and the friendly team and range of family-oriented facilities make the Acle Bridge Inn a particularly good choice for those travelling with children. The food was acceptable, but at close to £19 for many main courses, the quality didn’t quite justify the price tag. Overall, the Acle Bridge Inn is somewhere I’d happily stop at again, but more for the location than the food.