TRAVEL / JUNE 2026
Review: The Maltings, Weybourne
Nestled in a quiet corner of north Norfolk, this beautifully-restored hotel has all the makings of becoming a home-from-home that you'll want to return to...
Words by Katie Hutley
Is it normal to keep a mental tally of favourite counties? I thought so, but after bringing up the topic and rattling off my league table – Devon, Cumbria, West Sussex , special mention for the Isle of Wight, and so on – the curious looks I received around the lunch table suggested it might not be an exactly…universal practice. Still, I defend my proclivity with gusto; with so much choice and so little time to choose, it’s incredibly useful to know which direction to point the compass when looking for a short break.
The thing is, though – is it? I hadn’t much considered Norfolk until recently (possibly the result of a family holiday at least 3 decades ago when I suffered an ear infection so egregious it had, perhaps, brought on some sort of Norfophobia, if you will). But still, even for a stranger such as myself, I was well aware of the area’s elevation in recent years from buckets and spades at Great Yarmouth, narrowboat holidays and, of course, regional icon Alan Partridge. Now, as the new hotspot for Londoners escaping the city thanks to the WFH revolution, its reputation for chi-chi boutiques, arthouse cinemas and vibe-serving restaurants (looking at you The Gunton Arms) is taken as given.
Whilst I’m as big a fan of an artisanal sourdough as the next person, I do mourn the hegemony that can be the modern-day travel experience thanks to such glow-ups (can you glow up a county? I’m going with it). So I set off to see for myself, preconceptions firmly in hand.
The Maltings, in the picture-perfect village of Weybourne, is a restored collection of brick and flint buildings with proper local bones: an old pub, granary and stables, now reworked into a 28-bedroom hotel. Bedrooms are spread across the main house, cottages and former stables, ranging from snug to pleasingly spacious, with soft colours, comfortable beds and a relaxed, rural ease. From arrival, it was apparent that the ideal blend of design, ambition and aesthetic had been struck: enough to feel special, while still retaining a genuine sense of personality and place. That comes through both in the sympathetic restoration of the original buildings and in the warm, friendly atmosphere that sat at the heart of both the place and the people.
At the heart of the hotel is The Grain Store, a vaulted flint barn restaurant that looks the part and, more importantly, tastes it: confident, seasonal, modern British cooking, rooted in the coast and countryside around it. To be clear, this isn’t fussy destination dining where dinner becomes a performance; it’s thoughtful, innovative food served with passion, with local produce doing much of the heavy lifting. With twinkly lights setting the scene, it’s little wonder it’s become as much a favourite for local diners as for visitors.
Checking into my room – spacious and airy, despite the retention of original beam features – saw me relaxing almost embarrassingly quickly, and were it not for the draw of a new area to explore, I could happily have spent my entire stay feet up. But given its ideal location, with both coastal and country walks a-beckoning, I rallied myself and took to the great outdoors.
There’s plenty to do, once you’ve felt suitably motivated to leave. Weybourne’s shingle beach is a short walk away, backed by cliffs and big skies, and it’s just the place for a bracing stomp, along with a multitude of other beaches in the area known as the Fossil Coast. The North Norfolk Railway runs through the village, with steam trains linking Sheringham and Holt along the Poppy Line, which is charming even if you’re not the kind of person who usually gets excited about heritage railways. Sheringham Park is close by too, with proper walks, sea views and the sort of landscape that makes you wonder whether all those London ex-pats might be onto a good idea after all.
Back at The Maltings, though, the converse pull of the great indoors is strong. Bolding’s Bar has an easy, fireside appeal, the library is made for cosy afternoons, and the games room is there for anyone needing a competitive fix. There’s also The Bottle Shop, which is, frankly, dangerous, with its carefully curated wares just begging to be given a good home.
The cherry on this already lovely cake was a massage at The Cottage Wellness, tucked away in the old pump house. After a day of sea air, walking and eating extremely well, it was a quiet, restorative and indulgent way to end the day. I floated back to my room in a slightly dazed post-massage state, slept brilliantly, and woke up feeling delightfully refreshed. The only blot on my landscape was the realisation that my Top Of The Counties Pops chart was going to need an overhaul, but when a break is as faultless as this one, that’s a small price to pay.
Rooms at The Maltings are from £200 B&B.
The Maltings, The Street, Weybourne, Norfolk NR25 7SY
01263 804731
themaltingsweybourne.com
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