The Hoste Arms, Burnham Market or The Crown , Wells Next The Sea?

[Lapsedrunner]

Which one would you recommend? Scenario is 2 or 3 nights with DH, DS (nearly 6) and the dog.
Both allow dogs in the room & bar arae so fine for informal dining. I love the look of the Hoste but something tells me the Crown might be better with DS?

Hoste Arms is lovely - Dh and I stayed there for a night a few weeks ago with his parents looking after DS.

Don't know the Crown but have seen plenty of children at the Hoste and they are fine with them. The rooms are quite spacious so could easily have a travel cot etc.

Burnham Market is quite hoity toity, not much for children there but you might like the shops . I don't think the Hoste has a beer garden if that matters to you, although it is a nice pub. Shortish drive to an ace beach at Brancaster.

Wells is a bit more bucket and spade. I don't know The Crown.

Don't know the Crown but the Hoste is absolutely great - lovely rooms, good food etc. As a location with a child I would go for Wells though - there's lots to see, crab-fishing, a beach etc. Burnham Market has lots of cutesy bunting-type shops (and the best second-hand bookshop in the world ever) but it's not what you'd call a child-activity centred place.

Thanks for the swift replies. The Crown is this onewww.thecrownwells.co.uk. have to say I'm tending towards it, also for 2 of the 3 nights they have a family room available which has a seperate bedroom with bunkbeds for DS.

Burnham Market totally overrun by the Boden set nowadays and they congregate at the Hoste. Used to be a great village but full of Chelsea tractors and weekend sailors - you can't see the village green for the carbon footprint.

Wells much more mixed. Brilliant for dog walks down to the beach.

What is a chelsea tractor?

Chelsea Tractor = large 4x4 with spray-on mud, owned by affluent townies who believe that asphalt has not yet arrived in rural parts

Norfolk Tractor = does what it says on the tin. It ploughs fields.

Wells it is then

I have one!!!

Ah ... but you have the spray-on mud for that authentic look, hf?

Good choice. Wells is lovely. Not so kiss me quick as Great Yarmouth for example, but lacking in the pretension of Burnham Market. Take your bucket and spade, have a go on the little train that takes you to the beach and spend some time in Ye Olde Rocke Shop buying sweeties.

Hello Lapsedrunner!

Funnily enough I have just spent a night at The Crown on Friday (10th wedding anniversary). Although I haven't stayed there, I also know the Hoste and they are slightly different 'vibes'.

The Crown has ace food and is a friendly place, but no garden at all. The rooms are ...variable: clean, but basically in need of a major overhaul and although big, not massively good value for the amount of money they charge. Avoid rooms at the back (no 8 in particular) which are over the back bar and kitchen - noisy and smelly. It is walking distance to the beach, mind, and Southwold is a very nice place (The Lord Nelson is an ace pub).

The Hoste is rather posher (like Burnham Market generally) - staff seem a bit more formal and pressured. Again very good food, and I'm pretty sure the rooms are a good deal better presented. Has a pub garden and great big village green out the front, but you do have to drive to the beach.

A hard choice, but for me, I'd really like to try staying at The Swan in Southwold, eating at the Crown, and probably beaching in Brancaster

There's a fantastic campsite at Wells.

So if you didn't want to camp in Wells, SOW, where would you stay?

Windsurfing widow here - frequently abandoned in Wells and wondering if there is a better alternative than Pretentious Cottage, Burnham under Pier, or Damp Canvas Hollow, Tidal Marsh.

Gizmo, are you thinking of The Crown at Southwold rather than Wells? We stayed at the back of that pub... never again.

Oh my god...I meant the Crown at Southwold.

Sorry about that LR - was overexcited about having irrelevant information.

On the bright side, I may be an idiot, but at least I'm an idiot who knows a good pub to stay at in Wells.

And yes, Wells is nicer than Burnham Market - cunting bupcake quotient is much lower.

Ok I've booked to go to Wells, the correct website is www.thecrownhotelwells.co.uk. We're going for 3 nights in July so I'll report back. We've booked a family suite which has a seperate children's room with bunk beds which sounds good.

I hve the spray on mud too

Just looked at the link and realised whereabouts in Wells it is, you'll love it. To get to the quay you walk down a little pedestrianised street called 'Staithe Street'. It's extremely quaint and has lots of little bric a brac shops, bookshops, art shops and other oddities. Some of the best fish and chips I've ever had I got from a chip shop on Wells quay. It's good family fun.

Please bear in mind that if you walk along the beach you get to Holkham and parts of the beach are still nudist!

The pinewoods are great too. Usually a few rope swings there and lots of hidey holes and exploring to be had.

Nudists lurking in the dunes could provide some sport for the dog

i would go for burnham market personally
found wells a bit chip shoppy tbh still nice though