Cromer - Gem of the Norfolk coast? (Cromer)

Member Name: byrnehel

Product:	Cromer
Date:	03/03/01 (371 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Relaxing, cheap, The who wants to be a millionairre arcade machine is much easier there than it is in London!!

Disadvantages: Although the very young have the beach to play on and there are some fabulous walked for the older generation, there is not much for teenagers to do accept lose all their money in the arcades.

When I was a young girl my parents would drag me, kicking and screaming, on holiday to Norfolk every year for the summer holidays. I hated it. Every year there seemed less and less to do, having exausted all the options the year before.

A year ago my parents retired to Cromer from Hertfordshire and I have to say it was the best decision they ever made. They seem happier, healthier, younger even.

For one the air up there is so much cleaner and crisper than in London. The pace of life off-season there, is much more relaxed too ( Cromer being almost entirely occupied by retired people.)

There are some fantastic restuarants as well in the surrounding area ( Mirabella in West Runton springs to mind ) and the locals in some Fish restaurants don't mind you bringing in your own bottle of wine ( or four!)

For fish and chips in Cromer head to MaryJanes in the town centre, the freshly cooked chips cannot be surpassed and taste great walking along the sea-front. If you want to head out a little further in the evening, by far the best fish I have ever come across is to be found at Daves Fish restuarant in Sheringham ( approximately a five mile drive away and not to be confused with Daves 2 a more recently opened burger bar.)

Shops are fairly sparse in Cromer and limited to a Woolworths, Martins newsagents, chemist, and various gift shops. There is however a big Safeways store on the outskirts of the town centre next to the railway.

For lunch I highly recommend The Rocket Cafe ( known to our family now as rocket-man, the owner and his family make all their cakes fresh daily on the premises). You have to try their blueberry scones - the best I have ever tasted. Even the stars flock to this cafe...recent visits have been made by Hugh Grant ( wish I had of been there!! ) and some of the Corrie / Eastenders cast.

Another good cafe is Harrisons, a higgledy piggeldy little teashop that only has about three tabl
es but is well worth a visit for their steaming mugs of hot chocoate with lashings of whipped cream oozing over the sides of the mugs.

The beach is wonderfully clean and unspoilt and streches for miles when the tide is out.Cromer is one of the few seaside resorts that actually still has it's own pier ( as well as the obligatory End of pier variety show with c-listers such as Val Doonican!! )
It also has a cinema with all the latest releases, although at approximately five pounds for an adult ticket it is quite expensive by Norfolk standards and not the most comfortable or warm experience!!


I hope I have given you a little taste of this 'Gem of the Norfolk coast' I never thought that I would hear myself sing it's praises, but now as an adult I can see what so enchanted my parents to it all those years back when I just wanted to stay in Hertfordshire with my friends.

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