I love a pub with rooms – and I know I’m not alone. At a time when pubs are struggling in the face of rising costs, a recent review produced by Stay in a Pub and VisitEngland has revealed that two-thirds of publicans found accommodation revenue to be higher than it was a year ago. Why? Because, put simply, a pub-with-rooms stay oozes quintessential old-fashioned British charm. And, in a bid to appeal to the modern traveller, these gentrified boozers also offer thoughtful (and Instagrammable) interiors, reasonable prices and, of course, excellent food. 

Case in point is The Gunton Arms in North Norfolk. Situated on a 1,000-acre deer park surrounding Gunton Hall, the pub was originally the estate’s ‘second house’ but fell into disrepair in the early 20^th century when the park declined and surrounding buildings were sold. The Gunton Arms’ saving grace came in the form of a determined trio – renowned country house developer Kit Martin, the late Charles Harbord-Hamond and art dealer Ivor Braka – who bought back much of the land and buildings and swiftly got to work restoring the coaching inn to its former glory. 

Image: Robert Kime

Image: Gunton Arms

The Gunton Arms opened as an art-led pub with eight rooms in 2011. So, why am I writing about it more than a decade on? Because each year it has risen through the ranks of the Top 50 Gastropubs in the UK and, as of 2025, sits at number 12. Add to this East of England Pub and Bar of the Year at the 2025 National Pub and Bar Awards and a Michelin Bib Gourmand for 13 years on the trot and it’s clear The Gunton Arms is ageing like a fine wine. 

While part of the intrigue is its history, much is also owed to its art and interiors. Braka has personally decked out practically every bare stretch of wall; meaning The Gunton Arms is now home to one of the most remarkable private art collections in the UK. Among a rabbit warren of low-lit rooms are the bar and lounge and a string of stand-out dining rooms – Elk, Emin and Chalet – that all boast an individual but eclectic theme. 

In the Emin Room – named after Margate-born artist, Tracey Emin – all artworks centre around addiction. Three of Emin’s neon works frame the interconnecting doorways and hint at Braka’s adoration for the artist – “[she] is one of the most impressive artists working today” – while eyebrow-raising, erotic photographs by Japanese artist Nobuyoshi Araki are “products of an obsessive perfectionism”. 

Emin Room

In the adjacent Elk Room, an evolutionary theme is epitomised by the massive fossilized skull of a giant Irish elk (aka, the largest deer to ever live), which Braka bought at an auction of pieces from lauded Irish hotel Adare Manor. Scattered elsewhere are colourful prints of butterflies by Damien Hirst, lithographs of women behaving badly by British artist Paula Rego, and the head of a red deer stag by famous Scottish taxidermist Rowland Ward. This is a gold-mine for art aficionados – and Braka’s passion shines through in his personal, in-room essays that thoroughly explain each artwork and its history. “In the words of Dolly Parton,” Braka once said ironically, “‘it took a lot of money to look this cheap”. 

Complementing the collection is decor and furnishings courtesy of lauded designer, Robert Kime. The Gunton Arms was his first hospitality project and saw Kime take control of the entire top floor, home to eight rooms which nod to Gunton’s surrounding flora and fauna and historical quirks. For example, one is named after Lillie Langtry – the famous actress, once mistress of the future King Edward VII and frequent visitor to the estate in the 1890s – while another is named after current gamekeeper, James Ellis. 

Kime’s restoration was so meticulous and deliberate that staff reportedly have to consult him before they so much as move a lamp. Accordingly, the top floor landing instantly offers a different, more bohemian air to the hustle and bustle of the pub downstairs, blending floral wallpapers, antique furniture and a mix-match of vibrant fabrics, drapes and rugs to create a quirky countryside aesthetic. I particularly love the decked terrace that opens up from the landing with its striped deck chairs for watching the grazing deer in the park beyond. Sundowners here are strongly encouraged. 

I’m staying in the Ellis room, in which a gorgeous and extremely comfortable four-poster bed sits centrestage surrounded by whimsically papered walls, alongside a selection of antique finds including a mahogany oak dressing table, pear green tub chair and Oriental vases lining the fireplace’s mantel piece. Kime sourced the Egyptian marble in the ensuite bathroom from derelict mansions in Alexandria, and the space has been furnished with a double vanity, roll-top bath and amenities by local beauty brand, Norfolk Natural Living. Views from every room on the top floor gaze out onto rolling stretches of green parkland, so glimpses of Bambi et al are practically guaranteed. 

Elk Room

When dinner (or breakfast, or lunch) calls, head downstairs to sample the gastronomic savoir faire The Gunton Arms is best known for. Husband and wife duo Stuart and Simone Tattersall oversee daily-changing menus which centre around open fire cooking – for the full experience book a table next to the aptly named Elk Fire in the Elk room. 

The carnivorous menu prides itself on local cuts – including seasonal venison and Blickling Beef sirloin steaks – as well as seafood sourced from the nearby seaside town of Cromer, which provides crustaceans for Braka’s favourite crab pasta dish (which is perennially on the menu), starters of whole dressed crab and mains including whole-grilled lobster doused in garlic butter. 

Those wanting to stay away from the flames can indulge in a hearty chicken, leek and bacon pie – my favourite and best served with a side of hyper-seasonal minted greens – as well as smaller plates of deep fried cod cheeks with caper and dill mayonnaise, and Portwood asparagus and wild garlic soup. Making the most of Norfolk’s land and sea is the pub’s raison d’etre, made all the better by its humble execution and relaxed atmosphere. 

The Suffield Arms

The foodie offering doesn’t stop there. The Gunton Arms extended its portfolio with sister pub, The Suffield Arms, in 2021. Located moments from the original, it opened to fill a gap in the market for a great village pub – and visiting on a blissfully sunny bank holiday proves it’s mission accomplished. As at its sister, Braka’s artistic nous shines through – a graffitied ceiling by Caragh Thuring lists all the principal artists of the Norwich School, while the corridor is stencilled with the print Americamnesia by Runo Lagomarsino. 

Instead of the traditional pub grub showcased at The Gunton Arms, The Suffield focuses on Mediterranean tapas. Centred around the Josper grill, South Creake pork chop, tomahawk steak and ribeye are given a Mediterranean finish courtesy of continental sauces and marinades such as chimichurri, piri piri and salsa. 

The Suffield Arms

From the small plates menu, get your fill of Cromer crab arancini, patas bravas (so good we ordered them twice), white Andalusian prawns with garlic and chilli oil, lomo (Spanish tenderloin) croquetas, and succulent roast harissa lamb with hummus and flatbread. This is all best served in the sunshine-lit, conservatory-style restaurant or the serene walled garden – but book the quaint Potting Shed for a private dining experience. 

Long live pubs with rooms – especially if they look like this. 

From £165 per night. 

Read more: Cottonmill Spa at Sopwell House: A recharging retreat less than an hour from London