Norwich Nightlife Tips by TonyBagnall Top 5 Page for this destination

Frank's Bar: New cool bar

On Bedford Street, opposite Bedfords at the site of an old sandwich shop, this new bar is an excellent addition to the area. Its bigger than it looks from the outside as there is a big back bar. Table service only, friendly staff, and much attention has been paid to the decor. It comes across as slightly quirky and cool but very relaxed. It opened April 2008 and is already very busy (they turn people away on a Saturday). They sell light bite food which is good, all in all an excellent addition to the now thriving pottergate/bedfords area. Opens till midnight

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.myspace.com/norwichfranksbar

Trafford Arms: Real ale pub

The trafford arms is a traditional pub with a wide range of real ales. Its an alternative to the fat cat which I'm increasingly leaning to. Its bigger than the cat and although the range of beers is not as good, they still offer several decent pints. Normal pub grub, not tried it myself

Address: Off st stephens

Directions: behind sainsbury's, off st stephens

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Comfortably numb: Nice place, confused idenity

Comfortably numb used to be called the lounge, a far better name in my opinion. It started life as a sofa based wine bar, but has morphed into sports/live music venue. I like the place and go there to watch footy, but its a bit schizo. Its too posh looknig for the footy crowd but not really located ideally for the wine bar crowd. Still, friendly place I can recommend a visit

Address: St Benedicts

Theme: Eating and Drinking

The Castlegates: Football pub

The Castlegates in the town is the most dedicated football pub I've ever seen. It seems to be designed purely for watching football on the telly. Its a square room, and there are three plasma screens on the walls not occupied by the bar, and at least 4 smaller TVs. In front of each plasma is a big sofa! Great for watching footy (although maybe a bit excessive), but I cant go anymore, as Arsenal have lost the three games I've watched there, so its unlucky!

Dress Code: casual in the extreme

Address: 11-15 Timber Hill

Directions: opposite the better known Murderers pub

Theme: Eating and Drinking

The Fat Cat: One for the real ale drinkers

This is a real unreconstituted beer-drinkers pub. It stocks around 40 different real ales all of which are kept in tip top condition. It is the only pub in the country to have won the CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) national pub of the year competition twice, last time in 2004 iirc. The chairs are not comfortable and the food is limited to pork scratching and cheese rolls, but you will find me down here at least once a week, along with half the faculty of the university! Gets packed at weekends, but always a friendly crowd. My favorite beers are Bishops Fairwell and Summer Lightning, but usually adopt the strategy of choosing the one with the silliest name.

Also has a selection of interesting Belgian and fruit beers (Michelle writes, not tried them myself).

Knicked the photos from their website!

Dress Code: Dress down!

Address: 49 West End Street, Norwich, NR2 4NA

Directions: About a 10 minute walk out of the city heading west.

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Website: http://www.fatcatpub.co.uk/

Belgian Monk: Scrummy Belgian Beer

Those Belgian's know a thing or two about beer and there are plenty of types to try here, including an extensive range of fruit beers. The bright red cherry beer is quite something and could probably convert the most devout beer-hater into a belgian beer disciple! (though some might say this is 'one for the ladies'). Lots of high strength macho beers too though! Great range of beers but expensive (about £2.50 for half a pint). Definitely the sort of place to go for a couple of drinks rather than an all night session. Two for the price of one bar meals before 7pm which makes up for the cost of the beer. Mussels and frites are a speciality.

Dress Code: No dress code this is a pub!

Address: 7 Pottergate Norwich, NR2 1DS

Directions: Central Norwich

Theme: Eating and Drinking