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Captains House - Cromer

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Cosy seaside B&B

You can’t get closer to the sea than this gorgeous little guest house. With amazing views over Cromer’s beach and far out to sea, Captain’s House is the perfect place to get away from it all.

Owners Gillian and James have transformed their Georgian villa into a luxury B&B, and through their clever design have brought the seaside inside. Fresh, neutral colours and lots of natural light gives the bedrooms a light and airy feel, helped along by contemporary furnishings and gleaming, modern en-suite bathrooms.

But it’s the views that are the real star. From the Loyalie and Isabel penthouse suite, with its two double bedrooms and private lounge, to the cute Zoe bedroom, all rooms, except one, offer extraordinary seascapes. Book the Emilia bedroom and you can stare out to sea while luxuriating in a huge, double-ended bath! Then fall asleep listening to the sound of the waves outside – bliss.

Breakfast at Captain’s House is delicious, with local Norfolk produce being used as much as possible. The breakfast room is as stylish and airy as the rest of the house, but if you want a real morning treat, ask for the light breakfast option, including home-made pastries, which can be served in your room.

Where is it?

The small seaside resort of Cromer is at the east end of the gorgeous North Norfolk coastline. Hugely popular with Victorians needing the sea air, it’s just starting to wake up again from years as a bucket-and-spade-brigade / Saga favourite. New cafes and restaurants are opening, while the old part of the town is still an unspoilt maze of pretty, narrow streets leading down to the pier – perfect for pottering. The usual seaside delights are in plentiful supply, and the beach is a popular spot for a bit of swimming if you’re brave enough.

Visit during the huge Cromer carnival (usually mid-August) and you’re in for a treat – processions, fireworks and even Red Arrow flypasts make it one of the biggest events of its kind in the UK www.cromercarnival.co.uk.

Captain’s House is brilliantly placed for walking the miles of beach along the North Norfolk Coast. Pass Cromer’s pier and brightly-painted beach huts and you’ll soon be away from the madding crowd. Venture west for some of the most magical coastline the UK has to offer. Read The Weekenders Guide to North Norfolk for the best places to visit, eat and drink.

Where can I eat?

Cromer is a fantastic plaice to stay (ho ho) if you adore your fish and chips as there are great chippies everywhere. The town is also famous for its more refined seafood – you’ll find Cromer crabs in some of the best Norfolk restaurants – but ironically it’s quite hard to find anywhere decent to eat them in Cromer itself. By far the best place to eat is The Courtyard (Tel: 01263 515419), an exciting new restaurant tucked behind the chip shops and amusement arcades. Young chef Simon Holman Marsh is passionate about the local produce to be found in his beloved Norfolk, and can often be found including Blakeney mussels or wild garlic that he has collected that morning in his evening menus. Vegetarians and fish fans are especially well catered for.

Further afield, you can find some superb restaurants along the coast. One of the best has to be Morston Hall in Blakeney www.morstonhall.com website Tel: 01263 741041), 13 miles from Cromer. The brainchild of local gastronomic hero, Galton Blackistock, Morston Hall’s fresh and vibrant menus, most using fresh, local ingredients, have earned it the only Michelin Star within a 50-mile radius. Unsurprisingly, it books up fast, so make sure you ring ahead.

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You can’t get closer to the sea than this gorgeous little guest house. With amazing views over Cromer’s beach and far out to sea, Captain’s House is the perfect place to get away from it all.