The Old Rectory

103 Yarmouth Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR7 0HF
Telephone: 01603 700772
Fax: 01603 300772
AA 2 Red Stars Award
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Welcome to The Old Rectory, the Grade II listed Georgian home of Chris, Sally & James Entwistle and their Birman cats Rolo and Milli, and Norwich's only AA Top 200 hotel. Overlooking the Yare valley on the eastern outskirts of Norwich, the hotel stands in an acre of mature secluded gardens in a leafy conservation area. In this delightful setting, we offer you friendly hospitality and award winning service in a relaxing atmosphere. The house itself dates back to 1754 and the adjacent Victorian Coach House was added just under a century later. Over the last few years the hotel has been tastefully and extensively refurbished creating a warm, homely feel. Conveniently located just a few minutes by car or taxi from the city centre and railway station, The Norfolk Broads National Park is a short drive away and there are golf courses and leisure facilities within easy reach. Just a few hundred metres across the road and over the railway bridge is a lovely walk alongside the River Yare where you will often see herons, several species of geese and other waterfowl as well as the occasional kingfisher. Further afield are National Trust and English Heritage sites, nature reserves, gardens, walking and cycling trails, sailing and fishing and there are many family attractions as well as places to hire day boats to further explore the Broads. The Norfolk coast, with its clean, sandy beaches is about half an hours drive to the east, and about an hour to the north are charming fishing villages where you can buy locally caught shellfish and our renowned Cromer Crabs.

The Dowagers Cottage For longer stays, The Dowagers Cottage sits in the grounds of the hotel and looks out onto the sun terrace and the outdoor swimming pool (open and heated late Spring and summer). The luxury accommodation comprises on the ground floor a compact, fitted kitchen with gas cooker and grill, microwave and refrigerator; cosy lounge/dining room with gas fire, remote control widescreen DVD television; and a cloakroom. On the first floor is a double bedroom with view over the river valley and a fully tiled bathroom with bath / shower. The bed is made up with fine cotton bedlinen and a feather and down duvet. Non-feather pillows or sheets and blankets are available on request. There is also a direct dial telephone linked to the hotel switchboard and a wireless broadband facility.

Guest Rooms Eight beautifully appointed non-smoking, en-suite guest rooms have fine bedlinen, warm bathrobes, luxury toiletries and many 'finishing touches' providing every comfort to the discerning traveller. We receive many compliments from guests on our comfortable beds which are made up with feather and down duvets and pillows. Non-feather pillows / duvet or sheets and blankets are available on request. Direct-dial telephone Wireless Broadband Hairdryers Complimentary mineral water Wide Screen Digital TV Tea and coffee making facilities CD / Clock radio / Alarm Dining A delicious English breakfast is served each morning in the Dining Room. In summer, you can enjoy breakfast outside on the sun terrace overlooking the swimming pool. Chef James Perry has two AA rosettes for his daily changing, prix-fixe dinner menu which is freshly cooked to order and served in our elegant candlelit Dining Room. He is pleased to prepare vegetarian dishes and to cater for other special diets although advance notice is appreciated. Please note that the dining room is closed on Sunday and Monday evenings. Private dining facilities are also available in our Wellingtonia Room, with a selection of seasonal menus for your special occasion. Leisure Our swimming pool (outdoors) is open and heated during late spring and summer but if you don't fancy a dip, you can wile away time on the pool terrace or enjoy a pre-dinner drink in the summer sunshine. Secluded gardens are also at your disposal for a game of boules or quoits, or just to wander and enjoy.During the winter, a warming log fire welcomes you back after a busy day out and about. From Easter and through the Summer take a leisurely trip on the river bus (a short drive from the hotel ) into the historic heart of Norwich where you can take an open top bus ride around the city.. Meetings and Private Dining For a unique venue for a private luncheon or dinner, business meeting, seminar or training presentation look no further than The Wellingtonia Room which looks out onto the pool terrace and gardens. The adjoining Conservatory can be used for reception drinks or refreshment breaks. Up to 16 guests can be catered for in comfort and style. Photocopying and facsimile services Floral decorations Audio-visual equipment can be arranged Celebration cakes Day Delegate prices from £25.00 per person Menus from around £23.00 per person Free on-site parking How to find us By Road From the A47 Norwich Southern By-Pass (A11/Thickthorn Services Interchange)Follow the A47 in an easterly direction towards Great Yarmouth and take the A1042 exit signposted to 'Norwich N & E' and Thorpe St. Andrew. Turn left at the top of the slip road and follow the road into Thorpe. St. Andrew. Go straight on at the first two roundabouts. At the next (mini) roundabout bear left onto the A1242. About 1/2 to of a mile further a long is a set of traffic lights at the junction with Thunder Lane. Go straight over and our entrance is about 70 yards past the traffic lights on the right hand side a little past the green gates and just by a bus stop. If you reach the entrance to 'Oakland's' Hotel you have gone too far! By Rail Norwich Thorpe Railway Station, with a twice hourly 'One' service to London, and an hourly service to Cambridge is just a few minutes by taxi (cost approx. £5.00) By Air Norwich International Airport is less than five miles away with flights to and from Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Manchester. You can also connect with flights to European and World-wide destinations via the KLM hub at Amsterdam Schipol or via Manchester. Flybe now also offer low cost flights to a number of uk and European distention. By Coach National Express run coaches from many cities to Norwich and Jetlink run a service from Brighton via Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted airports to Norwich. A regular, frequent bus service operates from the hotel entrance to Norwich city centre

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Copyright © 2006, Old Rectory

Revised - 21st October 2004 and 4th August 2006